MORE ACTION NEEDED TO TACKLE NUISANCE CALLERS

3.29.26pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 29th Mar 2006

Lorely Burt MP, Liberal Democrat DTI Spokesperson, today welcomed a crackdown by OFCOM on 'silent calls'. During a debate in the House of Commons on a Statutory Instrument, Maximum Penalty for Persistent Misuse of Network or Service, Mrs Burt highlighted the fear that silent calls can provoke amongst some consumers.

Commenting, she said:

"There are tens of thousands of complaints about 'silent calls' every month.

"The previous response of the regulator and of the Government has been to simply increase the level of fines but, as no-one has never been prosecuted, companies have not been deterred.

"New rules requiring companies to use a recorded message instead of letting the line go silent is a welcome step forward, but more still needs to be done to tackle these nuisance callers."