Wolverhampton firm banned from sending nuisance texts after it sent 4.5 million spam texts in JUST eight months

Sweet Media bombarded users with text messages on payday loans, gambling, credit cards and debt management.

Almost 800 complaints were made to the Information Commissioner's Office, which has ordered the firm to stop sending its marketing messages.

The ICO raided the firm's office at Regent House in Bath Avenue, with SIM cards and computer equipment seized.

A subsequent investigation found that the company had sent 4.5million text messages over an eight-month period.

In total, 796 complaints were made to the ICO and to its '7726' spam text reporting service.

The ICO said texts were also sent about pension reviews and mortgage mis-selling.

Sweet Media was in breach of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations to send text messages to people for marketing purposes without their prior consent

The ICO said anyone who received an unsolicited text message should avoid replying and report the message on the ICO website.

Enforcement manager Andy Curry said there was 'no excuse' for what Sweet Media were doing.

He added: "Bombarding people's phones with unwanted marketing messages is against the law.

"Thanks to this enforcement notice there should be one less company annoying people.

"There's no excuse for nuisance texts.

"This action is a direct result of complaints to our office and our raid on their Wolverhampton offices is a clear example of our comprehensive work to tackle spam texts and nuisance calls."

An enforcement notice has been issued to Sweet Media banning it from sending texts unless the person receiving it has given their consent.

The notice reads: "Between July 23, 2013 and May 25, 2014, a total of 796 complaints were made to the Commissioner, or to the 7726 spam text reporting service, from individuals who said that they had received unsolicited marketing text messages.

"The Commissioner is satisfied that these communications were sent or instigated by Sweet Media Ltd for the purposes of direct marketing."

Spam texts can be reported to the network operator by sending them free of charge to 7726. The networks are also working to block the worst offenders.

The ICO has published detailed guidance for companies carrying out marketing – explaining their legal requirements under the Data Protection Act and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations

The guidance covers the circumstances in which organisations are able to carry out marketing over the phone, by text, by email, by post or by fax.

Last week the ICO raided a business centre in Hove thought to be connected to sending four to six million nuisance texts a day.

Sweet Media could not be contacted for comment.