Firm fined £120k for sending millions of spam texts

More than 66,000 people complained, with many describing how there was no "opt out" option

A financial firm specialising in PPI tax refunds has been fined £120,000 by a watchdog for sending almost eight million unlawful spam text messages to people.

Manchester-based Quick Tax Claims Ltd "bombarded" people with messages over the course of a month in 2023 after buying personal data from third-party suppliers that did not obtain valid consent, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said.

More than 66,000 people complained to a spam message reporting service, with many describing how there was no "opt out" option.

It comes as the ICO issued a £30,000 fine to another Manchester firm, National Debt Advice Ltd, for "hounding" people with texts.

The ICO is the UK's independent regulator for data protection and information rights law.

Mobile phone users can text 7726 - which spells spam on an alphanumeric phone keypad - to report unwanted text messages or phone calls.

Preying on vulnerable

Both Quick Tax Claims Ltd and National Debt Advice Ltd came to the attention of the ICO in May 2023.

An investigation revealed Quick Tax Claims Ltd had sent 7,863,547 unlawful text messages over the course of a month.

Similarly, the ICO found that National Debt Advice Ltd sent 129,902 spam text messages over a four-month period, resulting in more than 4,000 complaints.

The investigation revealed the firm had also purchased personal information from third-party suppliers, including loan decline data, which meant text messages were sent to people who had previously been turned down for loans.

The ICO said they also failed to conduct appropriate consent checks.

head of investigations Andy Curry said: "Both of these companies bombarded people with spam messages, often preying on those who might be experiencing difficult financial circumstances.

"To be hounded by numerous unwarranted text messages just adds further stress to people in those situations.

"It is so important, in these types of circumstances, that companies gain consent to send direct messages.

"Relying on third-party claims of consent, without undertaking the most basic of checks, is far from responsible conduct by these companies, and that’s why we took action."