ConsumerWise hub

Information Rights

Subject access, Freedom of Information and environmental information: deadlines, refusals, reviews, ICO escalation, worked routes and plain-English legislation.

Reviewed 9 September 2026UK information rights

Start with the regime

Ask what kind of information you want before choosing the law.

SAR, FOI and EIR solve different problems. ConsumerWise joins them into one information-rights system while preserving the differences in scope, deadlines, exemptions and escalation.

SAR

Your own personal information, including employment, account and complaint records.

FOI

Recorded information held by public authorities.

EIR

Environmental information, using a distinct access regime.

ICO

The regulator is relevant across these regimes, but the route before an ICO complaint differs.

WWTR-derived information rights system

Guidance, deadlines, refusals and escalation in one hierarchy.

Subject Access Request GuideUse the right of access to obtain your personal information.SAR deadlinesOne-month timing, clarification, extensions and delay.FOI GuideRecorded information held by public authorities.FOI deadlines20 working days, bank holidays and special timing rules.FOI/EIR internal reviewsChallenge refusals, searches, exemptions and delay.Why use SAR and FOI?Choose the right information-access regime.Exemptions at a glanceCompare SAR exemptions, FOI exemptions and EIR exceptions.If a request is refusedAudit the refusal and choose the correct next route.Information Rights FAQPlain-English answers to common request problems.Employment SARsHR files, emails, monitoring and workplace personal data.Legislation in plain EnglishUK GDPR, DPA 2018, FOIA 2000 and EIR 2004.

Deadline guidance is designed around real dates.

The FOI material distinguishes working days from calendar days, bank holidays, special rules for schools and the limited additional time that can arise for a public-interest test. The SAR material reflects the ICO’s July 2026 post-DUAA guidance, including clarification and extension rules.

ConsumerWise also links GOV.UK bank-holiday information, WhatDoTheyKnow and other contextual resources where they help the user complete the task rather than placing them indiscriminately across the site.

Official and contextual sources

Check the current rule and the practical route.