Djanogly reveals operator's backing for spam text clampdown

The government has agreed with the mobile phone network operators to clamp down on claims firms which send out nuisance text messages and phone calls.  

Giving evidence earlier today to the House of Commons’ transport select committee inquiry into motor insurance, justice minister Jonathan Djanogly said the operators had agreed to co-operate on efforts to bar access to firms found to be responsible for the unsolicited calls and messages.  

“We are working with the Direct Marketing Association to crack down on the use of texts in this way. We have reached agreement with a number of network operators who have agreed to help with investigations ,” he said.

Access to Justice Action Group co-ordinator Andrew Dismore told the committee there was no need to curb referral fees because the cold calling and text messaging that caused distress to ordinary members of the public could be tackled by cutting off the phones of the companies causing the nuisance.

“Most of the cold calling is from marketing companies and people who are not registered and are operating  unlawfully,” he said.  

Djanogly also told the committee that the government was ‘veering away’ from making the  payment and receipt of referral fees a criminal offence.  

He said it would be “very difficult” to prosecute a ban on the controversial practice through the criminal courts, which he believed would be better enforced via regulators as a civil offence.