MOST of us have experienced the frustration of a nuisance call.

How many times have we raced to the phone only to hear a recorded message drone on about how to get yourself out of debt, or being forced to listen to people selling everything from fuel supplies to solar panels for the home?

If this sounds familiar then you’ve obviously endured a similar experience. However, while we may be able-bodied and can easily get to the phone, let’s just think about those with disabilities who struggle to walk a few paces. Imagine what it is like when they’ve put in all that effort to answer the call only to be faced with the frustratingly fruitless point of their efforts?

Being badgered in our own homes – or even in business – is annoying, so news that companies who cause distress through cold-calling and nuisance texts could be fined up to £500,000 has to be music to our ears has it not?

Businesswoman Kirstin Ferrie, who runs Pure Pilates and Wellness Studio in Ilkley, is often plagued by marketing calls at home and in the workplace.

She says she receives calls, generally about PPI, on a daily basis and often automated messages are left on the studio phone.

“I get it at home and on the mobile and I also get it on the business line as well,” she says.

Kirstin estimates she receives at least two or three on the business phone and one on the mobile or home phone on a daily basis.

“It is completely unwelcome and I think it is not only a complete waste of the company’s time, it is a waste of my time. If I’d wanted to hear from them I would have called them,” she explains.

Ministers are currently looking at changes in the law which could see a lower legal hurdle for when action can be taken giving watchdogs more power to pursue rogue firms when the reforms come into effect in April.

They are also looking at introducing mandatory caller line identification (CLI) so that all marketing callers will have to display their telephone numbers, as well as proposals that would hold company bosses accountable for nuisance calls.

Welcoming plans for the reforms, Kirstin adds: “I think it is a super idea.”

She also says it will be interesting to see where the money reclaimed through fining those companies which cause distress through cold-calling and nuisance texts is spent.

Culture minister Ed Vaizey said the new regulations, which mean the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will no longer have to prove that a firm has caused “substantial damage or substantial distress” before launching action, will open up the number of cases that can be pursued.

“For far too long, companies have bombarded people with unwanted marketing calls and texts, and escaped punishment because they did not cause enough harm,” he says.

“This change will make it easier for the ICO to take action against offenders and send a clear message to others that harassing consumers with nuisance calls or texts is just not on. We’re also going to look at whether the powers the ICO have to hold to account board-level executives for such behaviour are sufficient or we need to do more.”

About four out of five people are regularly cold-called at home and about one third are left feeling intimidated, according to research by consumer group Which?

More than 15,642 nuisance call and text complaints were made to the ICO in November, with 2,377 relating to solar panel calls and 1,830 to PPI. Over the year, complaints totalled more than 175,000.

The ICO has taken enforcement action against nine companies for nuisance calls and text messages since January 2012, with the fines totalling £815,000.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd, who chaired the nuisance calls task force that advised the Government, said: “We welcome the Government making good on its promise to change the law so it’s easier to prosecute nuisance callers.

“These calls are an everyday menace blighting the lives of millions so we want the regulator to send a clear message by using their new powers to full effect without delay.

“It’s also good news that the Government has listened to our call and is looking into how senior executives can be held to account if their company makes nuisance calls.”

An Ofcom spokesman said: “Ofcom is working with Government and the ICO in a coordinated effort to tackle nuisance calls. We use our powers to take action against companies that breach the rules on silent and abandoned calls.”

Ofcom has levied about £2 million in fines (£1,926,500) to firms who have breached rules on silent and abandoned calls.