If you got their phone number, then call them back and insist on getting the information. It may be necessary to do this during the working day.
If you didn't get their phone number, immediately dial 1471. This works in most parts of the country and should give you their phone number, but you must do it straight away, because it will only give you the last phone number which called you and a new incoming call will erase the information.
OK, 1471 is what Oftel recommends, but you will find that most junk calling companies make sure their numbers are witheld from this system so all you get is an irritating message saying: "The caller witheld their number". More frequently these days, you will find that you can't actually call back on any number you have got - either through 1471 or through asking - because it rings 'unobtainable' or apparently permanently 'busy'.
So you will have to embark on a bit of detective work. If you have the company name and the town and some sort of idea what they were selling then you should be able to get the address from the local phone directory or from Electronic Yellow Pages (EYP).
The web version of the EYP search facility now once again allows search against just a company's name and only a very vague idea of its location. In extremis, you can even search the entire United Kingdom against a company name.
It has to be said that if the company point blank refuses to give you its address, then the rather inadequate legislation in this field means that things get a bit more difficult.
If you just have the company name and EYP doesn't help that much then try phoning Companies House on 01222 380801. Companies House offers a free phone service (no EMail) which will give you any British company's registered address from just its name. The registered address may or may not be the same as the headquarters address and of course many junk calling companies have many branches or may even be franchise operations.
A proper Companies House search can also be done and supplies names and addresses of directors, but this is costly (£2.50 mailed or faxed out at £5.00). Company accounts and other additional information costs extra depending on how you receive the information. This service is also likely to go on the Net before 2001, but is still likely to cost a similar amount. You can fax an enquiry to Fax: 01222 380517 or write in to:
Postal Search Section
Companies House
Crown Way
Cardiff
CF4 3UZ
If you have only their phone number, the best bet is to ring BT's 'Nuisance Calls' line on 0800 661441. They will probably insist the Data Protection Act forbids them from giving you a company address from a phone number - even one making unwanted junk calls. (They may say they will only divulge this information to the police. Do I hear the phrase 'wasting police time'?). This is the official line which most of the Nuisance Calls staff trot out.
In fact this is not quite true. BT lawyers have confirmed that the Data Protection Act only applies to private numbers. (But BT also extends this to cover all ex-directory numbers.) So you can insist and if the number is listed and is a company number, they will eventually cave in and give you the name and sometimes even the address of the offending junk-caller.
Or you may like to know that German company Topware has produced a DOS / Windoze £20 CD ROM, UK-Info, which is reported to contain most UK directory information and which allows reverse search - ie you can find a company name and address from only the phone number. But recent legal action by BT has resulted in its sale being suspended and unfortunately, the new improved version of this CD (not by Topware any more) excludes reverse lookup.
One other possible avenue is the relevant local Trading Standards Office who may 'know' the company.
Oftel presently point blank refuses to help you in locating a junk caller from just a phone number (to help you write to them) insisting that it's rare for a company to refuse you details on the bizarre grounds that no junk call company would do so - else that company might thus "have its credibility severely damaged".
Oftel might prefer to consider whether the practice of making junk phone calls already betrays the fact that the company is ipso facto disreputable.
Oftel has told us in writing that they are now reviewing this untenable stance. In any case, Oftel may be prepared to write to the company on your behalf. There may be an announcment of some changes in this whole unsatisfactory area.
The text of Article 12 of the directive is:
The Euro Directive on junk calls
There is now a European Union directive. It instructs the UK to provide for private telephone subscribers to have the means to forbid all junk phone calls and junk faxes and for legal penalties against the junk callers who disobey. The Directive is supposedly to be implemented in the UK by no later than 24 August 1998, but clearly the DTI is dragging its heels and won't meet that deadline.
Unsolicited calls
1. The use of automated calling systems without human intervention
(automatic calling machine) or facsimile machines (fax) for the
purposes of direct marketing may only be allowed in respect of
subscribers who have given their prior consent.
2. Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that, free
of charge, unsolicited calls for purposes of direct marketing, by
means other than those referred to in paragraph 1, are not allowed
either without the consent of the subscribers concerned or in respect
of subscribers who do not wish to receive these calls, the choice
between these options to be determined by national legislation.
3. Member States may limit the application of paragraphs 1 and 2 to
subscribers who are natural persons. Member States shall also guarantee, in
the framework of Community law and applicable national legislation, that
the legitimate interests of subscribers other than natural persons with
regard to unsolicited calls are sufficiently protected.
Domestic regulation of junk phone calling companies is the province of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The Secretary of State at the DTI is Peter Mandelson. Other Ministers include: John Battle, Minister of State; Ian McCartney, Minister of State; Lord Simon of Highbury: Minister of State; Lord Sainsbury, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State; Barbara Roche, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State; Kim Howells, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.
We are also building up a directory of UK junk phone calling companies which you can consult so please don't forget to EMail us at WebMeister@hack.powernet.co.uk with details (including full postal address) of companies who have junk called you. Of course, if you manage to find out the home phone numbers of any of the directors of any of these companies, that information will also be put up here.
     
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