Data Protection Enforcement Agency?

[simpo two]

A self-employed friend has just received a letter from the 'Data Protection Enforcement Agency'. It says that all business were obliged to register, that he has failed to reply to previous letters, and that he must sent £135 to a PO Box in Blackpool to avoid further prosecution, fines etc.

It sounds like a complete scam to me and I've suggested he send it to Trading Standards.

Has anyone else met this?

[plotloss]

Yep and its a scam.

Bin it and live a happy stress free life.

[shadowninja]

Yes, it is a scam... you can (should?) register with www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/

for £35.

See here for scams:
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/eventual.aspx?id=4016

The above site is the official government organisation...

[Eric Mc]

Scam - and it seems to emanate from the North West, like a lot of these Data Protection related frauds!

[simpo two]

shadowninja said:

The above site is the official government organisation...

But the Government is a scammer too! They say that if we just give them all our money, everything will be wonderful. But it isn't! Scam!

[superlightr]

scam.

come to think of it the DPAct is a scam as well. What a bunch of one sided quangos.

Had a run in with them, defend myself- not even given a chance, 'probably guity of an infringement' .... warning and dont do it again....

ffs all done by a single letter to me with no chance to defend or put my side.

This is one of the many places our taxes are being wasted upon. Grrrrr

[Muncher]

iirc, it's not a "scam" in the true sense of the word.

They will register you with the information commisioner, just charge you £100 odd for doing it!

I'm not sure if it's truly illegal.

[Muncher]

iirc, it's not a "scam" in the true sense of the word.

They will register you with the information commisioner, just charge you £100 odd for doing it!

I'm not sure if it's truly illegal.

[shadowninja]

ooo the choice. which one to click "quote" on?

Muncher said:

iirc, it's not a "scam" in the true sense of the word. They will register you with the information commisioner, just charge you £100 odd for doing it! I'm not sure if it's truly illegal.

tbh you're right. it's no worse than tesco charging £5 (an arbitrary sum) to do your shopping for you.

[Eric Mc]

No, it is a scam if they do not explain to you what service they are providing and that there is a cheaper alternative. When you contract with a supermarket you know exactly what you are paying for - there is no duplicity involved.

These guys "pretend" to be a government agency enforcing a legal requirement - something they have no authority to do. In my mind this is no different to someone impersonating a police officer, which IS a criminal offence. They can get away with this type of carry on because there are now so many government "Agencies", "Authorities", "Enforcement Partnerships" etc that many people can be easily fooled by an organisation which "sounds" official.