A payout of $229k is a terribly large payout for a minor irritation caused by sheer incompetence on the part of the defendant. Lives and limbs are frequently valued lower.
I mean, the average British mobile phone owner probably receives 100 or so irritating automated telemarketing calls a year, all of them worthless spam and many of them originating from the same party - can we all have $229k too?
It's a punitive charge, designed to get the company to realize the cost of their gross negligence. Besides, I'd be willing to bet that 90% of it went to the plaintiff's lawyers.
Swings and roundabouts, no worries. If a comment seems unfairly 'greyed out', usually someone else will come along and at least nudge it back to neutral.
There is a large fine per call because robocallers are relentless at skirting and flat out breaking the law. This is so common. Each time I moved I ended up getting endless debt collection calls on the new line. If you can even talk to a real human (so many hang ups, or "call this number" with no option to speak), they argue with you, scream at you, hang up quickly before you can finish with what you are saying. I was shocked a year or so ago when the person actually talked with me, asked if I knew about the person they were looking for, gave me a number to call if I ever did have contact or learn anything, and the calls from them stopped from then on. I shouldn't have to be shocked about what is normal behavior, but I was.
229K is a pittance. It won't stop anything - an out of the blue one time 229K hit is nothing compared to the millions they are making by acting this way. Sure, that particular woman hit the lottery, but for fines to have any meaning whatsoever they need be large enough for deterrence (because obviously things like having a conscience or being good actors is right out).
edit: I upvoted you. I don't understand why people down vote people for having what they perceive as an incorrect opinion or thought.
If an individual did this, they wouldn't get the benefit of the doubt that it was simply due to incompetence, given an affordable fine, and otherwise left to go about their lives. They'd be put in jail. TWC got off lightly.
I mean, the average British mobile phone owner probably receives 100 or so irritating automated telemarketing calls a year, all of them worthless spam and many of them originating from the same party - can we all have $229k too?