Brighton is the UK capital for unwanted cold calls, targeting its large pensioner population with persistent sales tactics.
UK salespeople make many calls, possibly 50 to 100 each day. In 2023, they made 5.5 million such calls.
Brighton has gained a bad name; people call it the UK’s cold-calling capital.
Brighton’s older folks have suffered from many nuisance calls that targeted them. Cheap rents drew call centers there, though some firms were dishonest and pushy.
The Telegraph says complaints are common, with the ICO getting 60,000 reports yearly.
This hurts Brighton’s image, which is generally known for its pier and beaches. Millions visit Brighton due to its convenience from London.
John Peerless fights cold calls while working for Brighton’s trading standards. He’s battled 40 firms since 2014.
He jokes about their work. These firms were selling cold-call blockers, but the product always changes, he said. He listed Sky warranty and council tax refunds, while appliance cover was common recently.
In 2019, many call centers appeared. The Evening Standard reported roughly 500, targeting Domestic & General’s clients, and many were near Brighton.
D&G fought these con artists, as dishonest people targeted their customers. D&G won against ten of eleven firms, with Apex Assure making millions of calls.
One victim felt worn out because the callers talked fast and hard.
Another said they were persuasive and pushed unwanted services.
Prodial Ltd got a big fine in 2016. The ICO fined them £350,000 when they made 46 million calls from Brighton. Many people complained; one felt helpless.
A doctor felt worried as the calls hindered emergency responses. Many Brighton residents are older, with about 13% are over 65 now.