Home Your Rights What can I do if I'm unhappy? What can I do if I'm unhappy? You may disagree with how an authority handled your request. This may be for a number of different reasons - for example: It has not provided some, or all, of the information you asked for It has refused to provide it because it is "exempt" from disclosure It failed to respond within 20 working days, or at all It hasn't offered you advice about, or help making, your request It is asking you to pay a fee that you feel is unreasonable It does not hold some, or all, of the information requested and you disagree It believes your request is vexatious or repeated, or costs too much to answer The three stages of appeal If you are unhappy with an authority's response, you can challenge by following these 3 stages: You should first ask the authority to review its response. If you have already done this, you can appeal to the Commissioner. If you are unhappy with the Commissioner's decision, you can appeal to the Court of Session (but only on a point of law). Follow each link below for more information about each stage. Asking the authority for a review Appeal to the Commissioner Appealing against our decision Unhappy with an FOI response? Related information How long will I have to wait? When you request information from a Scottish public authority, it must give it to you (or tell you why it's allowed to withhold it) as quickly as possible - and within 20 working days at the most. Read more Why might my request be refused? Information might be withheld for certain, specific reasons. You have a general right to see all recorded information from a Scottish public authority. Read more Asking the authority for a review You should ask for a review no later than 40 working days after the date you receive one of the above responses from the authority. If the authority did not respond at all, you have 40 working days after the end of the 20 working day period for responding Read more
