Take Care on Data Protection Registration says MP                                                                  

Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow, has warned local small businesses to beware of companies giving the impression of being officially involved in data protection registration.

Mr Gerrard said "There are several companies who are writing to small businesses and other organisations, including schools, about registration under the Data Protection Act. Together with their letters they send out a form which has the appearance of an official form, and the letters warn that failure to register can result in fines of up to £5000."

"They then charge a fee of over £100, including VAT. All that they are doing is passing on the form to the Information Commissioner (formerly the Data Protection Registrar). The fee for registering directly with the Commissioner is £35 and no VAT is payable."

"The Information Commissioner's website draws attention to several such companies, makes it clear that they have no official standing and advises people to ignore any approach by these business and to register directly. The website also advises anyone who wants to complain about correspondence from these companies to contact their local Trading Standards Office."

"I am concerned that people are being persuaded that these companies have some official standing, and are then paying much more than they need to for data protection registration. I shall be taking this up with Government Ministers to ask for action to put a stop to these activities."     

Sept 2002

Home Page     |     News & Views     |     Press Archive