Non-Compliance with Opt-Out Regulations

B

The client in this scenario has explicitly opted out of any marketing activities from the firm or any third parties. Despite this, she continues to receive direct investment offers from the firm. This behavior of the firm is a clear violation of the client's privacy and her wishes.

To address this issue, the client should complain to the firm, citing the Data Protection Act 1998. The Act requires that all personal data must be processed fairly and lawfully, and that individuals have the right to opt-out of direct marketing communications. The firm is therefore obliged to respect the client's opt-out request and cease all marketing communications with her.

While the Conduct of Business rules and Treating Customers Fairly principles also apply to financial services firms, they are not directly relevant to this specific scenario. The Conduct of Business rules primarily address the manner in which financial services are sold and provided, while Treating Customers Fairly is a principle that underpins all regulatory requirements, ensuring that firms act in their customers' best interests.

The Distance Selling Regulations also apply to financial services and require firms to provide clear information about their products and services and the terms of any contract, including the right to cancel the contract within a specified period. However, these regulations primarily apply to distance selling and online transactions and are not directly applicable to the scenario described in the question.