ÔData Protection ActÕ firm targets practices

Optical practices are being warned to be on the look out for direct mail campaigns urging them to register with the Data Protection Act.Direct mailings have been received at practices in Scotland and the south from a company called Data Protection Agency Services Ltd. One practitioner, Diarmid MacArthur of Look Opticians in Erskine, said the envelope and its contents looked very official and was worded to highlight the fines for non-registration.ÔI was about to send the cheque before my wife and I had second thoughts,Õ he said. ÔI understand other practices in my area have received the form as well.ÕThe cost of using the service is £95 plus VAT, much higher than is actually necessary. Practices which hold patient records on a computer should be registered under the Data Protection Act. Registration costs £35 for three years and is not liable for VAT.London-based optometrist Monte Karbaron also received the letter. He contacted the Data Protection Registrar to check its validity, as he is already registered.He said: ÔThe officer told me that, while the letter is from a company that will register the applicants, it is apparently sending notices out to all opticians, regardless of whether they are already registered. Their advice is to ignore this notice and bin it. Apparently, dentists and other professionals have already been targeted.Õ u All of the information needed to register and the warning about companies purportedly overcharging for registration can be found at www.dpr.gov.uk. Anyone not yet registered for data protection should apply to the Information CommissionerÕs Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF, tel: 01625 545745.