The Telephone Preference Service (TPS)

From Editor:

I received a phone call from BT asking if I would like any of the new services they had available or did I have a service I did not require any more.  I mentioned the unsolicited calls I had been getting though not many it was still to many.  The person from BT said yes they could do that, about a week later I got a letter from TPS explaining the service and I am passing it on to you.  So if you are having problems with unsolicited phone calls this may be of interest to you.

Welcome to TPS Online.

The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) helps you to make sure your telephone number is no longer available to organisations, including charities and voluntary organisations who may telephone you with offers and information you do not wish to receive

Under Government legislation introduced on 1st May 1999 and replaced on 11th December 2003 by the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, it is unlawful to make unsolicited direct marketing calls to individuals who have indicated that they do not want to receive such calls.

You can either do this by contacting companies directly and asking them not to call you or you can register with a central register - the TPS.

Before you register however...

You should reflect on the fact that registering may well prevent you from receiving information which you would really like to have - thereby cutting you off from relevant and worthwhile opportunities. For charities, telemarketing is an economical way to raise awareness and much needed support.

If you are happy to receive telemarketing calls from some companies but not others, contact the companies who you do not wish to hear from and ask them to remove your details from their call lists. Registering your telephone number on TPS will stop telemarketing calls from all companies, charities and voluntary organisations not just some!

Registration will also prevent organisations who regard you as a customer, or in the case of charities, donors from calling you again, unless you have previously told them that you have no objection to them calling you.

Do you know you can register mobile telephone numbers?

The Telephone Preference Service can accept the registration of mobile telephone numbers, however it is important to note that this will prevent the receipt of live marketing voice calls but not SMS (text) messages. This is because under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2004 it is unlawful to send an unsolicited sales and marketing text message. Telemarketing companies who send SMS messages need your prior permission. There is no obligation therefore for companies sending SMS messages to people who have agreed to receive them, to screen against the TPS file. If you wish to stop receiving SMS marketing messages, please send an 'opt-out' request to the company involved. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) is responsible for the enforcement of these regulations. Please click on the useful links page for their details.

  register

Mailing Preference Service (MPS)
DMA House
70 Margaret Street
London
W1W 8SS

MPS Registration line - 0845 703 4599

Licence Department - 020 7291 3327
Complaints Department- 020 7291 3321