The British Theatre Guide: Data Protection Scam

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Dateline: 24th September, 2003

Scam Targeting Theatre Companies

Theatres and theatre companies are the current targets of a money-making scam from private companies which give the impression of being official bodies, informing them that they should be registered under the Data Protection Act and charging a fee of between £85 and £95 for making the registration. In some cases, although not with any theatres or theatre companies we've heard about, an "inspector", compete with official-looking identity card, has actually visited the premises. Some companies have received an invoice which says that they are in breach of the law and that they must pay the fee immediately.

This is a scam!

The Information Commissioner's website - http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk/dpars.htm - has the following warning:

It has come to our attention that individuals posing as "collectors on behalf of data protection" are attending business premises requesting payment for Data Protection Registration. These "collectors" produce identification cards and receipt books.

There is no connection between the Information Commissioner and such individuals. The Commissioner advises those approached in this way not to make any payment and to notify the local police.

The Commissioner is keen to make clear that there is no connection between his Office and these businesses. He has been disturbed that a number of people have been confused and troubled by the wording and tone of some of the correspondence issued by these businesses. His Office is cooperating with other relevant authorities, who are exploring what action might be taken.

Speaking from his Office in Wilmslow, Cheshire, he said, "I advise data controllers to ignore any approach made by these businesses, who appear to be charging up to £95 + VAT for notification. Other than paying the annual statutory notification fee of £35, on which no VAT is payable, there is no charge made by this Office to any data controller wishing to notify."

Organisations who wish to complain about correspondence received from these businesses, should contact their local Trading Standards Office.

The DP lists the corganisations which are carrying out this scam:

Data Protection Act Registration Service
51 Brackley, St Georges, Manchester M15 4FS

Data Protection Agency Services Ltd
37-39 Shakespeares St, Southport PR8 5AB

Data Protection Agency Registration Services Ltd
Unit 5, Omega House, Capital Business Park, Kirkby Bank Rd, Kirkby, Liverpool L33 7SY

Data Protection Agency Registration Services
Omega House, Lloyds Buildings, 126-128 Stanford St Central, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6AG

Data Protection Agency Registrations
2 Ambleside Road, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire FY8 2LJ

Data Protection Agency Registrations
Criterion House, 3 Thorngrove Ave, Baguley, Manchester M23 9PQ

Data Protection Registration Agency
Rugby House, 23 Rugby Drive, Aintree, Liverpool L10 8JU

Data Protection Registration Agency
Hyde House 6 Plain Pitt St Hyde Cheshire SK14 4QL

Data Protection Agency Services
Padgate House 19a Princess Ave Padgate Warrington WA1 3TS

Data Registration Services Agency
5 Little Wade, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 4LE

Data Protection Agency Services
64 Brownley Road, Smallthorne, Stoke on Trent, ST6 1PY

Data Protection Enforcement Agency (Data Protection Act Registration Service)
Murlain Centre, Union St, Chester, CH1 1QP

Data Protection (Renewals)
Hawks House, 2 Talman Grove, Ashton in Makerfield, WN4 8XW

Data Processing Protection Corporation
DPPC, PO Box 56, Guisborough. TS14 6WT

Data Protection Agency Services, DPA Enforcement Section
Ferrars House, 94 Ferrars Road, Sheffield, S9 1RY

Crown Data Collection Enforcement Agency
193 Market St, Hyde, Cheshire. SK14 1HF

Data Protection Corporation
P O Box 56, Guisborough, TS14 6WT

Data Protection Agency Services
Summerseat House, Liverpool, L3 6HB

Data Protection Agency Services
Fleetwood House, Fleetwood, FY7 7BH

Data Protection Agency Services
Harrington House, 90 Harrington Road, South Norwood, London, SE25 4LY

Data Protection Agency Services
Atlantic House, 1st Floor, 56 Ramsbottom Street, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 3AN

Data Protection Agency Services
Hyde House, 193 Market Street, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 1HF

Data Protection Agency Services
4 Haslow Place, Blackpool, FY3 7PE

Data Protection Bureau
PO BOX 10899, Birmingham, B29 6ZR

Data Protection (Renewals)
Hilton House, 71 - 73 Chapel Street, Manchester, M3 5BZ

Data Protection Enforcement Agency
Hilton House, 71 - 73 Chapel Street, Manchester, M3 5BZ

Data Protection Agency Services
Sherbourne House, 80 Sherbourne Road, Blackpool, FY1 2PQ

Data Protection Registration Services
Waterside House, Railshead Road, Isleworth, TW7 7BY

DPAS (Renewals)
30 Myers Road West, Crosby, L23 0RU

Data Protection (Renewals)
Browning House, 19 Hallgarth Terrace, Ferry Hill, County Durham. DL17 8HZ

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