Glasgow-based home improvement company fined £50,000 for nuisance calls

Nevis Home Improvements, based in Glasgow, was given the penalty after 175 complaints were made about its recorded phone message about its energy-saving services.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found that the firm made 2,530,549 automated calls between May and August 2015, with more than 1.5 million people responding to them.

Ken Macdonald, assistant Information Commissioner for Scotland, said: “More and more of our investigations involve companies that make unwanted recorded marketing calls.

“Six of our last eight fines have been for calls playing a recorded message. It’s time they got our message – if you don’t follow the rules, we will track you down and take action.”

Nevis did not have permission to play a recorded message as only people who have given their consent can receive this type of call. Nor did it identify itself.

Calls about energy services as well as PPI made up two-thirds of all complaints to the ICO last month.

Which?, a consumer body, welcomed ICO’s decision.

Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?, said: “Our latest research found that nine in 10 Scots have been on the receiving end of nuisance calls, with the large number of these about energy efficiency.

“We are calling on the new Scottish government to publish an action plan to tackle this everyday menace.”