Oftel sets precedent for telesales harassment

NEWS Oftel has issued a notice of final order to a telesales company for harassing a Greek Taverna. The move sets a precedent for companies who continue to receive calls from telemarketing companies despite asking to be taken off their database. Oftel had intervened before on behalf of the taverna based in Carshalton, Surrey. It warned James E. James - a company that sells advertising space - that it risked losing its license if the calls persisted. However, the warning was not heeded and the advertising company could now face court action. A spokesman for the telecoms regulator said: "If a company has a complaint then it can come to us and we will investigate. But in order to issue a warning there has to be proof of harassment." He added that Oftel would assist in finding the necessary evidence. Oftel claimed that this is the first case of its kind because generally most Telesales will stop calling if they are asked. The spokesman said Oftel receives "around 40 complaints a month for telemarketing, which is negligible in comparison to other types of complaints".