ALMOST one in four Scots are being targeted by firms cold calling them every day, a new survey has found.
As MPs begin moves to clampdown on nuisance calls, research by the National Accident Helpline (NAH) found that people living in Scotland face a relentless barrage of unwanted marketing calls.
The NAH report found that almost half the people living north of the border receive unsolicited phone calls at least once a week, while 24 per cent receive them daily - one of the highest rates in the UK.
Adults aged between 45-54 are the4 most likely to be contacted through their mobile handsets or phones in their homes, while men are the most frequently targeted.
National Accident Helpline’s Managing Director, Simon Trott believes there is a clear need for action on cold-calling.
He said: “45 per cent of those surveyed in Scotland were cold called more than once a week. These are people being bothered in the comfort of their own homes, and being tricked into giving away their contact information and in some more extreme cases, bank details.
"It’s important to protect the public from scam phone calls that are intended to extort money and gather information”.
READ MORE: Cold call blocking firm fined £75,000 for making 'aggressive nuisance calls'
Last month Glasgow-based Xternal Property Renovations was fined £80,000 for making nuisance phone calls to more than 109,000 people registered to an opt-out service by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
The ICO also investigated a Lanarkshire finance company who were suspected were making a high number of nuisance phone calls, and uncovered evidence that the firm had been responsible for more than 200 million cold-calls to unsuspecting members of the public and businesses.
Ministers at Westminster are coming under pressure to bring in a total ban on cold-calling, with a bill being launched to give them powers to target pension scams and others.
Scottish MP Stephen Kerr said that directors of companies who cold-call should be held personally liable for the disruption they cause.
He described cold calls as being intrusive on family life while having an impact on businesses.
Treasury minister John Glen said he wants to ban pensions cold-calling "as soon as possible" given the "profoundly damaging impact that pensions scams can have on people's lives".
READ MORE: Energy giant SSE agrees to end cold calls
Mr Glen told the Commons: "It's clear to me that too often significant consumer detriment arises because of cold-calling, and if we find there is evidence that people are experiencing detriment as a result of cold-calling on consumer financial products, we won't hesitate to use this power to protect consumers."
Shadow work and pensions minister Jack Dromey described pension cold-calling as a "blight" on people across the UK, noting millions of pensioners are targeted annually and fraudsters make 250 million calls a year.
He said of Labour's approach: "First, banning pensions cold-calling.
"Second, pushing for a total ban now on cold-calling for claims management companies, tackling the scourge of unsolicited claims head-on.
"Third, banning the use of information obtained through cold-calling.
"Fourth, ensuring that the strongest possible sanctions are put on those who break the ban."
READ MORE: Which? call for executives to be held account for nuisance calls as nine in 10 Scots agree
Mr Dromey said the Government's commitment to ban pensions cold-calling from June is a "necessary and wholly welcome step", but added: "I hope they will go just that little bit further."
He said Labour amendments to the Bill seek to tighten provisions around the ban and make it fit for purpose.
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