Automated calls company stung with £100,000 fine

Premium rate regulator Icstis has issued a £100,000 fine to a company accused of making unsolicited recorded calls promising exotic prizes.

Icstis had received a number of complaints about the firm, Digital Media, which promised recipients of its calls that they had "won one of a number of prizes", including a return trip to Paris. A recorded message advised 'winners' that time was running out to claim their prize and encouraged them to call a premium rate number to register.

Icstis said complainants reported a number of faults with the company, including telling 'winners' they were receiving the call because they had previously entered a prize draw, using misleading contact information and trying to pass off the recorded message as real.

Digital Media didn't respond to the breaches. Access was immediately blocked to the company, which was then fined £100,000 and barred from operating a prize line for 18 months.