| The purpose of the proposal is to amend the legislation governing the processes of authorization by advertisers of entries in directories for which demands for payment can legitimately be issued.
The Government proposes to relax the existing requirements where clients renew or extend existing contracts for entries in a directory, to allow in specified circumstances contracts for directory entries to be agreed over the telephone, and to simplify requirements as to the form and content of certain documents relating to contracts for directory entries. Its aim is to remove provisions it believes are burdensome and unnecessary, to remove anomalies and to ensure the compatibility of UK law with obligations arising from membership of the European Union, while continuing safeguards for business against certain deceptions practised in relation to the publication of real or pretended directory products.
The Committee considers that those elements of the proposal relating to i) the possible authorization of directory entries by telephone call and ii) giving directory publishers discretion over the wording of mandatory declarations to be made on invoices and other documents in circumstances where no right to payment may be claimed fail adequately to protect business from the risk of deception. It therefore recommends that these elements be excluded from the proposal before a draft Regulatory Reform Order is laid before the House.
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