DATA PROTECTION SCAM

The Information Commissioner has again issued warnings not to be misled by bogus agencies who send notices demanding money to register under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). Business owners are being targeted by fake data protection agencies posing as official government bodies. The letters, which typically request sums of £135 to register under the DPA, often use threatening language and are printed on official-looking headed notepaper.

The statutory fee for notification is just £35 a year. Businesses that need to register should go directly to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Phil Jones, who is the Assistant Information Commissioner, said, "The golden rule is that if you receive a letter out of the blue demanding more than £35 to register under the DPA, this will be a scam. Our simple message to businesses is to throw the letter in the bin and not to pay the fee demanded."

The ICO receives over 2,000 calls a month from anxious business owners, and whilst it does not have the powers to take action against the bogus agencies itself, it is working with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), which can take action to outlaw misleading advertisements and recently obtained an injunction in the High Court against the Data Processing Corporation Limited.

Anyone doubting a letter that they have received can go to the notification section at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk or call the ICO notification line on 01625 545 740. Members may read the discussion in Legal and Accounting.

WORKING WITH CLIENTS

PCG's ongoing programme of co-hosted events is proving both popular and successful. Most of them have been organised in association with Affiliate members and other partners, and a few have taken place at client sites.

If you work with a significant number of freelance consultants at a client site, and believe that an evening seminar might be of interest, please get in touch with Mandie Bell on (0845) 125 98 99 or by email at [email protected]. The seminar team can deliver presentations on a range of topics that are of interest to freelance consultants, and to HR and procurement departments, including IR35, S660A, contracts and the new Agency Regulations.

PCG has published a brochure called "Freelancers - your flexible workforce", designed to promote the benefits of using freelancers. If you would like copies of this brochure to be sent to your client, please contact Mandie.

Your freelance colleagues can elect to receive their own copies of Freelancing Matters by registering their details online.

FREELANCING MATTERS

The fourth edition of PCG's Freelancing Matters has been sent to members, Affiliates and a selection of complementary organisations and media outlets. If you are a member and would like additional copies for RLMs and to distribute at client offices, please contact Mandie Bell on (0845) 125 98 99 or by email at [email protected].

Accountants may register to receive Freelancing Matters and other PCG newsletters and publications online.

CFI MEETING IN MANCHESTER

The next meeting of the Collaborative Freelancing Initiative (CFI) will take place in Manchester on Saturday 18 September 2004. Details are available online.

COMMERCIAL FORUM PROJECT POSTINGS

For information about the latest job, project, contract and work opportunities, see PCG's Commercial forum , and Members' Commercial forum. The Commercial forum may be accessed by Affiliate members, and PCG welcomes postings by agencies.

This week's opportunities from the Commercial forums include:

Stewards at music festival - Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Business analysts - London or Rugby

Embedded software engineers - Brugge, Belgium

REAL LIFE MEETINGS

Gloucestershire/Wiltshire - Wednesday 18 August 2004

Farnborough - Tuesday 24 August 2004 19:00

West Midlands - Wednesday 1 September 2004 19:30

Thames Valley - Wednesday 8 September 2004 20:00

Various members have also posted in the RLM forum about potential meetings in Norwich, Edinburgh, Shropshire and South Wales. If you would like to attend RLMs in any of these areas, please register your interest by posting to the relevant thread.

Disclaimer - caveat emptor - PCG carries very limited advertising only from known and reputable Affiliates and complementary organisations. Even so, publication of any advertisement carries no implicit or explicit endorsement by PCG.

Professional Contractors Group Limited
Lakeside House, 1 Furzeground Way
Stockley Park East
Uxbridge
UB11 1BD

Telephone: +44 (0845) 125 9899
Fax: +44 (020) 8622 3200

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