Duncan Paul, 51, the director of CRDNN Limited, a company notorious for making unsolicited sales calls, has been banned from running a business for eight years. The ban comes after CRDNN plagued homes and businesses with nuisance cold calls, disrupting the lives of millions of people.
CRDNN, based in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, made millions of automated calls in 2018, targeting individuals and businesses with offers related to window scrappage, debt management, window and conservatory sales, and boiler services. Some of these calls falsely claimed to be associated with Scottish and UK government energy-saving schemes.
One particularly concerning incident involved calls made to a Network Rail control center near Fort William, which clogged up the line and created potential safety hazards. Despite numerous complaints, CRDNN continued its aggressive telemarketing tactics.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) took action against CRDNN, imposing a maximum fine of £500,000 in 2020. However, the company went into liquidation without paying the fine. Co-director Stephen Foote, 44, also faced an eight-year ban in January 2023.
Mike Smith, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, emphasised the severity of CRDNN’s actions: “Duncan Paul’s company disrupted the lives of millions of people with persistent, unsolicited cold calls. We have taken robust action to prevent both Paul and Foote from managing any company for eight years.”
During the period from June to October 2018, CRDNN made over 63 million automated calls. The ICO received nearly 3,000 complaints via its online reporting tool, and an additional 411 complaints were submitted through the Telephone Preference Service.
Trevor Callaghan, the ICO’s Director of Enforcement and Investigations, condemned CRDNN’s conduct: “The directors knowingly operated their business with complete disregard for the law and public safety. Their actions caused disruption, annoyance, and distress, potentially endangering important services.”
The ICO remains committed to collaborating with other agencies, including the Insolvency Service, to ensure lasting impact against rogue companies. Disqualifying Paul and Foote prevents them from resurfacing under different names and causing further harm.
CRDNN violated regulations 19 and 24 of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003, which govern the use of automated calling systems. Despite going into liquidation in January 2021, the company’s unpaid fine remains outstanding.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted Duncan Paul’s disqualification undertaking, effective from May 2. Foote’s disqualification began in January 2023, preventing both directors from participating in company management without court permission.
