A free online tool has been launched to help UK organisations ensure their direct marketing activities comply with legal requirements under the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations (PECR) and the UK GDPR.
The direct marketing advice generator provides tailored compliance guidance within minutes, aimed particularly at small businesses, charities, and other organisations with limited resources. The tool covers multiple direct marketing channels, including email, SMS, direct mail, social media, and telemarketing, helping organisations navigate complex regulations and ensure they are only contacting individuals who have consented to receive marketing communications.
By answering a series of simple questions, organisations can quickly access relevant guidance in one place, reducing the time spent interpreting regulations and allowing businesses to focus on their operations.
Enforcement highlights the importance of compliance
Failure to comply with direct marketing rules can result in complaints, reputational damage, and financial penalties. Recent enforcement actions highlight the risks businesses face if they fail to follow the law.
Last year, Money Bubble Ltd and Breathe Services Ltd, both based in Greater Manchester, were fined a combined £290,000 and issued with enforcement notices after making more than 4.5 million nuisance phone calls to individuals who had opted out of marketing communications.
Two additional companies, Quick Tax Claims Limited and National Debt Advice Limited, received fines totalling £150,000 for sending more than 7.5 million spam text messages, prompting over 70,000 complaints—93% of which stated that there was no opt-out option. Investigations found that both companies had purchased personal data from third-party suppliers who had not obtained valid consent.
Supporting small organisations with compliance
The tool has been designed with small businesses in mind, offering a straightforward way to access accurate guidance without requiring extensive legal expertise. However, it is available to all organisations, from sole traders and start-ups to larger businesses, charities, and community groups.
Faye Spencer, head of business services, emphasised the benefits of lawful direct marketing and the role of the new tool in simplifying compliance.
“Direct marketing can be a great asset to any organisation when it’s done correctly and lawfully. This new tool, coupled with our privacy notice generator launched last year, aims to make data protection compliance simple and stress-free for all organisations.”
The tool is available online now, and organisations are encouraged to provide feedback to ensure it continues to meet their needs.
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