Icomm Technologies in disclaimers warning

Mar 17 2009 by Jon Griffin, Birmingham Post

West Midland IT services and support provider Icomm Technologies has warned businesses in the region over a growing crackdown on the lack of disclaimers and confidentiality notices.

Disclaimers and confidentiality notices are automatic additions to the end of many organisations’s e-mail and are intended to serve different purposes.

However, an amendment to the Companies Act of 1985 means it is now mandatory for all private and public limited companies, as well as limited liability partnerships, to include company registration details on correspondence or face a weighty fine.

It is now compulsory for businesses to include their company registration number, country of registration and registered office address in disclaimers.wHowever, many businesses are failing to meet these requirements and could leave themselves open to unnecessary fines, according to Icomm’s Ian Callens.

“The amendment to the Companies Act of 1985 came into play in January 2007 and means the registration details of any business should be included at the end of every business email, on letterheads and order forms as well as on any company website,” he said.

“This duty has existed for business letters for many years but confusion over email signatures has remained, with many businesses not updating their correspondence.

“Trading Standards now have the authority to fine any business a maximum of £1,000 for non-compliance and additional daily fines of £300 for any continued breach,” added Mr Callens.

“Unfortunately ignorance is not an excuse, so we are urging all businesses to update their registration details on all business correspondence to prevent an avoidable dent in expenditure.”