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Citizens Advice response to OFT’s Debt Management Cold Calling warning

25 May 2009

Citizens Advice Director of Public Policy Teresa Perchard said:

“This is absolutely the kind of prompt and decisive action needed to tackle rogues taking advantage of the downturn.

"These cold calls are intrusive and disconcerting and could lead consumers to believe the company has personal information about them when they do not. The agents making the calls often give the impression they are linked to a free, independent debt advice charity such as Citizens Advice by, for example, quoting our research about the number of people who have debts as a reason for calling the customer.

"Anyone getting unsolicited calls from companies they don’t know or who they haven’t asked to call them, should discontinue the call and register with the Telephone Preference Service.”

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see New windowwww.adviceguide.org.uk
  3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 7.1 million problems from April 2010 to March 2011. For full 2010/2011 service statistics see: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/press_statistics
  4. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable. (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
  5. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,300 service outlets across England and Wales.