They said this… · Public bodies & information

“FOI is the right route to get all information a council holds about you personally”

Generally incorrect

A request for your own personal data is usually handled under data-protection subject access rules rather than FOIA.

Not sure which right applies? Check your situation →

Why this answer

What actually matters

  • FOI concerns recorded information held by public authorities, subject to exemptions.
  • SAR concerns the requester’s personal data.
  • A mixed request may engage both regimes.

What you could say

Keep the response tied to the actual rule.

Evidence

What to have beside you

  • The exact request or complaint and date received
  • Any acknowledgement, extension or refusal notice
  • The statutory route or policy the body says applies
  • Documents showing the decision, chronology and requested remedy

If they still refuse

Move the dispute forward.

  1. First identify whether this is a service complaint, statutory appeal, FOI/EIR review or data-protection matter.
  2. Use the correct internal review/complaint stage before the relevant ombudsman or regulator where required.
  3. Do not let a generic complaints process displace a statutory appeal or review route that has its own deadline.

Read the full rules

Go deeper before escalating.

Primary guideRead the detailed ConsumerWise guidance.Public BodiesRead the full guide.Freedom of InformationRead the full guide.Complaint or appeal?Read the full guide.