DAVID HICKSON's SILENT CALLS BULLETIN

(See below for the Ofcom consultation)

Ofcom has persistently claimed that its failure to address the problem has Silent Calls results from the fact the maximum financial penalty available under its powers is £5,000. It has therefore applied to the DTI for this limit to be raised to £50,000. At the same time as Ofcom launched its consultation on its revised policy, the DTI launched a consultation on its intention to grant this request. Neither of these consultations refers to the other!

The revised Ofcom Statement of Policy gives no indication of how an increased maximum penalty (although claimed to be most significant) will affect the policy. The DTI consultation seeks approval for the increase without any reference to the revised policy.

This odd situation, along with many other errors and omissions are covered in detail in my response to the DTI consultation.

I conclude that Ofcom's request cannot be granted under present circumstances.

See this page - published deadline is 5pm on 9 January 2006

Listen to this invitation from Ofcom, broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live on 5 January

The following links cover points made on particular topics (apologies for lost formatting)

• LIST OF SILENT CALLERS
• Summaries
• The consultation process
• What Ofcom should be doing
• Other courses of action to follow
• CONCLUSION
• Notes covering the changes made to give the revised Statement of Policy

• My general notes on use of the Informative Message
• Ofcom's confusion between Silent Calls and Abandoned Calls
• The History of the Informative Message
• Specification of the Informative Message
• The percentage approach
• The short duration call
• Caller Line Identification
• The percentage approach

• Ofcom looking to reduce, rather than stop misuse
• Application of procedures to reduce the misuse
• The effectivness of Ofcom announcements
• How Ofcom determines what is persistent misuse
• Before Ofcom can use the powers in future

• Ofcom's general approach
• History of Ofcom's use of the powers
• The way the powers are understood
• The interests of citizens (consumers)
• The interests of the call centre industry

You can contact me for advice, information or anything else at:

David Hickson