StepChange Debt Charity responds to BT’s launch of a free service to divert nuisance calls

11 February, 2016

In response to BT’s announcement that they are introducing a free service to divert nuisance calls, Joseph Surtees, Senior Public Policy Advocate at StepChange Debt Charity, said:

“This move by BT is welcome, but it is just one step in the right direction and it will only protect BT customers.

“Nuisance calls harm millions of people, causing stress, anxiety and financial problems and we need much stronger statutory protection for everyone. The vital next step is for the FCA to intervene and ban the real-time promotion of high risk credit products. It has been promising to consult on the issue since 2014, but has so far failed to do so.

“We also need changes to the Telephone Preference Service so that people are assumed to not want nuisance calls until they opt in, rather than having to opt out as they do now."