The Compliance Dept is here to ensure that members are abiding by the Code, but an equal part of our role is to offer members help and support where it is needed. The Annual Compliance forms are a mechanism by which we can assess where members might need clarification of certain requirements and we seek to visit all of the membership, in a 3 to 4 yearly cycle, where we can discuss in more detail what the company does in terms of direct marketing, how that corresponds to the CoP, and establish just exactly what the Code requires them to do. These visits are also a chance for the members to ask any questions of us, be they compliance-related or otherwise, and hopefully gain a better understanding of what the DMA is about. We like to conduct these meetings in the form of a 2-way discussion, not like a formal audit or interview scenario. We find this way to beneficial to both parties. We also hold regular Compliance Seminars across the country, which are aimed at either new members or those within a company who are new to a Compliance role, or have recently become a Compliance point of contact. These are free, half day seminars whose overall objective is summarise the main member requirements â€" we always have a representatives from the Legal Dept and Preference Services who also speak at the events, and are on hand with us to answer any questions attendees may have. These also provide an opportunity for members to network, meet DMA members of staff and increase their knowledge of legal and best practice requirements.
