GDPR Information
What is it, and what does it mean to your business?
General Data Protection Regulations
Does it apply to Sole Trader’s
GDPR does affect you as a sole trader.
It extends to all businesses and organisations of any kind and size that are collecting information about EU/UK citizens.
GDPR is simply about giving EU/UK citizens more control over their own data.
Procuring and handling personal data carries a legal responsibility under GDPR Regulation Act 2018 that replaced the out dated Data Protection Act 1998.
This is overseen by the ICO [information Commissioners Office]
They have the powers and staffing to police the management of personal data and handle calls from individual’s complaints about data misuse, loss or miss-management by the processing company or sole trader.
They have the powers to issue financial penalties for failures to protect data and for misuse or data loss.
There has been numerous heavy fines issued to large companies published in the press so no one is exempt and even the big companies can get it wrong and fall foul of the rules. Smaller companies and individual that get fined don’t make headlines
Even the Conservatory party is not immune - The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined the Conservative Party £10,000 for sending 51 marketing emails to people who did not opt in to receive them.
What is Personal Data
Personal data is name, address, phone number email, DOB, IP etc.
Individuals can report to the ICO alleged miss use of their data.
It is a requirement to provide evidence of how their data was collected if requested that WYOH Ltd must do is required.
As a Data Controller WYOH Ltd, is registered with the ICO # ZA768944
When you download data you take responsibility, how it’s stored and what you do with it, thus you become a data controller and GDPR rules apply to you.
When an individual makes a complaint to the ICO we have to respond and answer any questions that may involve you. It is illegal to reuse data for another purpose without express consent from the individual. Data must now ‘opt in’ to agree to be contacted for that specific purpose and agree by which means i.e telephone, email, SMS. We all have the right to be removed from any list and to be forgotten. After a period of time not exceeding 18 months you are not permitted to reengage with that person at all. All 'old' data you hold should be permantly deleted in accordance with ICO current methods. Please check with the ICO website for the latest information. It is YOUR responsiblity to comply
That is why ‘buying data’ to solicit and sell to IS NOT compliant under GDPR nor is sending cold text messages to data that has not ‘opted in’ to receive it. Penalties are heavy as many companies have discovered to their cost. Many lead generation companies are no longer trading hence the costs of generating leads and managing personal data is now considerably higher.
WYOH Ltd generates fresh leads by advertising through multi-channel methods, securing personal permission to create ‘opted in’ data. This is expensive but the only way to generate leads that conform to GDPR compliance.
Who is the ICO?
ICO [information Commissioners Office]
The ICO Is the Independent authority set up to oversee data protection in accordance with GDPR.
Does this apply to me as I only buy 1 or 2 leads a day?
YES it does, unfortunately, the rules don’t differentiate on how few leads you hold and process.
Companies, Organisations, & Individuals handling ‘personal’ data have a legal responsibility to manage personal data safely and to report any data breaches and to respect the rights of individuals to be removed from any list upon request and provide evidence of how their data was collected if requested.
How Much Does It Cost? CHECK HERE
At present Annual Fee is £40 PA or £35 by Direct Debit for Tier 1 first level
What If I Don’t Register?
- WYOH Ltd will at our discretion not be able to supply leads to you
- Penalties – What are the penalties
The ICO requires every organisation that processes personal information to pay an annual fee to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), Failure to do so may result in a fixed penalty from £400 not exceeding £4,000.
Thank you for your cooperation & understanding.
WYOH Ltd is registered with the ICO [Information Commissions Office] Registry #ZA768944