BBC Breakfast 15 June 2005 |
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On the previous day the Direct Marketing Association had issued a revision to its Code of Practice regarding Silent Calls. These made no difference whatsoever to the relevant regulations, which permitted 5% of calls by dialler users to result in Silence. The only change was to require non-dialler using members to also comply with a requirement not to withhold numbers.
In this TV interview John Price does not attempt to defend the weakness of this measure, but simply tries to suggest that the DMA is irrelevant to the issue. |
Standing Committee - 28 March 2006 |
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This debate was to enable parliamentary approval for an order by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to grant an increase to the maximum financial penalty available to Ofcom in relation to Silent Calls. Members of the Committee had received a briefing from a campaigner.
The featured contributors are: Alun Michael MP - Trade and Industry Minister.
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Westminster Hall debate - 24 Oct 2006 |
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This debate on the topic of Call Centres was initiated by Dr. Ian Gibson, MP for Norwich North.
The other featured contributors are:
Both featured in a standing committee debate on the statutory instrument to increase the penalty available to Ofcom for Silent Callers in March 2006 (not the previous year, nor a previous Westminster Hall debate).
Jim Fitzpatrick, is the junior minister replying to the debate. |
Prime Ministers Questions - 15 June 2005 |
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Lib Dem MP John Hemming asked this question of Tony Blair in response to representations from constituents, following briefings by a fellow Old Edwardian campaigner.
The vicar referred to is Fr. Andrew Bullock of St Mary’s Acocks Green, who was briefed on the issue by a relative.
Fr. Bullock appears as a campaigner in other media excerpts. |
Breakfast TV Coverage - 1 November 2005 |
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The Ofcom announcements on 31 October 2005 were covered with some mood of celebration by Breakfast TV.
Revisions to the Ofcom Statement of Policy, which were said to have been applied to those against whom action was taken the same day, suggested a prohibition of Silent Calls.
Those using predictive diallers were “required” to use an Informative Message whenever no agent was available to complete an answered call.
This was however only Ofcom policy. The manner in which Ofcom chose to implement it, both at that time and later, was yet to emerge. |
BBC Breakfast 6 May 2004 |
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This broadcast announced and celebrated the fact that Ofcom had “taken action” against a Silent Caller for the first time.
There was some attempt to take false credit for the action due to the fact that two cases were dealt with concurrently, with the DMA having been involved in the minor case.
This was the first TV appearance for the campaigner featured. |
Working Lunch - 4 November 2005 |
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After close examination of the detail of the action taken on 31 October it was found that Ofcom had not applied the detail of its newly announced policy in action that was said to have been taken with reference to that policy. Those subject to action had been permitted to continue making Silent Calls, despite the prohibition in the newly stated policy.
A campaigner’s attempt to get this point recognised could be said to have not been totally successful.
(For the record it may be noted that Ofcom took no further action against the companies involved.) |
BBC Breakfast – 2 March 2006 |
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Following conclusion of the consultation launched on 31 October 2005, Ofcom re-published the Statement of Policy that was introduced and applied that day.
This was part of an attempt to create the false impression that the policy was only in draft in October 2005, when its application was seriously deficient.
This broadcast reported this “news”, with comments on the manner in which the policy had been implemented to date. |
Breakfast 4 November 2006 |
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The news of Ofcom having taken action for the first time in the course of its general investigation broke on a Friday afternoon.
A filmed report was swiftly put together. This video is in 4 parts: the film, followed by 3 studio contributions.
Claudia HATHWAY is the editor of Call Centre Focus magazine, a sturdy supporter of the campaign. The extra “A” in her surname is a familiar error.
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Breakfast 3 November 2006 |
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A further written ministerial answer indicated that HM Revenue and Customs was definitely engaged in Silent Calling and had not yet complied with requirements introduced by Ofcom over one year previously.
Unaware of an imminent announcement by Ofcom (later that day) this was seen as a significant piece of news to follow on from coverage earlier in the week. |
Breakfast 30 October 2006 |
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One year on from the celebration of “the end of the Silent Call” these studio contributions from BBC Breakfast reporter Graham Satchell added to points made in a filmed piece (a brief excerpt of which is included here). They draw attention to the lack of effective action by Ofcom, despite continuing public concern and the efforts of campaigners.
Ofcom refused to contribute to the piece, asking that it be held back, but failing to advise when a promised announcement would be made. It was therefore broadcast one day earlier than planned, to guarantee its relevance. |
Breakfast 29 December 2005 |
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With the deadline for responses to the Ofcom consultation looming, a campaigner thought it worthwhile to communicate a “call for responses” that had been issued by Ofcom, but not strongly publicised.
All of the information communicated was explicitly pre-agreed with Ofcom. |
Breakfast 17 October 2008 |
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Experience and contacts gained during the Silent Calls campaign is seen being put to use on another telephone related, but quite separate, issue of public annoyance. |
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This film relays the experiences of Paul Costin. Paul contacted Breakfast after suffering masses of Silent Calls.
It was later discovered that these had all come from one company which had a problem with its dialler. |
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Breakfast 7 November 2003 – Film |
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This interview with a representative of the Direct Marketing Association sets the tone for the early phases of the campaign. The DMA followed this by registering a formal complaint with Oftel / Ofcom, on behalf of Paul Costin. |
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Breakfast 7 November 2003 – Studio |
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News of the action taken by Ofcom in respect of Kitchens Direct (MKD Holdings) is reported. It was the other organisation that was the subject of the complaint by the DMA for Paul Costin.
Ofcom, as required by law, acted having regard to its existing published Policy Statement, inherited from Oftel. This was later re-published, without amendment, under Ofcom’s name. |
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BBC News 6 May 2004 |
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The fact that an Informative Message can be used in place of Silence is explained in context.
There is no answer to the vital question of why this obvious solution was not put in place before the intervention of a campaigner. Ofcom is reported as having acknowledged the discovery that a recorded message can be used without a marketing purpose. |
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Breakfast 16 August 2005 - Report |
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Ofcom’s acknowledgement of the legality of the Informative Message is acknowledged and the long-standing failure of the DMA to put this into effect is discussed.
Use of the Informative Message is not the end of telephone nuisance, but it removes the justification for Silent Calls. |
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Breakfast 16 August 2005 – Debate |
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The news that Ofcom has finally used its powers to impose financial penalties on Silent Callers is relayed.
As the purpose of one campaigner’s efforts was simply to persuade Ofcom to use its powers, this modest objective was thereby seen to have been achieved. |
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Breakfast 31 January 2007 |
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“Silent Calls Week” was completed by the announcement of Ofcom investigations into 7 companies. |
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Breakfast 17 June 2005 - Film |
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The discovery that there was no good reason to prevent Silent Calls, without banning use of predictive diallers, was significant as it enabled the DMA and Ofcom to prohibit all Silent Calls.
This obvious solution had previously been rejected on the spurious basis that any use of a recorded message was “illegal”. |
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BBC News 16 August 2005 |
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This item reports on and discusses Silent Calls and the problems they cause. with representatives of Ofcom and the DMA.
The latter makes a spurious claim that the DMA was responsible for the complaint about Kitchens Direct. |
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You and Yours - 6 May 2004 |
Breakfast 16 December 2008 |
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The programme had previously announced a Consultation by the Department of Health covering a proposed ban on the use of revenue sharing 084 telephone numbers in the provision of NHS services. The proposed ban covered all such provision, whether directly or by contractors such as GPs.
This piece shows an interview with a campaigner and a representative of NEG Ltd - the provider of the Surgery Line system, used by many GPs and mostly funded by patients through use of revenue sharing 0844 telephone numbers.
NEG has no proper position from which to express an opinion on how NHS services should be funded. The representative was unwilling to discuss the only aspects on which he could contribute. |
BBC News 16 December 2008 |
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This filmed news story covered the use of a revenue sharing 084 telephone number by a GP, also the Deputy Chairman of the BMA General Practitioners Committee.
The GP tries to explain why he has the system and his patients relate their experiences of it.
The film also includes contributions from the Government Minister and a campaigner. |
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This well-prepared interview features a GP, also the Deputy Chairman of the BMA General Practitioners Committee, and a campaigner.
It followed announcement of the Consultation on a proposal to ban use of revenue sharing 084 telephone numbers in the NHS. |
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Radio 4 Today - 16 December 2008 |
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The earlier announcement on a consultation was followed by an ill-informed discussion with a number of guests and listener contributions. Sadly the presenter was not properly briefed. |
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Radio 2 Jeremy Vine - 16 Dec 2008 |
BBC Radio 5 live - 30 January 2009 |
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This report on the 5 Live Drive programme covered news from Ofcom that it had used its powers to impose an enforceable requirement to cease making Silent Calls for the first time.
Dominic Laurie reports, with contributions from Fr, Andrew Bullock and Stop Silent Calls campaigner David Hickson. |