Corporate Telephone Preference Services (CTPS)
The Corporate Telephone Preference Services (CTPS) is a database containing telephone numbers of businesses who have opted out of receiving marketing calls. As of June 2024, the CTPS includes millions of business numbers. Compliance with CTPS regulations is mandatory, and companies that fail to adhere to these guidelines may face significant fines from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Introduction
What it is:
The Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS) is a central registry containing mobile and landline numbers for businesses who wish to opt out of receiving unsolicited sales and marketing calls. It is an essential resource for businesses to avoid contacting businesses who do not wish to receive such calls. It is a legal requirement for companies to stop making such calls to numbers listed on the CTPS.
The specific data available within the CTPS file typically includes:
Company Name: The name of the business that has registered.
Telephone Number: The landline telephone number(s) that the business has registered to opt out of unsolicited sales and marketing calls.
Date of Registration: The date when the telephone number(s) were registered with the CTPS.
Legal Compliance
Relevant Regulations:
The CTPS ensures companies comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018. It is important for businesses to respect an individual’s preferences to avoid potential complaints and maintain consumer trust. Failure to adhere with CTPS guidelines can lead to complaints being raised with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and in some cases, companies could face substantial fines.
Compliance Benefits:
By utilising the CTPS, companies ensure they observe these regulations, thus avoiding potential fines and legal issues. This also improves brand reputation by respecting the privacy preferences of other businesses.
Benefits for Businesses
Operational Benefits:
Using the CTPS file enhances data accuracy by identifying and suppressing business numbers that should not be contacted for marketing purposes.
Reputational Benefits:
Respecting a business’s preference to opt-out of marketing communication helps your company to maintain a positive brand image and fosters better business relationships.
Financial Benefits:
By avoiding fines from non-compliance and improving the targeting of marketing campaigns, businesses can see an improved ROI and decreased operational costs.
Data Collection
Sources of Information:
The CTPS data is administered by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and is collated from registrations by businesses directly with the CTPS service.
Data Accuracy and Updates:
The CTPS data is updated regularly, six days a week, to ensure the data available is accurate and relevant. New registrations are promptly processed and added to the database, providing companies with the most up-to-date information available.
Application and Usage
Use Cases:
Businesses utilise the CTPS file to cleanse their marketing contact lists, so they do not call business numbers registered on the CTPS. This is vital for B2B telemarketing campaigns.
Implementation:
Businesses can integrate the CTPS data into their CRM systems or use it as part of their data cleansing services to routinely check and update their contact lists.
If your business wishes to register its numbers on the CTPS to avoid unsolicited sales calls, please visit the Corporate Telephone Preference Service website. The CTPS allows businesses to register their objection to receiving direct marketing calls.
