ICO fines company for illegal pensions calls

The ICO has fined Halifax-based company Parkin Beacher Ltd (PBL) £50,000 for making illegal marketing calls to people about their pensions. The business, which operates under the trading name ‘Your Pension Options’, called people about their pensions when they were not authorised to do so. This is against the law. The ban on pensions cold-calling came into force in 2019 making it illegal for companies to make nuisance calls to people about their pension schemes except where: the caller is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), or is the…

New certification schemes will “raise the bar” of data protection in children’s privacy, age assurance and asset disposal

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has approved the first UK GDPR certification scheme criteria. Certification was brought in under the UK GDPR as a way to help organisations demonstrate compliance with data protection rules and, in turn inspire trust and confidence in the people who use their products, processes and services. Certification works by providing a framework for organisations to follow, which offers clients and customers assurance that they are adhering to strong standards. Organisations with expertise in a particular area can develop scheme criteria. The ICO has approved the…