However, the Claims Standards Council, which represents claim management businesses, said the proposals will have "no impact whatsoever on the issues that concern the public like data protection and cold calling, unsolicited text messages or insurance fraud".

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If CMCs are found to have purchased data that can be traced back to unsolicited messages, it is unlawful.

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The unit is also working with the UK's data watchdog to tackle firms who break the law with unsolicited calls and texts, it said.

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