Issued By West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service

Data Protection Agencies Continue To Target West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Consumer Helpline continues to be inundated with enquiries from local business who have received apparently official letters demanding payment of £95 for compliance with Data Protection Act 1998.

Several companies such as the Data Protection Agency and the Data Protection Registration Agency have jumped on the bandwagon, taking the opportunity to try to profit from recent changes to Data Protection Legislation.

The misleading letters give the impression that they come from the Information Commissioner, and that the business receiving them is under a legal obligation to register with the company immediately.

Some companies are even attempting to profit further by collecting fines for breaches of Data Protection Act 1998. Only the Information Commissioner has the authority to deal with infringements of the Act.

Some businesses processing personal data are required by law to register with the Information Commissioner. The statutory fee for this is only £35. However, some small business that process personal data for limited purposes may not need to register and the Information Commissioner does NOT send out threatening letters demanding payment. The Information Commissioner can be contacted direct on 01625 545 745.

The Office of Fair Trading is looking into these companies.

Martin Wood, Chief Officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service said:

“I urge all businesses to be vigilant when checking unexpected invoices and demands for payment. Don’t be misled into making payments to unnecessary intermediaries seeking to profit at the expense of small businesses. Injunctions have been obtained against some individuals behind these companies, but unfortunately "copycat" operations keep springing up”

Ian Williams, Deputy Chief Executive at Leeds Chamber of Commerce added “I welcome this warning from West Yorkshire Trading Standards. A number of Chamber members have received these letters and the advice to make sure all request for payments are checked is one that I am sure many businesses will take note of”

For further information please contact:

John Field Consumer Services Manager 0113 2898238
Carol Hallett General Media Contact 0113 3836407