A Newcastle-based sole trader has been fined £50,000 for making more than 194,000 unlawful marketing calls to individuals registered with the UK’s Telephone Preference Service (TPS).
Darian Bishop, who trades under the name ECO4U, was found to have made unsolicited calls promoting grants for boilers and solar panels. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said some recipients were misled into believing the calls were linked to a government scheme.
Under UK law, it is illegal to make marketing calls to TPS-registered numbers unless the individuals have given explicit consent. The ICO said Bishop failed to take reasonable steps to comply with this requirement.
An ICO investigation, launched in October 2023 after 21 complaints were received, concluded that Bishop had not obtained valid consent from the people called. He claimed people had opted in through a Facebook advertisement, but those contacted by the ICO denied completing such forms or even using the platform. The investigation also found that Bishop did not provide sufficient information for people to identify who was calling them, and that he failed to take reasonable steps to prevent breaches of the law.
Call recipients described the approach as threatening and misleading, with some saying they felt pressured or misinformed about the caller’s identity and intentions. In several instances, the calls gave the impression of being affiliated with official government programmes, such as the Green Deal.
Catherine Sankey, group manager at the ICO, said the evidence showed Bishop was aware of the relevant laws but chose to ignore them. She says: “Feeling threatened or abused in your own home, simply because you picked up your phone, will never be acceptable. Our investigation clearly showed this individual was fully aware of the law in relation to making marketing calls yet went ahead and made them anyway. Our fine shows that we will hold all those who flout the law to account, from sole trader to larger companies employing a number of staff, and should act as further warning that we continue to pursue and fine companies who choose to ignore the law in pursuit of financial gain.”
Bishop had previously been investigated in 2015 for similar conduct involving persistent sales calls and deceptive claims linked to free boiler offers.
In addition to the monetary penalty notice, Bishop was issued with an enforcement notice, requiring him to stop making unsolicited marketing calls in breach of the law.
The ICO continues to urge businesses to seek guidance if they are unsure about their legal obligations, and encourages the public to report unwanted calls through its website or other official channels.
