Subject Access Request (SAR) £10 Cheque, Whom to make it out to/name? (for Banks?)

[flamingate]

When making a Subject Access Request (SAR) for your paperwork/file work from banks

Particularly for
*Halifax
*Barclays
*Llyds
*Capital one
*Santander

Question 1) Do they definitely require a £10 cheque made out to them? or they might not require it, and will send the paperwork/filework without receiving £10?

ie, is it a necessity?

Question 2)
Whom is the cheque to be made out to, usually?

[redboxtree]

Changes last year means that they can no longer charge.

Key things to remember is:

- Be sure to provide proof of identity

- Be concise and clear about what you are asking for (and you do not have to provide a reason about why you want the information unless you are considering legal action)


- You do not have to use a form to make your application


- If you cannot find a central address to submit your SAR to, you can hand it in to your local branch. Legally, all staff have to know what a SAR is and should be able to help progress an application

The above applies to every organisation that may hold data about you.

[Shaun Vickery]

I agree with Reboxtree, they should no longer be making a charge if it's a reasonable request.

[Shaun Vickery]

You may find some resistance to providing complete copies of your file if the firm concerned feel that it is a 'fishing expedition', particularly if a claims management firm is involved. You may find that they are only prepared to provide details of your personal data that they hold about you.

[redboxtree]

The purpose of a SAR is to allow someone to check the accuracy of the information held about them.

There are then extended rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 linked to rectification or erasure.

By default, a first SAR is always a bit of a "fishing exercise" as someone is really saying that 1) they do not know what is held about them and 2) they are not sure it is accurate.

Given that a firm recently ended up with a criminal prosecution against them for not dealing with a SAR correctly, it is more about how hardheaded they intend to be.

I agree with Shaun about claims management companies and we are seeing similar issues in other areas where there is an abuse of process.

Aperture in particular needs to bear this in mind (and I am working on the basis they are going to fold without this income stream).