The dissemination of information about protests is an important and delicate service provided by the Chambers of Commerce; it is undoubtedly extremely useful to all businessmen, who use it in order to avoid making mistakes in selecting their business partners.

This service, provided by the Chambers of Commerce, entails obvious advantages in terms of credit rating, business reputation and public confidence. Before granting any line of credit or loan, all credit institutions ask if the applicant has been protested.
On the first day of each month, the people in charge of protests (bailiffs - ufficiali giudiziari – notaries, and Town Clerks) send the lists of protests concerning promissory notes, accepted bills of exchange, and bank cheques, as well as the lists of protests relating to non-acceptance of bills of exchange.

In order to guarantee high business reliability and transparency, the aforesaid information is published by the Chamber of Commerce, inputting all protest-related data in the relevant computerised filing system within ten days of receipt of the lists. In fact, computerisation guarantees full, equal and timely publication of the relevant information nationwide. The data concerning each single protest is stored in the computerised register for five years.

Should any protest be included by mistake, the authorised public officials or credit institutions are to file a de-registration application. This also applies to anyone who proves he/she has been arbitrarily or wrongly protested.
After ascertaining the protest illegitimacy, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce acts accordingly
.

Any debtor paying a bill of exchange or promissory note within 12 months of protest, can ask for de-registration from the computerised register by filing a formal application to the person in charge of the Protest Office, also including the bill of exchange/promissory note duly marked as paid, and the deed of protest or the statement indicating refusal to pay. Should any debtor be unable to get hold of the bill/note holder, in order to obtain de-registration, instead of producing the bill/note marked as paid he/she can enclose a certificate issued by a credit institution attesting the existence of a term bearer deposit equalling the bill/note. The person in charge of the Protest Office files a request for de-registration within twenty days of application date.

The general public can access the information about protests contained in the aforesaid computerised register through terminals located in the premises of the Chambers of Commerce, and by using (remote) terminals connected to InfoCamere.
Anyone can ask to search the Computerised Register of Protests and obtain certificates about any search outcomes. Should the entities investigated have been protested, said certificates shall also indicate the relating reasons
.