Telemarketing Laws
Unlike in the United States of America, telemarketing in the UK is an industry which has is subject to relatively few governing regulations and specific telemarketing laws. This does not mean however that telemarketing within the UK is an unregulated industry, failure to meet any of the few UK telemarketing laws results in severe penalties. In this article we introduce the main telemarketing laws which telemarketing in the UK is currently governed by.
Privacy & Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003
One of the most important UK telemarketing laws, the Privacy & Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 makes it unlawful for companies to conduct telemarketing activities to recipients who have not given prior consent to receiving such contact. Particularly relevant to businesses that undertake B2C (Business to Consumer) telemarketing campaigns, this telemarketing law provides a high amount of consumer protection ensuring that only those who have agreed to receiving telemarketing calls do so
FSA Mortgage Conduct of Business Rules - Financial Promotions
This is one of the current UK telemarketing laws which is particularly important to businesses undertaking financial telemarketing services. The FSA (Financial Services' Authority) has set out a code of conduct which bans businesses from making unsolicited "real time promotions" (cold calling and telemarketing) to consumers unless there is already a pre-existing customer/business relationship
The Telephone Preference Service (TPS)
Telemarketing laws set out by the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) need to be adhered to by all businesses and organisations carrying out any form of telemarketing and telesales. The Telephone Preference Service acts as the UK's central telemarketing and telesales "opt out" register which both consumers and organisations can sign up to to prevent them from receiving unsolicited telemarketing calls.
The telemarketing laws set out by the TPS are governed and enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Although the TPS telemarketing laws prevent businesses and organisations carrying out telemarketing and telesales calls to recipients who are registered with the TPS, organisations carrying out genuine market research calls are not subjected to the same telesales laws.
Using the services of a professional telemarketing company is one of the best ways of ensuring that your telemarketing campaigns are carried out in adherence with the UK telemarketing laws. To find a suitable telemarketing company to manage your telemarketing campaign why not try using our free quotation service?
