A claims company has become the first to be fined under new powers after making millions of "nuisance calls", the government has announced.

The Hearing Clinic, based in Derby, has been fined £220,000 following hundreds of complaints about speculative calls regarding hearing loss claims. It was the first fine issued by the Claims Management Regulator. The BBC has been unable to contact anyone from the Hearing Clinic for comment. Many of those called by the business had subscribed to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), indicating that they did not want to receive unsolicited calls.

'No hesitation'

The government changed the law in December to allow the industry's watchdog to issue fines. Claims Management Regulator Kevin Rousell said: "Companies should be in no doubt that if they break the rules, then we won't hesitate to fine them, in addition to the tough action we already take.".....Read more here