When you sign up for a new service or subscribe to a newsletter, you often get charged a fee for data protection from ICO. What exactly does this mean? To find out, let us tackle it below.
What Is Data Protection Free From ICO?
ICO is the Information Commissioner’s Office, and they are responsible for protecting your data. What they do is to make sure that the data you give to a new service provider is not misused or given to someone else.
It is their job to ensure that your data is not leaked to anyone and it remains safe from hackers. In short, ICO will do everything in its power to make sure your data is protected at all times.
However, the only way you can expect them to do that is if you sign up for the service. So this means that even though ICO will work hard to protect your data.
Also, they cannot do that without your permission. However, what if you are already subscribed to the service?
Do you have to pay a fee again just because you signed up? The answer is yes. Most of the time, a fee needs to be paid when you sign up for a new service or subscribe to an existing newsletter, and so on.
Why Is There A Data Protection Fee From ICO?
So why does every new user have to pay for data protection? The reason for this charge has a lot more to do with your protection than it does with that ICO.
ICO does not even charge a fee for data protection from them. They never did and never will.
The main purpose of the fee is so that the company which requires it can protect you from any potential threat. That comes from your data as well as theirs.
How Much Is Data Protection Fee From ICO?
The amount varied depending on each company in question but typically it was £10 per year per person. So though this figure might change depending on where you are living and what type of services are provided by such a company.
Can I Avail Data Protection Without Paying?
The answer is yes. If you are subscribed to a newsletter, then you need not pay the fee. However, if you are just signing up for a new service and you are asked for a fee for data protection.
It is highly advised that you check their terms and conditions before paying for anything. Try to find out if there is an option where you can subscribe without paying the fee.
The reason for this is simple. Many companies are using ICO names to make money from unsuspecting people who do not read the terms and conditions of the service they are subscribing to.
If you don’t want to fall into such a trap, then read the terms and conditions first before paying. It is also important that you check if there is any way where you can subscribe without paying anything extra.