PI Cold Calling Ban? Phew….
Katrina Caraska discusses APIL’s latest social media campaign – #CanTheSpam
We’ve all been pestered by cold calls or spam text messages trying to persuade us to claim compensation – often when we are not even injured!
On 1 June 2016, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) launched their #CanTheSpam social media campaign in order to persuade the Government to ban claims management companies (CMCs) from cold calling.
As set out in the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have prohibited any firm or practice from engaging in unsolicited approaches in person or by telephone. APIL are now pushing for CMCs to be brought in line with solicitors in respect to the cold calling rule. APIL President, Neil Sugarman, states “Cold calling for personal injury claims is exploitative, tasteless and intrusive. Solicitors are not allowed to do it, for these very good reasons. But some claims management companies continue to hound people in this way and we want the Government to put a total ban on the practice”
The facts and figures
It has been reported by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that a total of 11,935 cold calling concerns were logged with the ICO in April 2016 alone, the highest figures there have been since October 2015 when 17,431 complains were registered.
The number of automated calls increased from 4,853 in March 2016 to 5,760 in April 2016 and accounted for approximately 48% of total calls and a total of 1,182 concerns were reported in relation to SMS spam.
Accident claims remained the most reported topic of calls and accounted for approximately a third of all complaints.
What can you do?
If you have received an unwanted call or nuisance text in relation to a personal injury claim, you can contact APIL via:
Twitter: @APILCanTheSpam
Facebook: www.facebook.com/canthespam
Email: canthespam@apil.org.uk
Telephone: 0115 943 5416
APIL will also need as much information about your cold caller as possible, for example:-
Did you receive a call or text?
Was it an automated message or were you connected to a person?
What was the name of the company?
What was the phone number or was it withheld?
When did you receive the call?
This information will then be passed to the ICO who will then conduct an investigation into your complaint. You will need to give permission for APIL to pass on your phone number or email address or postal address as the ICO may need your details during the investigation.