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Author Topic: Subject Access Requests  (Read 5718 times)

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IDT

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Subject Access Requests
« on: April 07, 2020, 05:19:56 pm »
I'd be interested to know the basis for the statement "You can obtain copies of all the information your house builder has in their 'Plot File' that relates to you and your home. You have a legal right to this information under the General Data Protection Regulations (2018) (GDPR)."  on this page  - http://www.brand-newhomes.co.uk/making-a-subject-access-request.htm.

I made a request following the template letter and got back little more than copies of correspondence either from or to me, i.e. virtually nothing of interest.

The Information Commissioner has rejected a complaint I made about this, stating "You do not feel that all of your data has been supplied to you. However XXX have explained that all of your personal data has been provided. A SAR entitles individuals to ask for copies of their personal data (data that identifies and relates to you as an individual) – XXX have explained that some data relating to your house ... do not fall in to this category and therefore have not been included in your SAR."


New Home Expert

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Re: Subject Access Requests
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2020, 01:09:42 pm »
Housebuilders have a habit of treating their homebuyer's Subject Access Requests with contempt.
Many are returned incomplete and/or redacted to such an extent as to be meaningless.

I am pleased you complained to the ICO and from my own experience, their response is somewhat tardy to say the least!  I think the phrase "Data that relates to you as an individual" would, for most reasonable people, also include everything in their homebuyer "plot file" excluding anything that either discloses the data of others or that which is commercially sensitive.

All data supplied should also contain details of e mails (even if internally - in-house) which name you and all written logs of any telephone calls.

The main problem here in my opinion, is the ICO don't have sufficient staff, of the right calibre, to follow through on the actual rules and serve only to bat away most complaints from individuals concerning  data protection.

On a personal level, I have, and still am,  trying to get Currys/PCWorld  to delete my personal details from their files and systems and in three years since my original complaint, the ICO have been of very little help if any.

On a more positive note the New Homes Ombudsman should be operational at some point this year however the Coronavirus Pandemic may be a convenient excuse for government and the industry to delay it yet further.

Not all housebuilders are as petty and pedantic as you can see from the photo.
You really should name your housebuilder.
I question exactly what they are trying to keep from you finding out!
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