Contact the FPS to get numbers removed

But it seems the system for faxes hasn't been operating as well as had been hoped.

There are seven times as many complaints about faxes as there are about phone calls.

One of the big problems is money.

If you tell a phone operation you don't want any more calls, then they won't waste time and cash calling you.

Marketers won't want to talk to people who clearly don't want to listen.

HOW COMPLAINTS ARE PROCESSED

Company is sent preliminary notice Formal notice sent Company can appeal - this can take months Prosecution a possibility

But sending faxes is so automated, it can be cheaper for a company to ignore your request and carry on than to actively remove your number.

There is legislation to take action against businesses which continue to send faxes.

But the data authorities says it's just too cumbersome, so gets no results.

Appeal

Firms can be issued with enforcement notices, but if they appeal, that can delay things for several months - during which time they can keep sending you faxes.

Businesses can ultimately be taken to court, where they face fines of �5,000.

But only four enforcement notices have so far been issued - and no further action has been taken in any of those cases.

The authorities want to see the whole process streamlined.

It's currently tacked on to the Data Protection Act and fulfils a European directive from 1999.

Shorten

But further talks are currently being held in Europe to look at how to shorten the procedure and to extend it to encompass e-mail.

Because the transgression rate with unwanted faxes is higher than expected, the UK authorities are keen to see a review here as well.

If you have a problem with faxes, you can contact the Fax Preference Service on 0845 070 0702 or visit their website at www.fpsonline.org.uk where you can enrol.

"It becomes effective 28 days after you have registered the number and at that point it goes out to the industry, so the industry knows that number is not to be sent this type of material," explains Tessa Kelly of the Direct Marketing Association.

"Your number will remain on the file for as long as you want it to, so unless you cancel it or you move and you don't take your number with you, it will still be effective."

There are similar services for direct mail and telephone marketing - the Mailing Preference Service and the Telephone Preference Service, both to be found at www.mpsonline.org.uk.