trueCall News Ticker

trueCall featured on Channel 4 Dispatches
trueCall was featured on Channel 4 Dispatches. The programme sent an undercover report into a call centre.

 

Very important Government consultation
We have been campaigning for the last 10 years to make it illegal for telemarketers to withhold their Caller-ID. We have finally persuaded the Government, and they have launched a public consultation. If they get sufficient support for this proposal then it could be brought into law as early as the Spring this year. There will be voices that oppose this, so we are encouraging all trueCall users to let the Government know what they think.

The two consultation questions are:
1. Do you agree that the Government should amend PECR to make it a requirement for direct marketing callers to provide Caller-ID?
2. Are there any other costs or benefits that may be associated with this proposal that you think the Government should consider before taking a final decision?

The consultation document is here, and trueCall's response is here. Please send your response to bilal.toure@culture.gov.uk by 23 February 2016, remember to mention trueCall, and copy us in on your response (consult@trueCall.co.uk). Last time there was a consultation on raising the fines for nuisance calling half the responses came from trueCall customers!

 

trueCall wins Queen's Award for Enterprise!
We are delighted to announce that trueCall has just been awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise. Our award was for Innovation, recognising our world beating technology, the impact it has made on many peoples' lives, and our commercial success.

Queen's Awards are considered to be the UK's highest accolade for business success. They are awarded annually by HM The Queen on the Prime Minister's recommendation, and are only given for the highest levels of excellence, and outstanding business achievement. Our award for Innovation is particularly pleasing as this is the most hotly contested category with only around 20 awards granted every year.

The Queen has invited trueCall's directors to a reception at Buckingham Palace in July. More information

 

Christmas teaser from trueCall:

 

Counter Fraud Award
trueCall was shortlisted for the 'Excellence in Fraud Prevention' category in the Government Counter Fraud Awards alongside our partners - Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, Mole Valley Telecare and the Information Commissioner's Office. The project is protecting vulnerable people in Mole Valley, and so far has blocked over 50,000 nuisance calls!

 

BBC Look North
The BBC Look North team ran an interesting report on scam calls and trueCall's effectiveness here.

 

Trevor Baylis RIP
We heard the sad news yesterday that Trevor Baylis, the inventor of the windup radio, had died aged 80. Trevor was a great inspiration, and in 2009 he advised us, helping us get onto the QVC home shopping channel, and assisting us on our stand at the Ideal Home Exhibition. He was quite a character, and was great fun to spend time with. He really believed in trueCall, and called it "a truly Great British invention".

 

Steve Smith is officially a Hero!
trueCall's MD, Steve Smith, was last week awarded a Trading Standards 'Hero Award' for his work in protecting vulnerable people from scams. Over two million nuisance calls have been blocked in the five years since trueCall has worked in partnership with trading standards, and an estimated 2,140 scams have been prevented. Chief Executive at CTSI, Leon Livermore, said: "Steve Smith is a true champion of vulnerable consumers". The award was presented in Westminster by Zac Goldsmith MP.

 

trueCall mentioned in despatches
trueCall has been working with the Government and the National Trading Standards Scams team to protect vulnerable people from nuisance and scam calls. The Daily Mirror published the results - 99% of unwanted calls were blocked!

 

trueCall featured on News At Ten
Steve Smith of trueCall Ltd was on News At Ten showing Chris Choi how easy it is for call centres to spoof their caller-ID. See the clip here.

 

Scam awareness video from Kent Trading Standards
Kent Trading Standards have released a fantastic video that highlights the risk of doorstep scams. See it here.