Why Use SAR & FOI?
Real‑life legitimate use cases
Subject Access Requests (SAR) and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests are powerful legal tools designed to promote transparency, accountability, and your rights as an individual. They are not about "gaming" the system – they are about ensuring organisations handle information properly and fairly.
Below are examples of how people have legitimately used these rights. Your situation may be different – and that's the point. Every story is unique, but they all share a common goal: to obtain information that helps resolve issues, protect rights, or shed light on decisions.
I used a SAR to aid a Financial Ombudsman Service investigation. The information I received helped prove my case and ultimately led to a successful resolution. Later, an FOI request to my local council uncovered documents that were crucial in a complaint about their handling of a planning matter. These aren't just theoretical rights – they work when used properly.
— Jack, site founder
How Others Have Used These Rights
Subject Access Request (SAR) examples
- Employment dispute: A worker requested their personnel file and email records to prove unfair treatment or discrimination.
- Medical records: A patient used their medical records to challenge an incorrect diagnosis, ensure treatment was appropriate, or understand past care.
- Housing: A tenant requested all correspondence between their landlord and letting agent to support a deposit dispute or prove harassment.
- Social media: An individual asked a platform for all data held on them to understand how their information is being used and to verify compliance with data protection law.
- Banking and finance: A customer requested transaction records, call logs, or internal notes to dispute unfair charges or challenge a financial decision.
- Insurance: A policyholder obtained their claims file to understand why a claim was denied or to challenge a valuation.
Freedom of Information (FOI) examples
- Council transparency: A resident requested emails and meeting minutes about a local development to understand decision‑making and ensure compliance with regulations.
- Police data: A journalist used FOI to obtain statistics on stop‑and‑search, use of force, or complaint outcomes to report on policing practices.
- School admissions: A parent requested admission criteria, appeal outcomes, or catchment area data to challenge a decision or understand the process.
- Hospital waiting times: A patient group obtained data to campaign for better local services or to compare performance.
- Environmental information: A resident requested pollution monitoring data or environmental impact assessments to understand local health risks.
- Government spending: A campaigner requested details of public contracts or spending to ensure value for money and detect potential waste.
Other Common Legitimate Scenarios
Legal proceedings
SARs can obtain evidence for employment tribunals, civil litigation, or complaints. FOI can reveal public authority practices relevant to a case (e.g., how a council applied a policy).
Journalism & research
FOI is a staple for investigative reporters; SARs can uncover how companies handle personal data, informing public interest stories.
Health & social care
Accessing medical records to check accuracy, understand past treatment, or prepare for a clinical review. Also used by care home residents to access their files.
Housing & property
From council housing files to landlord communications, information can resolve disputes about repairs, deposits, or eviction notices.
Financial services
Requesting call recordings, account notes, or credit file information to challenge unfair charges, fraud, or credit reference errors.
Data protection compliance
Using SARs to check if an organisation is processing your data lawfully, and to exercise other rights like rectification or erasure.
Using These Rights Responsibly
These are powerful tools – here's how to use them properly:
Legitimate purpose
These rights exist to protect individuals and promote transparency – use them for genuine concerns, not to cause disruption.
Be specific
Clear, focused requests help organisations respond efficiently and get you the information you need faster.
Respect the process
If information is legitimately exempt, use internal reviews or ICO complaints – don't repeatedly request the same thing.
Don't harass or overwhelm
Excessive or vexatious requests undermine the system for everyone and can lead to your requests being refused.
Used properly, SARs and FOI requests are invaluable for holding organisations to account, resolving disputes, and ensuring your rights are respected.
Your experience could help others
Have you used a SAR or FOI request in a legitimate way not listed here? We'd love to hear your story – it might inspire someone else and help grow this collection of real‑life examples.
Share your story