Fundraising Regulator updates Code on TPS compliance
Melanie May | 21 June 2018 | News
The Fundraising Regulator has updated the Code of Fundraising Practice to stress the need for organisations carrying out telephone fundraising to comply with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).
The Regulator has included a short guide to TPS compliance to help fundraisers understand their responsibilities and, following a consultation, has removed the requirement for telephone fundraising agencies to hold mandatory TPS Assured certification.
The rule had stated that telephone fundraising agencies “must have up to date TPS Assured certification”. This has been updated to stress in more general terms the need to evidence compliance with TPS legal requirements.
Advertisement
Stephen Service, Policy Manager at the Fundraising Regulator said:
“We have listened carefully to feedback from telephone agencies and charities on this rule following its introduction in 2015. It’s clear that obtaining TPS assured certification has been a useful and appropriate step for some organisations, but has proven disproportionately burdensome for others.
“The key point is that there is no ’one-size-fits-all’ where monitoring is concerned. Charities and agencies need to be able to evidence their compliance with TPS and take a risk-based approach to how they audit their practices, based on the scale of their fundraising campaigns and the methods used.”
Tamsin Mitchell, Compliance Manager, Telephone Fundraising, Institute of Fundraising said:
“This is a very welcome change to the Code and makes it clear that all organisations carrying out telephone fundraising must ensure and evidence their compliance with the legal obligations regarding the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). The quick guide provides a very clear reference point making it easy to follow the TPS requirements.”
“The change also gives organisations the flexibility to decide how they will record and demonstrate their compliance. This sensible and practical approach by the Fundraising Regulator should remove any previously held concerns or difficulties in complying with both the Code and GDPR.”
- Online fundraising complaints up by 252% during the pandemic (29 September 2021)
- Complaints to Fundraising Regulator rise 13% (5 November 2020)
- Fundraising Regulator income up but more needed to keep it effective, annual report reveals (10 January 2019)
Related posts
Dogs Trust breached Code of Fundraising Practice by calling TPS-registered individual
Fundraising Regulator in webinar on changes to Fundraising Code of Practice
Update to Code of Fundraising Practice to coincide with GDPR implementation
Online fundraising complaints up by 252% during the pandemic
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.