TCM0138280 - Miscellaneous (P to V): Subject Access Requests - registering the SAR
Checklist
Before you follow this guidance make sure
- you are in the correct MU. Use TCM0322460 for the correct MU number.
Background
Subject Access Requests (SAR) can be received by email, letter, verbal SAR request stencil or fax. The request will be to see copies of all customer records including telephone calls.
The customer can make a request for all records, telephone calls or computer records. This is known as a full SAR request. Any requests for correspondence, claim forms or award notices should be dealt with as ‘routine business’
A SAR request can also be for copies of
- telephone calls only. This will be dealt with by the Call Retrieval Team situated at the Contact Centre head office in Manchester
- telephone calls and correspondence. The Call Retrieval Team will deal with the telephone calls on this request and Tax Credits Office (TCO) will deal with the correspondence.
The SAR team gather the information once they have established the type of SAR request.
The information needed for the SAR must be sent to the SAR team within 5 working days of any HMRC Office receiving the SAR request.
Note: Any emails received from other HMRC departments advising they are faxing a request need to be saved in a shared folder named ‘polylopes’. Once the fax is received confirm receipt with the sender.
Guidance
Step 1
Consider the SAR request
If the request is a Freedom of Information request and not a SAR
- make a note on the letter - ‘Not a SAR’ (This content has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)
- update Household Notes with the message MT01 from TCM0162080. For how to do this use TCM1000001
- take no further action.
If the request is not a Freedom of Information request and not a SAR
- send the correspondence to the appropriate team, marking the letter - ‘Not a SAR’
- update Household Notes with the message MT01 from TCM0162080. For how to do this use TCM1000001
- take no further action.
If the request is a new SAR, go to Step 2.
If the request is a completed and returned TC2008 or TC1203, go to Step 8.
If the BF date for a TC2008 or a TC1203 has expired, go to Step 12.
Step 2
Consider if the SAR has any queries with it
If the SAR does not have any other queries with it, go to Step 3.
If the SAR has any other queries with it
- photocopy the request
- note on the original request ‘SAR being dealt with’ and forward to the appropriate team
Note: The outstanding overpayment disputes need to be forwarded to Overpayments, outstanding complaints to CSSG all other requests go to the Customer Information Team. - go to Step 3.
Step 3
Check who made the original SAR request
If the request is from the customer, go to Step 5.
If the request is from an Intermediary or Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), go to Step 4.
If the request is from a Member of Parliament, go to Step 8.
Note: Information can be released to an MP due to implied consent.
Step 4
Check if the request includes a signed letter from the customer asking for the SAR to be sent direct to the Intermediary or CAB.
If we do have authority, go to Step 5.
If we do not have authority but the request is specific
- photocopy the request
- send form TC1203 to the customer with the copy of the original request
- put the original request with a copy of the TC1203 in the relevant file to await their reply
- update Household Notes with the message MT12 from TCM0162080. For how to do this follow TCM1000001.
- set an action date of 30 days
- take no further action.
If we do not have authority and the request is non-specific or ambiguous
- photocopy the request
- send form TC2008 and fact sheet TC2008(FS) to the customer with the copy of the original request
- put the original request with a copy of the TC2008 in the relevant file to await their reply
- update Household Notes with the message MT13 from TCM0162080. For how to do this follow TCM1000001.
- set an action date of 30 days
- take no further action.
Step 5
If the request is specific, go to Step 8.
If the request is non-specific or ambiguous, go to Step 6.
Step 6
Phone the customer to check what information they require. Follow the guidance in TCM0094080
Note: Make three attempts to call the customer at different times during the day to maximise the opportunity to contact the customer. Ensure that your last attempt is made before the final post collection of that day to enable you to write to the customer if the call is unsuccessful.
If you are able to contact the customer and clarify the information required
- complete form TC648 with details of the information required
- go to Step 8.
If you are able to contact the customer, but unable to clarify the information required, go to Step 7.
If you are not able to contact the customer by phone, go to Step 7.
Step 7
update Household Notes with the messages MT14 and MT15 from TCM0168020. For how to do this, use TCM1000001
- send form TC2008 and fact sheet TC2008(FS) to the customer
- set an action date of 30 days
- take no further action.
Step 8
Register the request on the SARS database which can be found in the relevant folder with the following details
- name
- NINO
- type of SAR (for example calls and correspondence)
- date received in HMRC
- date received in TCO
- date received on SARS
Note: the database automatically generates a 30 day target.
Note: if you are dealing with a returned TC2008 or TC1203, the SAR received date will be the date the TC2008 or TC1203 was received, and not the date the original request was received. - go to Step 9.
Step 9
Photocopy all SAR requests and send them to the Call Retrieval Team in an orange TNT polylope (This content has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000) P(This content has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)
Note: They will copy all calls to disk and send to the customer.
- file the calls only requests in the relevant ‘calls only’ file in alphabetical order
- go to Step 10.
Step 10
Request the forms
Note: Netherton should send all documents to us within 36 hours. Failure to do so should be raised through the SARS manager.
Note: if it is a two person claim, add both customers’ details to the form.
- request the RDC forms. For how to do this use TCM0074060 then return to this guidance
- request the manual correspondence. For how to do this use TCM1000051 then return to this guidance
then - go to Step 11.
Step 11
Once the RDC’s and Manual Correspondence have been requested
- put the date and your initials in the relevant boxes on the cover sheet
- put the cover sheet and letter in an A4 plastic wallet and pass to the designated person to request Customer Service Support Group (CSSG) documents
- link any RDC’s and correspondence returned to you by Document Management Team (DMT) or Netherton to the case
- take no further action.
Step 12
- update Household Notes with the message MT16 from TCM0168020. For how to do this, use TCM1000001
- send the request to storage. Follow the guidance in TCM0074140
- take no further action.