As you know, these days you don’t have to register with a particular site to receive e-mails. Your e-mail address can be obtained from various sources, including the Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) website.
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Recent European Union anti-spamming regulations were put in place, if not to stop, then to cut down on the amount of unsolicited e-mails, with such e-mails having to provide an ‘unsubscribe’ facility. It’s not enough that every Tom, Dick and Harry sends you unsolicited mail, but some less professional organisations continue to spam you.
I have received a series of such spam recently from a business development manager of a certain firm, although it is a little difficult to see who she works for as she uses two e-mail addresses. My initial complaints requesting to be unsubscribed went unanswered, then on the third attempt I was told:
‘I appreciate that it is incredibly annoying to be inundated with e-mails – I too find it very frustrating. I have tried to remove you from the list, however given that I have over 2,000 names to look through, it is proving difficult.’
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I then e-mailed, advising they were in breach of EU anti-spamming regulations and that they must have an ‘unsubscribe’ facility. A copy of this e-mail was also sent to their IT department. The reply was:
'So glad to see you haven’t over reacted. Much.’
I had hoped that, despite the flippant reply, my demand had finally got through. Not the case. I have now filed a complaint with the Information Commissioner and copied my complaint and further request to unsubscribe to the firm’s IT and compliance departments.
At a time when the FSA is pressing ‘Treating Customers Fairly’, isn’t it nice that such unprofessional firms are treating us otherwise?
Martyn Barberry
Stirling Mortgage Network Ltd
