News reports located on this page = 2.

The number of people in the North West irritated by nuisance calls

THERE'S a lot to be argued about in this world, but one thing's for sure; we are all outraged by cold calls. On a daily basis Brits will experience incessant calls from withheld numbers, ones we simply do not recognise, and the persistent caller on the other end of the phone who simply will not take no for an answer.

According to recent reports from The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), more than 104,000 complaints were made about nuisance calls and messages between January and September 2018. With Ofcom* estimating more than 3.9 billion cold calls and texts were made in Britain alone in 2018. As a result:- RecycleZone.Org.UK analysed a customer experience survey conducted by Ofcom to better understand the extent of the cold call problem and how consumers react.

The survey revealed that despite technological advances only 69% of UK adults use a smartphone, which unsurprisingly is highest among 25-34 year olds (89%). More interestingly, 16% of those surveyed own a mobile phone without smart features. With only a mere 5% not owning any sort of telecommunications device, it is clear to see how nuisance calls have become such an epidemic across the UK.

Recyclezone can reveal that the most common type of unsolicited call are:- 'Sales and Marketing calls' with 39% of UK adults having experienced a cold call of this nature. The north west has received 35% of:- 'Sales and Marketing calls' cold calls alone. Coming in 2nd across the UK is 'Recorded message' with 24% received equally in the north west. Thereafter, 'Silent calls' is also the 3rd most common type of cold call across the UK and north west at 22%. Finally:- 'Sales and Marketing texts' rank last with 17% (19% across the UK).

Predictably, a staggering 78% of all those living in the north west who received a recorded message on either their mobile or landline:- 'Hang up immediately' (compared to 74% across the UK population). And it seems:- 'Listening to some of the message before hanging up' is prevalent among 22% of adults in the north west, and 23% of those across the UK.

Recyclezone can also reveal that the most common intent behind an unsolicited call in the UK is 'Telling you about a product or service' with 56% of British adults having received a call of this nature. Interestingly, a staggering 93% of nuisance calls received in the north west were product or service based. The 2nd most common intent of a cold call was:- 'Reminding you of an appointment' (62%), 'Telling you a company has tried to call you' (55%) and lastly 'Telling you about a competition' with 30%.

* This survey was updated on the 28 September 2018, surveying UK adults of all demographics and social classes. The following questions were analysed: Q.1, Q.6A6B, Q.7Ai7Bi, Q.7Aii7Bii, of which the number of respondents vary per question.

Northwest Attraction announces price drop to help stretch family budgets

NORTHWEST theme park Southport Pleasureland have announced an across the board reduction in prices to make the 2019 family entertainment budget go even further. The park's more than 40 rides and attractions will start from as little as ₤1 with a top price of ₤3 for the big rides to mark a period of intense investment and expansion. The price reductions are an initiative sparked by the park's new marketing manager Lauren Cronley. Lauren wanted to:- 'mum test' a day at Pleasureland to make sure the end user experience was fully understood. Lauren, whose background includes roles as marketing and digital marketing manager at a packaging producer and a spectacles manufacturer in the Region, herself a mum of 2 young sons, set out to see how the park could add extra value to the family day out. Lauren, 34, joined the park in March 2019 and is from Crosby, said that:- "We wanted to ensure that families have a great day at the park, that we deliver excellent value and quality and that those families come back. We also wanted to say thank you to everyone who has supported the park as we embark on this next phase of rapid growth. Pleasureland will always be free to enter, but the new prices for rides and attractions will encourage people to make a day of it; and that's got to be good for the local economy."