{"id":173086,"date":"2022-07-29T07:08:06","date_gmt":"2022-07-29T06:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=173086"},"modified":"2023-04-19T03:12:49","modified_gmt":"2023-04-19T02:12:49","slug":"benefits-lawyer-handling-sar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/benefits-lawyer-handling-sar\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Benefits of Using a Lawyer to Handle Subject Access Requests in England?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many business owners in England know the risks of mishandling Subject Access Requests (SAR). In recent years, an increasing number of individuals and employees are seeking SARs to extract information from organisations, often to pursue legal action. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has rules governing how your organisation should correctly handle these requests. Failure to do so may result in the Information Commissioner’s Office<\/a> (ICO) investigating your company and fining you. This article will explore the advantages of using an experienced lawyer to help your business handle and process Subject Access Requests in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Subject Access Request? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Subject Access Request<\/a> (SAR) is a request from an individual (usually in writing) for a copy of all information held about them. Some SARs are specific, for example, asking for all emails mentioning them by name during a particular period. On the other hand, some are more general, for example, asking for all personal data relating to them during their entire time with an employer. However detailed the SAR, the same rules apply to your organisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These rules include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. the individual should receive a copy of the data requested in digital or printed form;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. your organisation must provide the information within one calendar month of receiving the request (with limited exceptions); and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. you should inform the individual of any other party who has received that data.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Previously, businesses in England were able to request a small fee (of \u00a310) to process a SAR. However, today, the GDPR no longer allows this (with limited exceptions). Although handling a SAR appears straightforward, many businesses face significant issues and can benefit from seeking legal assistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let us explore some of the main advantages of doing so below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ensuring Correct Correspondence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    One of a company’s main tasks when receiving a SAR is to ensure regular and accurate correspondence with the individual. This could include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n