Data Protection & Freedom of Information Office

Preference Services

Data protection legislation and the Privacy in Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 place restrictions on unsolicited telephone and fax marketing, and on marketing by email and text messaging.

Preference Services enable individuals to register their wish to opt out of unsolicited email, mail, telephone or fax messages. Organisations are obliged either by law or by Codes of Practice to ensure adherence to individual wishes. The Direct Marketing Association provide a range of Preference Services.

If you have a complaint regarding the content and/or promotion of a service running on a premium rate number, contact PhonepayPlus, the organisation that regulates phone-paid services.