Maxen Power Supply (MPS), headquartered in Ilford, Essex, and Crown Glazing Ltd, based in Preston, Lancashire, were recently imposed a fine of £120,000 for relentlessly engaging in unsolicited marketing calls to individuals and businesses registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and Corporate Telephone Preference Service.

The ICO has received 100 complaints regarding MPS, stating that the business made calls from overseas while posing as National Grid or the customers’ current energy supplier. These unsolicited calls were primarily aimed at selling energy supplies, particularly targeting businesses. The calls took place between February 2019 and March 2021. The ICO’s investigation revealed that Aims Tech, a call center in Pakistan, was responsible for making these sales calls into the UK on behalf of MPS, who asserted the use of multiple subcontractors.

The nature of the complaints suggested that individuals received numerous calls on the same day, despite requesting to opt-out, and experienced aggressive marketing tactics that could potentially lead to financial harm. MPS claimed to offer energy bill savings through contract switching while requesting information about the recipients’ current suppliers and meter readings. Despite the complaints, the company denied responsibility, stating that the international call centers were independent contractors and third-party intermediaries.

What are the laws around these sorts of calls?

This action violates the law, as it is illegal to make unsolicited marketing calls to individuals or organizations who have not explicitly provided their consent to receive such communications.

Who are Maxen Power Supply?

According to their website, Maxen is an energy supplier who specialise in connecting commercial businesses with reliable and affordable energy supplies.

Another example of this was announced by the ICO, Crown Glazing Ltd has been fined £130,000 for making over 500,000 direct marketing calls to individuals who had been registered with the TPS for at least 28 days. These calls resulted in 37 complaints.

The majority of the calls were focused on advertising double-glazing and offering a free energy test. However, some complainants stated that the company misled them by implying that they represented the UK Government and were actively working to enhance energy savings.

What should you do if your receiving unlwaful marketing calls?

If you are receiving multiple spam calls from an energy company or any other entity, here are some steps you can take to address the issue:

Block the Number: Most smartphones have a built-in feature to block unwanted calls. When you receive a spam call, check your call history, and block the number associated with the spam caller.
Register with TPS (Telephone Preference Service): If you are in the UK, you can register your phone number with the Telephone Preference Service. It is a free service that allows you to opt-out of receiving unsolicited sales and marketing calls. Visit the TPS website or call 0345 070 0707 to register your number.
Report the Spam Calls: Report the spam calls to your country’s telecommunications regulatory authority. In the UK, you can report spam calls to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) through their website.
Don’t Engage: Avoid engaging with the spam callers or providing any personal or financial information. Legitimate companies will not ask for sensitive information over the phone.
Check Your Privacy Settings: Review the privacy settings on your social media profiles and other online accounts. Sometimes, spam callers obtain your phone number from public sources.

Want to read more?

This information-packed article from Energy Brokers details how you can avoid energy scams and how to seek advice from a broker.