Warning over misleading data protection letters

Solicitors are being sent misleading letters claiming they have failed to register under the Data Protection Act and risk a big fine.

The letters, headed 'final notice', claim to be from an organisation called 'Data Protection Agency Services' and have been sent to law firms across the country.

They tell the recipients to send a cheque for 95 'in order to commence registration' with the Information Commissioner, or face a maximum 5,000 fine.

The commissioner's office this week stressed that it has no connection to this company, and reminded firms that the statutory annual registration fee they have to pay is just 35.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said it has received 'hundreds' of complaints from businesses targeted by Data Protection Agency Services or other companies with similar names.

A spokeswoman explained: 'It is not unlawful in itself to provide a registration or notification service to data controllers, but other than paying the annual fee of 35, there is no charge for businesses wishing to notify for themselves.'

The BBC's Watchdog programme also carried out an investigation in September last year, and claimed that 8,000 businesses had been taken in by similar letters.

The Gazette was unable to contact the company this week.

The OFT spokeswoman said that law firms targeted by these companies should speak to the Information Commissioner's office for clarification, or contact the OFT if they wish to complain.

Victoria MacCallum