The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined a company £200,000 for sending hundreds of thousands of unsolicited loan promotion texts. These messages, sent without recipients’ consent, violated the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and targeted vulnerable individuals. The ICO found that the company used improperly obtained data from third-party providers and sent misleading texts about loan approvals, causing significant distress. Many recipients reported the messages, prompting the investigation. In addition to the fine, the ICO issued an enforcement notice requiring the company to halt unlawful marketing practices. This case highlights the importance of compliance with PECR and GDPR. Consumers are encouraged to report nuisance texts to the ICO by forwarding them to 7726 or filing a complaint online. This fine is part of the ICO’s broader efforts to combat invasive marketing practices and safeguard consumer privacy.

Link to ICO article: Company fined £200,000 for instigating unlawful loan promotion nuisance texts | ICO