I wrote to JCP for full reasons for a decision and sent it with one of our bog standard consent forms. A Data Protection Officer has written back to say they've sent the client a questionnaire to ask him which type of info does he consent to them providing.

They've told me over the phone it's always been their policy to have "informed consent" from client to release personal details. When I told her I use this same form for everything up to appeals/commissioners it still didn't cut any ice.

This is only about the 3rd time (in 17 years) I've had this problem which I find absolutely nitpickingly ridiculous. Does anyone know the score ?

Does your form specify any data that can be provided? If it specifically says 'all' then I can't see the objection, if it says anything like 'relevant' or is silent then I could see there being a potential issue.

...all documents and/or information...

You seem to have come across a scared for his/her job, cover my back Officer. Bad luck - it really is absurd!

What you've experienced is not JCP policy - must agree that it sounds very much like a newly trained Officer with a head full of Data protection ......

I even spoke to her team leader who told me the same thing so I'm going to write to the manager today

We had a very similar case about two months ago with Debt recovery - we wrote with our standard appeal letter which asks for copies of all the evidence that was before the decision maker at the time of their decision.....(with the usual Authority to act) how much clearer can you make it?

...but , back came almost the same reply as received above - took three or four telephone calls, quoting all sorts of regs etc before finally speaking to someone who'd been doing the job more than a few weeks.

Interesting though - when some of these newer staff get their teeth into something they don't let go in a hurry do they ? ....and they take a request to speak to their supervisor as a personal affront .....

"....and they take a request to speak to their supervisor as a personal affront....."

Not half they do!! I was told i had no need to be so curt last week just becasue I had the "affront" to ask to speak to some bugger who might actually know what they were talking about!!!