TalkTalk is fined £750,000 by regulator

TalkTalk has been fined due to excessive silent and abandoned calls being made

By Nicole Hamer |

17:20 18 April 2013

The telecommunications firm TalkTalk has been fined £750,000 by Ofcom, it has emerged. The regulator has imposed the penalty because excessive silent and abandoned calls were made to possible new customers. This relates to 9,000 phone calls.

It is believed the calls were made from two call centres during a certain period relating to February and March 2011. The fine comes following an investigation being carried out by the regulator.

A spokesperson from TalkTalk said: “In February and March 2011, two of TalkTalk's suppliers, Teleperformance and McAlpine Marketing, made a number of silent and abandoned marketing calls.”

With regards to ‘silent calls’, this is when an individual hears no sound when they answer the telephone, where a machine does not replay information for a person to hear.

Ofcom reportedly explained that silent calls, as well as abandoned ones, may “cause annoyance and distress” to individuals.

Claudio Pollack from Ofcom said: “Companies must abide by the law and Ofcom's policies. If they fail to do so then Ofcom will take firm action.”

TalkTalk, who said they have stopped using the two suppliers, commented that they operate with their partners to meet regulations and “that customers continue to get good service and best value”.