Wales MEP Jill Evans has called on the European Commission and UK Government to take action to stop nuisance phone calls from call centres outside the EU. The EU Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications is supposed to stop these calls but Jill has received many complaints and the situation is getting worse.

Speaking from Wales Jill said:

"There is a law that is supposed to stop people from getting constant phone calls in their homes by direct marketing companies. But it is clearly not being enforced. I'm getting more and more complaints about call centres from outside the EU causing a nuisance by phoning at all hours of the day.

I've asked questions to the European Commission and they've confirmed that all companies that phone countries in the EU have to follow the law, it doesn't matter where they're from. I'm now taking this up with the UK Government and have written to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Alistair Darling to ask him how he's making sure that third countries follow these rules and if they're taking legal action against those that don't.

It doesn't help matters that the UK chose that individuals have to specifically 'opt-out' of being willing to have phone calls by registering with the Telephone Preference System rather than the simpler option of the provision covering everyone unless they've said they don't want to."

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