APIL calls for ban on cold calling and spam texts about personal injury claims

Banning cold calls and spam texts about personal injury compensation claims is one thing most UK adults want the Government to do, latest research shows.

Eighty-nine per cent of people say they want a total ban on calls and texts about injury claims, according to exclusive YouGov research carried out for campaign group the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

The research found in relation to cold calls and spam texts about personal injury compensation claims:

• 20.4 million (38 per cent) of UK adults had a cold call or spam text in the 12 months up to June 2023.
• Each person who received a cold call or text on average had seven of them up to June 2023.
• 4.1 million (eight per cent) received 12 or more cold calls or texts up to June 2023.
• An estimated 134 million cold calls or texts were made in just 12 months (figure based on YouGov research and Office for National Statistics data).
• 86 per cent of people who received a cold call or text were left feeling annoyed, angry, anxious, disgusted or upset.

“We want the Government to listen to the public and implement a proper ban on cold calls and spam texts which tout for personal injury claims business,” said APIL chief executive Mike Benner. “There is an opportunity to do so in legislation going through Parliament right now”.

“The research demonstrates that people have really strong emotional responses to these unwanted calls, so it’s no surprise an outright ban would have such overwhelming support,” he said.

APIL has responded to a HM Treasury consultation on cold calling for consumer financial services and products, calling for the practise to be banned.

“Many calls go to the elderly and vulnerable, who can be distressed at being contacted about a supposed legal claim they know nothing about. Such calls are extremely intrusive and invasive,” he said.

Solicitors are banned from cold calling, which APIL fully supports. But claims management companies (CMCs) are allowed to contact people provided they follow the rules on consent.

“The Government baulked at introducing an outright ban when it had the chance as part of some legislation five years ago. It opted instead for watered down and confusing rules on whether someone has consented to the calls.

“There’s a second chance to introduce an outright ban by making an amendment to the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill currently going through Parliament. This opportunity to do the right thing by the public should not be missed.

“The Government could grasp the nettle now and end cold calls and texts which tout for injury claims,” he said.