Useful links
We have created an extensive collection of links below to trusted resources and industry regulators to support individuals, businesses and professionals in navigating the UK’s marketing and data landscape.
Each link directs you to trusted organisations for reporting, advice, compliance, and industry‑leading standards—helping ensure transparency, accountability, and consumer protection within marketing and data use.
Action Fraud
If you are concerned that a company is acting fraudulently or criminally, you can contact your local police or local trading standards office or you can contact Action Fraud.
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)
The ASA is the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across all media, including marketing on websites. The ASA works to ensure ads are legal, decent, honest and truthful by applying the Advertising Codes. The ASA works to make every UK ad a responsible ad, handling complaints, monitoring ads, conducting research and providing guidance to the industry.
Citizens Advice Consumer Service
The Citizens Advice consumer helpline provides free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues. Call 0808 223 1133 (Welsh language service: 0808 223 1144).
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue
Communications Ombudsman
The Ombudsman provides a free and impartial service that aims to resolve disputes between consumers and providers in the communications sector.
Data & Marketing Association
The DMA is the UK’s trade association for the data and marketing industry. Its vision is a data and marketing industry where every organisation takes a ‘customer-first’ approach. As the voice of the data and marketing industry, its responsibility is to prove the responsible and innovative use of data in marketing drives business growth. It sets the standards for the good of marketers, and most importantly, customers.
Financial Ombudsman Service
The FOS is a free and easy to use service that settles complaints between consumer and businesses that provide financial services.
Financial Conduct Authority
The FCA regulates financial services in the UK, setting standards for firms to meet and holding them to account if they don't.
Fundraising Regulator
The Fundraising Regulator is the independent regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They work to build public trust and confidence and ensure consistently high fundraising standards across the UK. They investigate complaints about fundraising where the fundraising has caused harm or has the potential to cause harm, considering whether there has been a breach of the code and taking action as necessary.
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
The ICO is the UK's independent regulator for data protection and information rights.
They achieve this by:
- educating organisations, through guidance and engagement to understand when and how they can use personal data;
- taking action against organisations that do not comply with the law;
- helping individuals to understand and exercise their rights; and
- working with other regulators in the UK and globally to improve information rights standards.
Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)
IPSO is the independent regulator for the newspaper, magazine and digital news industry.
Ofcom
Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day.
Preference Services
The Telephone Preference Service, Fax Preference Service, Mailing Preference Service, Baby Mailing Preference Service: These Preference Services allow individuals to register their preference to reduce personally addressed unsolicited marketing mailing, telephone calls and faxes.
Resolver
Resolver is a free, independent issue resolution service and connects consumers with organisations to help find the best outcome every time. Resolver helps users understand rights, raise complaints, and reclaim money, potentially finding overcharges, mis-sales, or legal redress, with legal experts.
Royal Mail unaddressed mail
Royal Mail are legally obliged to deliver all addressed mail, which includes mail that is addressed "To the Occupier" (or with any other generic recipient information), as well as mail that is personally addressed to you by name.
Opting out of Royal Mail Door to Door stops all unaddressed mail from being delivered. However, in rare cases, they work with the government to deliver important messages to every UK address when it's in the national interest.
https://help.royalmail.com/personal/s/article/How-to-opt-out-of-advertising-mail
Trading Standards
Local Trading Standards Departments can investigate complaints about scams and dishonest traders operating in their areas of responsibility.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/
US Email Preference Service (eMPS)
Registration with the eMPS can help reduce marketing emails from members of the DMA US and some other marketing organisations. It is a free service which lasts for 5 years.
Your Choice
Many local and national organisations communicate information to people using unaddressed mail and door to door material delivered directly to their homes. The ‘Your Choice’ scheme informs distribution companies of the householder’s preference to stop the delivery of these items. For example, free newspapers, catalogues, advertising brochures and money-off coupons.