The war on nuisance calls and texts continues to keep the Information Commissioner’s Office busy with the regulator releasing details of two more fines totalling £225,000 against businesses for sending millions of unsolicited marketing messages in breach of the law. 

Allay Claims, based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has been fined £120,000 for sending more than 4 million unlawful marketing text messages between February 2023 and February 2024. The messages promoted PPI tax refund services and were sent without valid consent or compliance with the rules on the ‘soft opt-in’ exemption.

Meanwhile, ZMLUK (formerly Zuru Media), based in Bristol, has been fined £105,000 for sending over 67 million marketing emails between January and July 2023 without valid consent.

The emails promoted a range of products and services using data sourced from third parties, where people were not given clear and informed choices about receiving marketing.

Both companies were found in breach of the Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulations. Under an update to the law, rogue firms could face GDPR-style penalties of up to £17.5m or 4% of a company’s total annual worldwide turnover.

ICO head of investigations Andy Curry said: “Unwanted marketing messages are more than just an irritation – they’re an intrusion that can cause real distress.

“The law here is clear: businesses must only send marketing messages to people who have freely and knowingly consented to receiving them. Relying on vague or third-party consent, or sending marketing messages under the guise of service updates, isn’t enough.

“We want to thank every member of the public who reported these messages. Public reporting plays a crucial role in our work, and where we see organisations causing harm through unlawful marketing, we will not hesitate to step in.”

Related stories

Sole trader whacked with £200,000 fine for rogue texts

ICO fingers two rogue energy firms for ‘robo call’ blitz

Posh Windows duo barred after cheap and nasty calls

Firm that targets dodgy firms battered for dodgy calls

Horsham firm battered for knowingly using illegal data

ICO whacks two Greater Manchester firms on the PECR

The post Two firms whacked for illegal marketing bombardment appeared first on DecisionMarketing.