Fax Preference Service (FPS) and Telephone Preference Service (TPS)

Posted by bowraven on 14 May, 2008 under Business advice, How to save money ideas for business | 2 Comments to Read

I had register my company for TPS – the telephone preference service not realising that I also need to register for FPS – the fax preference service. We kept receiving those unwanted faxes that use paper, but especially expensive inkjet cartridges!!

It was only after speaking with one of the companies that had sent us a fax and they suggested registering and when I said we were already registered, they apologised and suggested we contact the FPS to see what had gone wrong. It was at this point when I went to their website that we were not registered with both – there are probably so many businesses still out there that might not realise these can be stopped quite easily!

The FPS/TPS website has the folowing info:

Welcome to FPS Online

Under Government legislation introduced on 1 May 1999 it is unlawful to send an individual an unsolicited sales and marketing fax without prior permission. Businesses have the opportunity to register fax numbers on which they do not wish to receive direct marketing faxes.

You can do this by registering with the Fax Preference Service. Although this Service is primarily aimed at businesses, as individuals have protection under the legislation, individuals may also register their fax numbers if they wish.

Before you apply however, you should be aware that registration may preclude you or your business from receiving information of value – thereby cutting you off from worthwhile business opportunities.

Welcome to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS)

The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is the central opt out register on which you can record your preference not to receive unsolicited sales and marketing telephone calls to your home or mobile telephone numbers. It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so.

Organisations with which you have an ongoing relationship, for example those who regard you as a customer, (or in the case of charities – a donor) may well gather your consent during the early stages of your relationship with them and will therefore be entitled to call you even if your number is registered on TPS, unless you have previously told them specifically that you object to them calling you for marketing purposes.

The TPS can accept the registration of mobile telephone numbers, however it is important to note that this will prevent the receipt of marketing voice calls but not SMS (text) messages. If you wish to stop receiving SMS marketing messages, please send an ‘opt-out’ request to the company involved.

As TPS registration only prevents marketing calls, organisations will still be able to call you for the purposes of genuine market research.

Before you register with TPS…

It is worth reflecting on the fact that registering may well prevent you from receiving relevant and worthwhile information. For instance charities find telemarketing to be an economical way to raise awareness and much needed support.

To register with both of these services click here