- Original Poster
- #1
I have just set up a new business which simplifies the process of recruiting sales agents and is, consequently, very low cost. Similarly, I am considering setting up a web-based service designed to share information about the bad-payers of this world and carry out simple new account checks on behalf of members paying a small annual subscription.
This would not be a formal credit check as such but we would take up references and produce simple customer payment profiles which subscribers could recieve on request. In itself, a threat of being placed on a database such as this (I don't want to use the word blacklist) could prompt people to pay up a bit quicker.
I see the service as particularly suitable for companies dealing with small businesses. I have another company which is a classic example and wholesales jewellery. A large proportion of our customers for this are small home based, part-time businesses, party planners, e-commerce sites etc., and it is difficult or too expensive to get financial information on these people through the normal sources. We, generally take a lot of new orders from this market sector at Trade Fairs and are then faced with the choice of sending the goods and keeping fingers crossed or doing everything Pro Forma which 90 per cent of the time results in the order not being completed.
The service I have in mind would allow an informed decision. I am thinking of charging subs of £150.00 a year for the service.
So two questions for everyone here: What do you think of the idea and does anyone know what the Data Protection Act has to say about this sort of transfer of info within a group?
This would not be a formal credit check as such but we would take up references and produce simple customer payment profiles which subscribers could recieve on request. In itself, a threat of being placed on a database such as this (I don't want to use the word blacklist) could prompt people to pay up a bit quicker.
I see the service as particularly suitable for companies dealing with small businesses. I have another company which is a classic example and wholesales jewellery. A large proportion of our customers for this are small home based, part-time businesses, party planners, e-commerce sites etc., and it is difficult or too expensive to get financial information on these people through the normal sources. We, generally take a lot of new orders from this market sector at Trade Fairs and are then faced with the choice of sending the goods and keeping fingers crossed or doing everything Pro Forma which 90 per cent of the time results in the order not being completed.
The service I have in mind would allow an informed decision. I am thinking of charging subs of £150.00 a year for the service.
So two questions for everyone here: What do you think of the idea and does anyone know what the Data Protection Act has to say about this sort of transfer of info within a group?
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