Ofcom research reveals extent of nuisance calls

A new Ofcom study into the problem of nuisance calls reveals the extent to which they are affecting UK consumers.

It found that consumers who experienced unwanted calls received around two per week on average, with four in five participants receiving at least one nuisance call during the four-week research period.

The news comes as Ofcom announced it is investigating suspected abandoned and silent calls made by companies within the claims management sector, and called on other authorities to help address the problem.

Claudio Pollack, Ofcom’s Consumer Group Director, said: “Two nuisance calls a week is too many and this detailed research will help us understand the root cause of the problem.

“We will use the full range of our powers to tackle abandoned and silent calls, but this is a complex area that requires joint action from a number of different agencies and Government. We are therefore working with the Government and other regulators to help drive a coordinated and more effective response to nuisance calls.”

Alongside the publication of its research, Ofcom has also updated on progress made against the four other parts of its five-point action plan, published in January, to tackle nuisance calls.