Northern Gas & Power Ltd – €87,750 Fine (United Kingdom, 2021)

Northern Gas & Power Ltd is an electric utilities company, which principally brokers commercial energy contracts between commercial energy users and various energy providers. The company first came to the attention of the ICO as part of a wider investigation into scams and exploitative marketing surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. It had repeatedly made unsolicited direct marketing call to a business's landline number, the owner of which complained to the ICO. Upon further investigation, the DPA identified a high number of complaints related to similar calls made by Northern Gas & Power Ltd. As such, it launched an investigation to determine whether it had contravened Regulation 21 PECR. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) held that Northern Gas & Power Ltd infringed Regulation 21 PECR. Over 60,000 unsolicited calls for direct marketing purposes were made to individuals who were registered with the TPS or CTPS and who had not provided valid consent. This resulted in 337 complaints being made to the TPS and the Commissioner in respect of Northern Gas & Power Ltd. The ICO determined that the infringement was serious as it received a high number of complaints about the company, and because of the frequency and content of the calls. Indeed, complainants "reported receiving multiple calls over a short period of time, despite repeated opt-out requests and complaints to the Commissioner and TPS. They also complained of rude and aggressive callers who claimed that the rules did not apply to them. Many of the complainants reported that the calls made them annoyed and/or anxious. Some of the complainants said they were being called on their personal mobiles and this was adding to the stress caused by COVID-19. Others said the calls were disrupting their business and tying up lines used by customers." Further, the ICO found the contravention of the PECR to be negligent, as the DPA has published detailed guidance for companies carrying out marketing explaining their