A NEW Government crackdown on companies behind unwanted cold calls has been backed by Ilkley Conservative MP Kris Hopkins.
As a result of legal changes announced yesterday, from April 6 firms will be more at risk of facing fines of up to £500,000 if they are found to have used cold calls and nuisance texts to gain business.
Under current laws, companies can only face sanction if the Information Commissioner’s Office can prove that unwanted calls and texts have caused “substantial damage or substantial distress”.
Mr Hopkins, the Local Government Minister, said: “The problem of cold calling is one that a great many of my constituents have raised with me, particularly older people who tend to be at home during the day.
“As a result of the changes we are making, it will be much easier for rogue firms to be prosecuted. It is right the laws are strengthened.”
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