To find out what information you need to send us, please select the category below that most closely matches what you intend to complain about:
They have failed to respond to your request within time limits (normally 20 working days)
Public authorities should respond to a request for information within 20 working days. If they need to consider the public interest this may be extended to 40 working days, providing you have been informed.
If you have not received a response within these timeframes, you can complain to us.
If you want us to look at a complaint about the time taken to respond you will need to send us unedited copies of the following:
- Your original request for information
- Any acknowledgement received from the public authority, such as an acknowledgment letter or automatic ‘bounce-back’ message
They have applied an exemption under the Act or otherwise explicitly withheld information
If a public authority has refused to provide information because they consider that an exemption is engaged, you can complain to us.
As per section 50 of the Act, the Commissioner expects complainants to have exhausted the public authority’s internal complaints procedure before submitting a complaint. This is known as the ‘internal review’.
If you have not already done so, you will need to ask the public authority to reconsider its refusal of your request. When doing so, it may be helpful if you respond to any specific reasons given by the public authority for refusing your request.
Once this is complete, you should send us unedited copies of the following:
- Your initial request for information
- The public authority‘s initial refusal
- Your request for a review
- The review of the decision
They have refused your request on cost grounds
If a public authority has refused to provide information because they consider that to comply with the request would exceed the cost limit, you can complain to us.
As per section 50 of the Act, the Commissioner expects complainants to have exhausted the public authority’s internal complaints procedure before submitting a complaint. This is known as the ‘internal review’.
If you have not already done so, you will need to ask the public authority to reconsider its refusal of your request.
Once this is complete, you should send us unedited copies of the following:
- Your initial request for information
- The public authority‘s initial refusal
- Your request for a review
- The review of the decision
They have not responded to a request for internal review
If you have asked a public authority to review its refusal of your request and have not received a reply after 40 working days, you can complain to us.
If you want us to look at a complaint about the time taken for internal review you will need to send us unedited copies of the following:
- Your original request for information
- The public authority‘s initial refusal
- Your request for a review
- Any acknowledgement received from the public authority, such as an acknowledgment letter or automatic ‘bounce-back’ message
If you are not certain what information we need to deal with your complaint please call our Helpline on 0303 123 1113.