Links
Action Fraud If you are concerned that a company is acting fraudulently or criminally, you can contact your local police or local trading standards office or you can contact Action Fraud. https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/.
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) The ASA is the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across all media, including, marketing on websites. The ASA works to ensure ads are legal, decent, honest and truthful by applying the Advertising Codes. The types of complaints inside their remit include: Press ads, radio and tv ads (including teleshopping presentations), ads on the internet, smartphones and tablets, ad claims on companies’ own websites, commercial e-mail and text messages, posters/billboards, leaflets and brochures, ads at the cinema, direct mail, whether addressed personally or not www.asa.org.uk.
Citizens Advice Consumer Service The Citizens Advice consumer helpline provides free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues. Call on 08454 04 05 06 (Welsh language service: 08454 04 05 05). www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue
Data & Marketing Association The Association comprises the DMA, Institute of Data & Marketing (IDM) and DMA Talent. It seeks to guide and inspire industry leaders; to advance careers; and to nurture the next generation of aspiring marketers. It sets the standards marketers must meet in order to thrive, representing over 1,000 members drawn from the UK’s data and marketing landscape. www.dma.org.uk.
Financial Ombudsman Service The FOS can look at complaints about a wide range of financial matters – from insurance and mortgages to investments and credit. Every year they deal with a million enquiries and settle over 150,000 disputes. www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/
Financial Conduct Authority The FCA is the conduct regulator for nearly 60,000 financial services firms and financial markets in the UK and the prudential supervisor for 49,000 firms, setting specific standards for 19,000 firms. www.fca.org.uk.
Fundraising Regulator The Fundraising Regulator holds the code of Fundraising Practice for the UK. It sets and maintains the standards for charitable fundraising, aims to ensure that fundraising is respectful, open, honest and accountable to the public and regulates fundraising in England and Wales. www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) The ICO’s role is to uphold information rights in the public interest. It enforces the regulations relating to telephone, fax, e-mail and SMS marketing. It was set up to promote access to official information and protect personal information.http://www.ico.org.uk
Ofcom Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services. www.ofcom.org.uk
Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) is the UK regulator for content, goods and services charged to a phone bill. www.psauthority.org.uk.
Preference Services: Telephone Preference Service, Fax Preference Service, Mailing Preference Service, Baby Mailing Preference Service The Preference Services allow individuals to register their preference to reduce personally addressed unsolicited marketing mailing, telephone calls and faxes. www.mpsonline.org.uk; www.tpsonline.org.uk; www.fpsonline.org.uk, www.mpsonline.org.uk.
Trading Standards Local Trading Standards Departments can investigate complaints about scams and dishonest traders operating in their areas of responsibility. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/
US Email Preference Service (eMPS) – Registration with the eMPS can help reduce marketing emails from members of the DMA US and some other marketing organisations. It is a free service which lasts for 5 years. www.dmachoice.org/EMPS/
Your Choice Many local and national organisations communicate information to people using unaddressed mail and door to door material delivered directly to their homes. The ‘Your Choice’ scheme informs distribution companies of the householder’s preference to stop the delivery of these items. For example, free newspapers, catalogues, advertising brochures and money-off coupons. https://www.mpsonline.org.uk/consumer/your_choice.
