StepChange Debt Charity response to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and Ofcom’s launch of the ‘text to register’ service

27 May, 2016

In response to the launch of the ‘text to register’ service by the TPS and Ofcom, Peter Tutton, Head of Policy at StepChange Debt Charity, said:

“This new service is another important step towards curbing nuisance calls and it should provide a welcome boost to the number of people signing up to the Telephone Preference Service. However, TPS will only truly be effective if people are automatically registered and need to opt-in to receiving marketing calls.

“For some people nuisance calls are just an annoyance, but for many others they are harmful. Our previous research has shown that these calls are widespread, frequent and leave some people afraid to answer their phone. For those in financial difficulty, the offer of a payday loan can lead to deepening financial problems.

“Unsolicited marketing calls offering payday loans or paid for debt management should be banned by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It’s not a good way to buy credit, so it is not a good way to sell it and it can make someone’s situation much, much worse."