Checklist for responding to a subject access request
- At-a-glance checklist
- Clear and easy to understand
- Helps you comply with your UK GDPR obligations
This checklist for responding to a subject access request provides a clear summary of the steps you should take when you receive a subject access request from an individual whose personal data you hold.
A subject access request includes a request to confirm whether you hold any of the individual’s personal data, what you are doing with it and why. It can also be a request to provide that individual with a copy of the the personal data that you have about them.
Ignoring a subject access request or failing to respond properly can lead to sanctions from the Information Commissioner’s Office, and, in the worst case, to fines.
Q&A
When should I use this document?
Use this document when you receive a subject access request from an individual whose personal data you hold.
What does this document cover?
This checklist gives a summary of the steps that you should take when responding to a subject access request, including:
- identifying the scope of the request, and asking for clarification if necessary;
- calculating the deadline for a full response; and
- identifying any exemptions that mean that you do not have disclose the information in question.
This checklist also provides links to template letters, which are useful when you are drafting your response to the request.
Why do I need this document?
You usually have one month to respond to a subject access request from an individual. If you ignore a subject access request or if you not reply adequately, this can lead to sanctions from the Information Commissioner’s Office and, in the most serious cases, to significant fines.
This checklist will help you in complying with your data protection obligations when someone sends you a subject access request.
Where can I find out more?
For further detailed guidance on identifying and responding to a subject access request, see Subject access requests.
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