FOI request refused?

Find out what your options are.

Has the authority confirmed or denied whether they hold the information you have requested?
4 questions remaining
Have they stated that the cost of confirming or denying would exceed the appropriate limit?
5 questions remaining
Does this calculation include the time taken in considering when exemptions apply, or time taken to redact parts of the information?
6 questions remaining
Does it seem to be a reasonable estimate ('sensible and realistic') that gathering the information you have requested (or checking whether they hold this information) will take more than 24 hours of staff time (where the request was made to central government, a legislative body, or the armed forces) or 18 hours (all other public authorities), or otherwise cost more than £600/400 to locate, retrieve and extract?

As well as staff time, reasonable costs may include the necessity of buying new equipment or software; travel required to retrieve the information, etc.

5 questions remaining

Next steps

You have grounds for an internal review

  1. Time taken to consider whether exemptions apply or to redact parts of the information, should not be included in the calculation of costs used to apply a Section 12 exemption (see points 14 and 15 of this ICO guidance PDF).

Request an internal review now, or continue answering questions to see whether you have any additional grounds to strengthen your case.

Other routes

Request an internal review Reply for more clarification Refer your request to the Information Commissioner Make a new request Write to your MP