News

TPS "merely a sop" at TXT spam prevention - reader letter

You say at the end of your article - regarding Orange taking steps to block SMS spam - that the TPS is "pretty effective at stopping illegitimate traders." They are not. They are a sop set up by the Direct Marketing Association to legitimise telephone and SMS spamming by having a supposed veneer of "opt-out".

Nice article, but it isn't right about texting.

The Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) (Direct Marketing) Regulations 1998 came in to force in 1999 and supposedly backed up the Telephone and Fax Preference Services (which had existed for several years) with the force of law, and up to a 5,000 pound fine. I have made dozens of complaints to the TPS since the regulations came into force and they seem to be nothing other than a black hole.

After submitting a complaint, you sometimes get a letter back saying they are "investigating your complaint" (however there is no reference as to which complaint it is they are investigating, if you have made several), and then you hear nothing.

My mobile number has been registered with the TPS for at least 2 years, but I still regularly get SMS spams.

The only use of the TPS is if you get telephone cold-callers on the phone and you can scare them a bit with the threat of a 5 grand fine. As far as the rest of the "service" goes it is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Mike