Originators of spam text messages soliciting PPI and personal injury claims are in line for £250,000 fines. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will announce this week whether it will issue the penalty – the first for spam texts – against two individuals who it believes are responsible for millions of texts sent every day.

The two were contacted earlier this month and asked to prove they were complying with the law, the ICO said.

About two-thirds of the 8.7 million spam texts sent every day are related to accident compensation or PPI claims. ‘The public have told us that they are increasingly concerned about the illegal marketing texts and calls,’ said Simon Entwisle, director of operations for the ICO.

John Spencer, director of PI firm Spencers Solicitors, said spam texts show the profession in a very poor light. ‘We need to stay firm in terms of not accepting instructions when they come through this route,’ he said.

Spam texts are outlawed by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.