Can companies Levy an Admin charge for providing personal information under the Data Protection Act?
In Short: YES, up to the maximum proscribed by the secretary of state (include staff costs as well as stationary). The Long Version: The Data Protection Act 1998 (Section 7 – Right of Access to Personal Data – Subsection 2) states: (2) A data controller is not obliged to supply any information under subsection (1) unless he has received— (a) a request in writing, and (b) except in prescribed cases, such fee (not exceeding the prescribed maximum) as he may require. So you should contact the Information Commissioner’s Office to determine the proscribed maximum – keeping in mind that the law requires you to provide all information in hard-copy unless they agree, also remember that this will take staff time [costs are there as well as stationary] and you do not have to proceed with this claim unless you are sure the person requesting the data is who they say they are. Section 7 – Subsection 3 (3) A data controller is not obliged to comply with a request under this section unless he is supp
