The watchdog reckons that the fall in complaints is due to its
more stringent licensing policy, tackling rogue internet dialler
activity. It also credits the introduction of 30-day payment
restrictions on phone companies, which has been effective in
preventing some ‘spam and scam’ firms getting their hands on their
ill-gotten gains before action can be taken.
ICSTIS also believes that tough enforcement action has reduced
the harm caused by spam marketing abuses, especially those
involving automatic calling equipment.
In all, ICSTIS received almost 27,000 complaints about premium
rate services last year and opened 880 investigations. The ICSTIS
Contact Centre handled over 200,000 enquiries in the course of
2005, while the newly-launched website and improved automated call
handling systems dealt with over 500,000 general enquiries.
ICSTIS acknowledges that there are still problems in the sector,
but suggests that the number of investigations being initiated
shows that it is identifying problems faster, and tackling them
before they get out of hand.
“We know there’s still work to be done to tackle those who
deliberately set out to rip off the public,” said ICSTIS Director
George Kidd, “However, we’re confident that our continued robust
enforcement action, together with our greater collaboration with
industry players and fellow regulators, will allow us to prevent
consumer harm more effectively, better educate and inform the
public, and enable market growth and diversity.”
