Is it legal for a company call to try and sell Equity Release

[AMYSULLIVAN]

My father passed away in November 2010 and myself and my father owned the house jointly as Tennants in Common but it has recently been transfered to me.
I had a phone call today which was initially answered by my son in law who just happens to have the same name as my father and it turned out a company trying to sell equity release to my father.
Obviously my father could not have given a valid moirtgage over the house. I am just wandering if it is legal for a company to cold call to try and sell equity release.

Amy

[ChuckFickens]

Why would it not be?

As long as it's a legal service then there is, AFAIK no law to stop anyone calling you to try and sell anything, but you would be covered by the normal distance selling regulations if you did get talked into buying anything, and also if you sign up to the telephone preference service (TPS) then, assuming it's a UK based company, they would no longer be allowed to call you.

[dzug2]

I thought cold calling to sell financial products was if not illegal contrary to the FSA guidelines that any reputable company would adhere to.

[factor-fiction]

Maybe he had enquired about equity release at some stage in the past and they had his details. I know I enquired once for a relative and I made the mistake of giving my phone number, and as a result I get calls from time to time

[factor-fiction]

"I am just wandering ..."