The Corporate Telephone Preference Service

What are the regulations?

The Corporate Telephone Preference Service was set up following the publication of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, and came into effect on 25 June 2004.

What do they cover?

Limited companies and all partnerships are entitled to register their telephone number(s) on the Telephone Preference Service register, in order to block unsolicited telemarketing calls.

Up to this point, only residential numbers, or those of sole traders and some partnerships could be entered on the register.

The regulations apply to both existing customers and non-customers.

What they mean for your business?

The new regulations mean that anyone making unsolicited promotional and/or fundraising calls to any business must check all numbers against the TPS list. Failure to do so could result in a fine.

Businesses and organisations must also ensure that they do not call corporate subscribers who have notified them that unsolicited calls are unwelcome.

Firms wishing to register their number(s) with the TPS must do so in writing, and registration is renewable on an annual basis.

Action to take

You should ensure that your telemarketing list is checked against the TPS registered numbers, and that your in-house 'do not call' list is kept up-to-date. Make sure that all telesales and customer service staff are aware of the new telemarketing requirements.

Useful websites

The Information Commissioner's Office www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Telephone Preference Service www.tpsonline.org.uk