New proposals designed to clamp down on nuisance phone calls are being introduced in the House of Commons today.
Stirling MP Stephen Kerr will introduce a Ten-Minute Rule Bill aimed to tackle existing loopholes and introduce better regulation for unsolicited nuisance phone calls.
Local MP John Lamont is backing the plans, saying that nuisance phone calls are an all too common complaint in the Borders.
Most nuisance, unsolicited marketing calls are illegal under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations introduced in 2003. However, thanks to insufficient regulation by the Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO) and loopholes in the existing law, people can still be bombarded with unwanted calls from marketing companies.
Mr Kerr’s Bill will aim to limit the number of nuisance calls by making penalties more robust, tighten up the definition of what a nuisance call is, and ensure greater protection for numbers registered on the Telephone Preference System.
The move comes after a women in her 70s from the Borders was reportedly conned out of more than £40,000 by a phone scammer claiming to be from her bank.
Commenting John Lamont MP said: “Judging by the amount of complaints I receive from constituents, the existing legislation is not fit for purpose. People who are signed up to TPS and who repeatedly ask to be taken off call lists are still having to put up with nuisance calls.
“Many of these calls come from scammers, who can pose as bank staff, police, insurance, or energy salespeople to con people out of money.
“It’s simply disgraceful the way people are targeted by these unwanted calls and it is often the most vulnerable in our society who fall victim.
“I am therefore pleased that my colleague Stephen Kerr is introducing this Bill to Parliament. I will certainly be supporting his proposals and am urging the UK Government to take action.
“In particular, steps must be taken to strengthen regulation and introduce tougher punishments for scammers.”