BUSINESSES will soon be able to cold shoulder cold callers.
From June this year, UK firms will get the same right as individuals to block marketing firms "cold calling" under a new measure announced by Communications Minister Stephen Timms.
The move comes in response to concerns expressed by small businesses that they do not have the resources to cope with high volumes of cold calls.
UK businesses have the choice to opt out of direct marketing calls by writing to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and registering the relevant phone numbers.
They will be given an annual reminder of those numbers in case they no longer need to be covered.
The service was set up in 1999, and direct marketing firms have a legal obligation to check and comply with the list before calling.
Updated: 11:46 Tuesday, April 06, 2004
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