Spam Charges made against Pure Telecom, Next and Airtricity

According to a recent case, court accused three companies of dispatching spam mails and calling people over phone to conduct unsolicited marketing bids.

These companies are Airtricity Ltd., a renewable energy firm; Next, a clothing retail chain; as well as Pure Telecom whom Data Protection Commissioner's office effectively prosecuted after compelling the accused to appear at the District Court of Dublin.

It was when people complained to the watchdog regarding getting e-mails and phone calls for marketing reasons that the suit took shape.

William Hamill, the presiding judge observed that the firms acknowledged their offence, reportedly accusations as per the Data Protection Act. They were also responsible for the expenses related to making the case. Nevertheless, Judge Hamill wouldn't excuse them so he fined Pure Telecom of EUR500; Next of EUR100; and Airtricity of EUR75.

Tony Delaney, Assistant Commissioner of Data Protection informed Judge Hamill about a lady who had opted for not receiving spam from Next within the unsubscribe facility of the garments retailer.

But despite opting to unsubscribe, the lady continued getting the marketing e-mails on Feb 25th and 28th, 2013. According to Delaney, one of the e-mails related to an idea for a present to give on mother's day that was typically a marketing message which definitely shouldn't have come to her since she chose to unsubscribe.

Judge Hamill also observed about Next that had utilized one intermediate firm for taking care of the unsubscribe mechanism, however, had from then snapped link with the firm.

And as of Pure Telecom, a man complained to Delaney's office that although his telephone number belonged to an ex-directory he got twin promotional calls during 2013 March.

In 2010, due to violating data protection rules, Pure Telecom was asked to pay EUR1,250 in fine, as told to Judge Hamill. Pure Telecom director Paul Connell stated that some intermediate agent made the telephone calls and since then the company had dismissed that agent, while Connell expressed apology to the man who'd complained.

The court was also told that Airtricity didn't have any prior charges although, during 2010, it had got an official warning associated with other accusations.

» SPAMfighter News - 2/6/2014