Advertising Standards Authority

The ASA may be contacted with complaints about any misleading promotions, as they may be in breach of the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion. If a complaint is upheld, the advertiser is asked to amend their mailings. Should the advertiser fail to comply, CAP may also circulate an Ad Alert to members in the direct marketing industry asking them to check advertising by the company with the CAP Copy Advice team before carrying their mailings.

If you wish to pursue a complaint about a misleading promotion you have received, you can write to the ASA describing clearly why you think the mailing is misleading and enclosing the original mailing envelope (if possible).

The Advertising Standards Authority
2 Torrington Place
London
WC1E 7HW

Companies House

Companies House has three main functions:

• The incorporation, re-registration and striking-off of companies
• The registration of documents that must be filed under company, insolvency and related legislation
• The provision of company information to the public – for this purpose Companies House enforces compliance with legal requirements.

Companies House
PO BOX 29019
21 Bloomsbury Street
London
WC1B 3XD

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

The DCMS is responsible for legislative regulation of competitions and lotteries. They advise the public that where there is doubt about the authenticity of any particular scheme, they should not participate in it. If you want to take it further, pass it on to the police for possible investigation. The police are the enforcement authority on these matters; they investigate allegations of fraud or dishonesty.

Schemes which ask you to send money to people on a list then add your own name to the list and send out more copies of the letter are probably illegal under the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976. The DCMS has responsibility for the legislation.

However, the law in this area is complex and only a court can say authoritatively whether a particular scheme is unlawful.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport
2 – 4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH

Direct Marketing Association (DMA)

The Direct Marketing Association (UK) Ltd is Europe’s largest trade association in the marketing and communications sector. It promotes best practice through DMA codes of conduct and the DMA Awards, and provide up-to-the-minute information, research and legal advice.
The DMA manages programmes to protect consumers against bad practice and increase consumer trust, including the DMA Preference Services schemes and Trust UK for e-commerce.

DMA (UK) Ltd
DMA House
70 Margaret Street
London
W1W 8SS

Direct Selling Association (DSA)

The DSA is a trade association for the Direct Selling Sector and seeks to promote:

• The overall benefits and a better understanding of the Direct Selling channel of distribution.
• The highest standards and fair trading through its independently administered Codes of Practice.
• The wide range of flexible, independent earnings opportunities provided by Direct Selling Companies.
• The benefits of buying from or working with a DSA Member Company.

Enquiries about whether the operators of particular trading schemes are members of the DSA (and therefore subject to its complaints procedure and codes of practice) or complaints against member companies can be addressed to:

The Direct Selling Association
29 Floral Street
London
WC2E 9DP

Financial Services Authority (FSA)

Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the FSA are the single statutory regulator responsible for regulating deposit-taking, insurance and investment business. The FSA are also responsible for tackling market abuse, promoting public understanding of the financial system and reducing financial crime.

The Financial Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5HS
Consumer Helpline: 0845 606 1234 (local call rates)

The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS)

ICSTIS is the industry-funded regulatory body for all premium rate charged telecommunications services. ICSTIS’ purpose is to establish, maintain and ensure compliance with appropriate standards of protection for users of premium rate information and entertainment services and, in doing so, contribute towards the development of the industry. It can investigate complaints and has the power to fine companies and bar access to services. In addition, it offers free advice and guidance to both existing and new service providers.

Consumers can submit a complaint online by completing the online complaints form or alternatively they can telephone, fax, or write to ICSTIS as follows:

ICSTIS
FREEPOST
WC 5468
London SE1 2BR
Telephone: 0800 500 212 (free call). Lines open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm
Fax: 020 7940 7456. Lines open 24 hours

The Information Commissioners Office (IOC)

The Information Commissioner’s Office enforces the regulations relating to telephone, fax, e-mail and SMS marketing.

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 845 700
Fax: 01625 524 510
E-mail: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk

National Group on Homeworking

The National Group on Homeworking is a non-governmental organisation which campaigns for improved employment rights and condition for homeworkers.

Any homeworker in the UK seeking advice can call a free Advice and Information Line on 0800 174 095. (Lines are normally open Monday to Friday from 10am to 12:30 pm and 1pm to 3:30pm.)

Office of Fair Trading

The OFT’s International Liaison Section has an interest in “scam” mailings which originate outside of the United Kingdom. They would be pleased to receive your complaints and any unwanted unsolicited mailings that you consider to be misleading or deceptive.

Since February 2002, the Office of Fair Trading has been able to pursue dishonest traders operating from other member states of the European Community. The OFT now has the power to seek an injunction to enforce existing consumer protection legislation emanating from European Directives. This includes law on misleading advertising. The new powers provide the OFT with a potentially speedier means of taking action against traders infringing legislation and harming the collective interests of consumers.

Where the trader is based outside Europe, the OFT work with their counterparts overseas, under the auspices of the International Marketing Supervision Network. Their principal objective is to encourage practical action, through the co-operation of national regulatory bodies, to prevent and remedy cross-border marketing malpractices.

The Office of Fair Trading
International Liaison Section
Fleetbank House
2-6 Salisbury Square
London, EC4Y 8JX
Email: euroteam@oft.gsi.gov.uk

Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE)

The Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE) is the official trade association representing companies and individuals with legitimate interests in the industry in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It aims to promote, develop and represent the timeshare industry so that legitimate commercial and consumer interests can be satisfied.

Organisation for Timeshare in Europe
Consumer Services Department
15-19 Great Titchfield Street
London,
W1W 8AZ
Tel: 020 7291 0901
Email: info@ote-info.com

The Patent Office

The role of the Patent office is to stimulate innovation and enhance the international competitiveness of British Industry and commerce. It provides a system, both national and international, for granting intellectual property rights.

The Patent Office have produced a step by step guide to using invention promotion firms.

The Patent Office
Harmsworth House
13-15 Bouverie Street
London
EC4Y 8DP
Central Enquiry Unit phone lines are open 09:00 to 17:00
08459 500 505 (charged at local rate)

Rip-Off Tip-Off

This website is sponsored by Trading Standards Departments and is designed to let consumers anonymously report traders who they think are “ripping-off” the UK public. Complaints and information are fed back to the relevant local Trading Standards Department for action.

Trading Standards Departments

Local Trading Standards Departments can investigate complaints about scams and dishonest traders operating in their areas of responsibility. Their telephone number can be found in the phone book under “Local Authority”. Alternatively, you can access the Trading Standards Central website, supported and maintained by the Trading Standards Institute. This includes a facility enabling consumers to identify the Trading Standards Department relevant to their postcode.

Stopping Unsolicited Mail and Phone Calls

Listed below are the schemes that allow consumers to register their wish not to receive unsolicited marketing material or approaches.

Unsolicited Addressed Mail

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has a self-regulatory preference scheme for consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited addressed marketing mail. It can also provide advice on how to reduce the amount of unaddressed mail received.

Addressed Direct Marketing Mail
Mailing Preference Service
Freepost 22
London
W1E 7EZ

Unaddressed Unsolicited Marketing Mail

Door to Door Council Manager
Direct Marketing Association (UK) Ltd
DMA House
70 Margaret Street
London,
W1W 8SS.

Unsolicited Marketing Faxes

It is unlawful to send an unsolicited fax to an individual, which includes consumers, sole traders and (except in Scotland) partnerships, without their prior consent.

There is a fax preference service, which allows businesses to register their wish not to receive unsolicited fax messages. Individuals may also register if they wish.
Registration telephone number: 0845 070 0702

Royal Mail Delivered Unaddressed Leaflets

To stop unaddressed leaflets delivered by the Royal Mail, consumers should write to:
Door to Door Council Manager
Direct Marketing Association (UK) Ltd
DMA House
70 Margaret Street
London W1W 8SS.
Telephone: 020 7291 3300
Fax: 020 7323 4165
Email: dma@dma.org.uk

Unsolicited Telephone Sales Calls

It is unlawful for a business to make an unsolicited telephone call to an individual, which includes consumers, sole traders and (except in Scotland) partnerships, if that person has registered with the Telephone Preference Service.

Telephone Preference Service
70 Margaret Street
London
SW1Y 4EE
Registration telephone number: 0845 070 0707

Unsolicited Marketing Emails

New controls on unsolicited commercial emails (UCE) came into force in December 2003. The regulations require that UCE can only be sent to an individual with the prior consent of the addressee, but with an exemption for UCE where the addressee has already given his or her email address direct to the sender in the context of the purchase of a product or service.

This opt-in protection will apply to individual, but not corporate, subscribers. Complaints about apparent breaches of these regulations should be reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 845 700
Fax: 01625 524 510
Email: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk

Unsolicited SMS Messages

New controls on SMS messages came into force in December 2003. The regulations require SMS messages to be sent only with the prior consent of the subscriber, but with an exemption where the subscriber has already given his or her mobile telephone number direct to a company in the context of the purchase of a product or service.

This opt-in protection will apply to individual, but not corporate subscribers. Complaints about apparent breaches of these regulations should be reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Telephone: 01625 845 700
Email: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk