UK data watchdog ICO raids properties in motor‑finance text spam probe
Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) executed search warrants on residential and commercial premises in Bolton, Burnley, Liverpool, London and Swansea as part of a UK‑wide investigation into nuisance motor‑finance text messages. The raids focus on properties linked to five unnamed companies alleged to have sent about 170 million unsolicited finance‑claim texts between September 2025 and May 2024.
The action follows more than 12 million complaints lodged with the ICO since September last year, with daily complaint volumes sometimes reaching 100,000. The ICO is coordinating the probe with the Financial Conduct Authority, Advertising Standards Authority and Solicitors Regulation Authority. Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, said the agency is determined to protect consumers and will act against firms that breach the law.
Entities: Advertising Standards Authority · Andy Curry · Financial Conduct Authority · Information Commissioner’s Office · Solicitors Regulation Authority
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Five unnamed companies are suspected of sending a combined 170 million nuisance motor‑finance text messages between September 2025 and May 2024. (Information Commissioner’s Office)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ICO warned the claims‑management sector to comply with the law or face further action. (Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ICO carried out search warrants on residential and business premises in Bolton, Burnley, Liverpool, London and Swansea. (Information Commissioner’s Office)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ICO is working with the Financial Conduct Authority, Advertising Standards Authority and Solicitors Regulation Authority in the investigation. (Information Commissioner’s Office)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ICO has received more than 12 million complaints about motor‑finance nuisance texts since September last year, with up to 100,000 complaints per day. (Information Commissioner’s Office)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Andy Curry is the head of investigations at the ICO. (Information Commissioner’s Office)