A BURY telecoms company is under investigation after six overseas firms behind a mass of spam and scam text messages received record fines.

Smile Telecom Ltd, based at the Bury Business Centre in Kay Street, acted as UK agents for the six who have each been fined £75,000 by the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services.

The premium rate services regulator imposed the penalties on the companies for breaching its code of practice by sending unsolicited text messages; making unsolicited phone calls; using automated calling equipment to leave "missed calls" on mobile phones.

ICSTIS say these actions were deliberately designed to "trick people" into calling premium rate numbers, at up to £1.50p per minute, to claim prizes that either did not exist or, at most, were woefully below what was promised.

But Smile has refused a demand to undertake any redress and say they are not responsible for the marketing of phone numbers.

ICSTIS director George Kidd said: "The case is of particular concern as the six companies all have the same UK agent operating on their behalf (a company called Smile Telecom, based in Bury) and all have the same mailing address. We have instructed redress to be paid to those affected, but Smile Telecom has refused to compensate complainants unless requested to do by its six clients."

It is understood that Smile acted as agent between the six service providers and four unnamed telephone companies.

It is understood the Bury firm, acting as a reseller, subsequently passed these numbers to the six companies fined.

ICSTIS has barred the six and has brought the case to the attention of the DTI, Ofcom and the police. It will continue to investigate the links between those involved and the case for any further action.

A spokesman said: "Smile did have a relationship with these six companies and we need to investigate that further.

"Our concern is that these six companies asked Smile to be their UK agent. These six don't seem to exist at Companies House or have recently folded. Yet, they all have the same mailing address. We are not convinced all these companies actually exist."

Smile, which has had a presence in Bury for around six months, is the UK representative for many British and overseas companies that wish to offer telecommunications services in this country, Europe and other parts of the world.

In a statement on behalf of the directors, Smile said: "Smile Telecom Ltd has no responsibility for the marketing of the numbers, automated messages, the call centre, the fulfilment of awards or, in other words, the service itself."