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Data Protection Act - what info can they prevent me seeing?

Hi everyone
I am in a protracted battle with my employer and the PHI co that has been paying me an income since I became unfit for work through illness a number of years ago.

In order to try and clarify what is going on with them, I recently submitted a DPA request to get everything I could on their various files.
So far, they have sent me some material with a promise to send the rest 'soon'.
However it is clear to me that a large part of the file is missing.

Question is - are they legally allowed to withhold any data from me?
If so, in what circumstances?

Many thanks!

Comments

  • crazyguy
    crazyguy Posts: 5,495 Forumite
    It depends on whats being withheld on the paperwork as it could be the payers info or something else that does not relate to you !
  • pinklady21
    pinklady21 Posts: 870 Forumite
    And the tricky part is - if the data is missing, how do I know what it is!! All a bit Kafka-esque.

    There seem to be inconsistencies in the data sent - eg there are notes of some phone conversations I have had with them, but others are not referenced at all.
    Correspondence they have sent to me is missing.
    They have redacted (blanked out) areas in letters they have previously sent to me - which seems an odd thing to do.

    It all points to them being very selective in what they have chosen to send me - and I would like to know what their legal rights to withhold data are.
  • crazyguy
    crazyguy Posts: 5,495 Forumite
    If it actualy relates to you they must upon request give you the full information you have asked for, if it looks as you say that they are hiding certain parts of it then go back and say that you want everything relating to you sent out again, with nothing blanked out or missing.

    They can charge you for it as well !
  • SarEl
    SarEl Posts: 5,683 Forumite
    crazyguy wrote: »
    If it actualy relates to you they must upon request give you the full information you have asked for, if it looks as you say that they are hiding certain parts of it then go back and say that you want everything relating to you sent out again, with nothing blanked out or missing.

    They can charge you for it as well !

    No - there are actually a lot of things "relating to you" that one has no right to see. The right to access information held about you has a large number of restrictions.
  • Uncertain
    Uncertain Posts: 3,901 Forumite
    crazyguy wrote: »

    They can charge you for it as well !

    But a maximum of £10 and only once.
This discussion has been closed.
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