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11 Broad Street, Bradford, BD1 4QT - Tel 01274 729178 - Fax 01274 725470 - Email
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• these pleasant people are mailing businesses with something that looks like an invoice (although it does make clear that it isn't a bill merely a solicitation. but I'm not sure that makes sending out something that looks like a bill any less dodgy).
• they ostensibly offer an "internet listing service" for £65 pa (no VAT though!) plus a ranking service - all of which are available at zero cost from various internet sites.
• interestingly this seemingly dodgy lot are accepting payment by visa/mastercard
• suggested action - put the invoice on the nail in your toilet.

The Data Collection Enforcement Agency (and similar)

• Business throughout the country are being targeted by the above opportunistic organisation in a campaign based on the Data Protection legislation. Businesses receive an official looking brown envelope which contains an "urgent notice" which plays on the fact that failure to comply with the legislation is a criminal offence and two forms to be completed and returned with a fee of £95 plus VAT. The organisation has no connection with the Information Commissioner who is responsible for administering the register of Data Controllers under the Data Protection Act 1998. Unfortunately, to quote the Information Commissioner's statement "it is not unlawful in itself to provide a registration/notification service to Data Controllers" 
• The official annual registration fee is £35 and details of whether you need to register and an online registration form maybe found at http://www.dpr.gov.uk. If you receive any notice claiming a fee plus VAT from the above or any similar sounding organisation you should first visit this website or contact the Information Commissioner (01625 545740). It is unlikely that payment of a fee to an organisation unconnected with the Information Commissioner will result in any benefit to a business beyond that with they would obtain from registering directly, indeed if they do in fact pass your details to the real Notification department you will receive a further bill for the statutory fee of £35.
• The Information Commissioner is advising that any such forms received be passed to your local trading standards office. 

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