apparently it's okay if you've been sent an unsolicited letter telling you that someone is going to call ....

from hansard yesterday -

'John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on cold-calling by Pension Service staff of pensioners; how many such calls the Pension Service has made in each of the last 24 months, broken down by region; whether the calls are made by Pension Service employees; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the script used by callers.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department does not "cold call" pensioners. Telephone calls are in certain circumstances made to pensioners who may be eligible for pension credit to ask if they wish to apply. In all such cases the recipient would already have received at least one letter about pension credit, including one informing them that such a call might be made. The Department has also sent letters to customers to inform them of the change to Direct Payment, a safer and more secure method of paying benefits and pensions. These letters advise customers that we will try to call them if we do not hear from them.'