No matter the purpose for maintaining contact records - filling out tax forms, delivering products or promotional mail to customers or completing the weekly payroll - companies need to make sure the names and addresses in their files are accurate.

Dylan Jones writes for Data Quality Pro that the UK's HM Revenue and Customs department is trying to help companies tackle their messy or error-ridden databases. A study from HMRC found a variety of mistakes in employer tax returns, including 128 staff members who were listed as Ms, Mrs or Mr "Dummy," Jones notes.

"Every year, employers send PAYE (pay-as-you-earn) data to HMRC. While most is accurate, mistakes can be made. This can cause problems for employees such as wrong amounts being deducted from their pay. It can also use up valuable employer and HMRC time and money putting the error right," HMRC’s Stephen Banyard, acting director general for personal tax, told Jones.

Jim Harra, HMRC's director of customer operations, added that minor mistakes, such as an incorrect name, an error on date of birth or a wrong national insurance number can end up causing major problems for companies down the line, including deducting the wrong amount on taxes.

Whether organisations are trying to get the right address or personal information for employees and customers, a contact data quality solution can make the entry and cleansing processes much easier.