Information Commissioner's Office Avis 

On the Guido Fawkes site.

Civil servants at the Information Commissioner’s Office have truly mastered the art of turning work hours into staff network social time. According to an FOI request from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, seen by Guido, between April 2024 and March 2025, ICO pen-pushers clocked up a total of 8 hours over 10 meetings in “Inclusion” staff network meetings. Meanwhile, the “Pride” network soaked up 11 hours across 14 meetings. A further 10 hours over 14 meetings were dedicated to “Race, Ethnicity, Culture, and Heritage” discussions. Naturally all during working hours…

Some more notable events include:

‘Got Skills: Get into running’
‘Got Skills: Allotment gardening and caring for houseplants’
‘Got Skills: Knitting for beginners and for better mental health’
‘Virtual menopause yoga’
‘Gender and Ethnicity Pay Gap Reporting’

All of this ‘staff network’ time is backed by a taxpayer budget of £12,000. Time for that ‘bonfire’…

Disgusting disappointed,

After siding with me on a call Helen Armstrong changed her mind I provided evidence she didnt, no reason maybe shes a loon who likes covering up for criminals.... Well done ico another useless organisation....
Funded by tax money as long as you get paid you dont care. Dont waste time im apalled at Helens hypocrisy shame on uk, ico, police, council and government criminals

I first wrote to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in January 2025 about a breach of data involving my application for a new passport, my application having been made electronically from a local Post Office. I don’t want to go into further details for security reasons. (But yes, that’s the same Post Office that used defective computer-based accounting software several years ago that wrongly implicated several hundred postmasters in alleged fraud, resulting in some being sent to prison, others being made bankrupt, and a few even taking their own lives as a result).

I received an initial letter from the ICO, beginning “Dear Sir/Madam” even though I had previously made clear in my letter to them that I was male! That already gives you a clue as to the thoroughness with which the ICO works.

When nothing happened for several weeks, I phoned the ICO, only to be told that due to the high volume of complaints that they receive, the earliest I could expect any reply was mid-April 2025. I later sent ICO a written update on the situation, urging them to take action.

Still nothing, so I phoned them again, this time getting through to a woman who – surprise, surprise! – was apparently working from home! (Could working from home be the reason for the very long delays before ICO actually DOES anything? Or is it because breaching data regulations within the UK is now as normal as finding sand on the seashore? In which case why isn’t the Government cracking down on this, instead of trusting data-protection enforcement to a totally useless entity like ICO?)

But no sooner had I made phone contact with the woman at ICO than my phone packed in – my phone had run out of charge.

Then, completely out of the blue, the Post Office finally replied to my outstanding complaint, made in summer 2024. Of course, they denied responsibility for what happened – as had all the other companies involved. Nevertheless, there clearly HAD been a breach of data..... somewhere. The Post Office offered me token compensation instead, which I accepted.

So if your data is ever breached, don’t waste time contacting the ICO – they’re probably too busy sipping a gin-and-tonic in the lounge while watching Coronation Street to take any action, always blaming any delays on their backlog of work. I didn’t try contacting the police, though they’re probably too busy investigating whether the guy at the end of the street has any politically-incorrect ideas to even bother with something as trivial as a data-breach.

Moral: forget about new-fangled electronic methods of communication. It’s probably safer to post a letter instead!!! The only problem: posting a letter usually involves the Post Office. Back to Square One.

If the government is serious about getting better value for taxpayer money. This pointless and utterly useless office must be the first to go. This is a so called watchdog which is asleep all the time, can't bite and wouldn't bark. Can't understand what is it trying to achieve and probably only wasted taxpayer's money as a result. My vote to abolish it all together.

If you ask for Subject Access Request you expect that you get the documents or information that when you call the organisation you are complaining about use to give you information.

I proved to The ICO that the organisation I complained about had not given me the files they use to discuss customers.

The ICO replied saying as they replied to me basically the case is closed. So any organisation just has to reply to an SAR with minimal information and can quite happily leave as much out as they like, and The ICO will close a complainant's case.

An utter waste of taxpayers' money.

I approached the ICO as a company would not provide data under a SAR without putting up unusual obstacles. nor would they respond to emails.
ICO chat was very unhelpful, suggesting I contact them. Yes, thats the ICO suggesting I contact the people I'm complaining about - because they dont repsond to contacts.
When I said a bit of a waste of time they said I could make a complaint to them about the company, but they were very busy indeed.
I took the hint and gave up.
Ultimately as consumers we all pay for the ICO organisation. That would appear to be wasted money, funding yet another not fit for purpose quango / job creation scheme.

I contacted Citizens Advice regarding an issue with Amazon requesting photo ID. They strongly recommended I reach out to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as it may involve a personal data breach. Unfortunately, my experience with the ICO was extremely disappointing.

The customer service representative I spoke with was arrogant, argumentative, and unhelpful to the point that I felt compelled to end the call. Rather than offering guidance, they spoke to me in a condescending tone, raised their voice, and questioned why I had called, insisting they didn’t have the information I needed and that I should contact Citizens Advice again. When I clarified that I was only seeking advice, their response became even more combative, suggesting that I had no grounds to be concerned since I don’t work for Amazon.

I was simply trying to act on guidance from Citizens Advice and protect my personal data. Based on this experience, I will not be contacting the ICO again, and I intend to file a formal complaint regarding the way I was treated. No one seeking advice should be spoken to in such a dismissive and disrespectful manner.

Company ignored my SAR. Complained to ICO. ICO requests evidence only from me, not from the company. Company can say whatever they want even if my evidence proves them wrong, and the ICO still sides with them. Was told to contact the company again even though I showed 5 emails they already ignored. Company said they spoke with me on the phone and I didn't want my data. ICO sided with them. ICO then ignored my complaint.

I tried to report what I believe to be a legitimate case of personal data misuse, following the ICO’s official guidance. After submitting my phone number to a single online service, I began receiving scam calls — including one impersonating HMRC.

I contacted the ICO via their live chat, explained the situation calmly and clearly, and was immediately told it was not their concern — without asking for any real detail. Because I hadn’t contacted the (suspicious) company directly first, I was also blocked from submitting the report through the official form.

The system leaves no room for good-faith reporting when you suspect your data has been mishandled by a potentially untrustworthy service. I expected at least a basic intake of information — instead, I was dismissed entirely.

It easy for any private or public organisation to circumnavigate the freedom of information act and the ICO are unable or unwilling to do anything. If you don't except their fob offs they class you "vexatious" and refuse to discuss it further. Do you think they lose sleep over 1☆ reviews? Of course not their high salaries (200k for the head) are guaranteed. Just another pointless government quango and a complete waste of tax payers money.

My data was leaked by O2 that allowed someone to steal my life saving and my children data and the ICO did nothing about it. and before you think i gave my details out thats not the case. read up about SS7 attack. what a shameful orgainsation! i gave them all the evidence, they told me DPA section 173 (3) says i have to tell them exactly who "name" of the person who did it at O2. Which is not the law. They don't even know the law. How is this organisation being funded by the public. They are not here to protect us they are here as a drain of public funds. IF you have been affacted by a data protection violation by O2 get in touch here and lets connect.

What a waste of space they all are. A quango with over 500 staff, who must be sat their doing nothing of any use.

Useless better to get a solicitor to deal with it they take years to review a case unsure why they exist

I made a submission to the ICO on 28 October 2024 using the online form, but was completely ignored. All I received from the ICO was a standard auto-response, no case reference number or case officer allocated. This was despite it stating it should take around/up to 14 weeks to investigate. Despite a follow-up on 4 Dec 2024 and an email request for an update on 3 March 2025, I heard nothing.

As a former government officer myself, I find it very disconcerting that a member of the public can be disregarded by the ICO in this way. Surely it is courteous to provide some sort of reply, even if the answer is that they cannot investigate.

I had to resort to completing a form GRC3 from the HM Courts & Tribunals website. This was entitled "Apply for an order to progress a complaint made to the Information Commissioner." This was well worth doing, as after I submitted this on 2 April 2025, I received a response from the ICO (at long last!) just two weeks later.

There was no apology for ignoring my submission though, despite the auto-response in October stating "We understand issues related to your personal information can cause distress and difficulty and will action your complaint as soon as possible." People may have already been subjected to stress and anxiety before contacting the ICO and requesting help, but getting no response from the ICO can add to stress levels.

Although the ICO would not take any further action (although I was advised to contact them by a lawyer), that is not the point. My main concern is the fact that I was ignored and had to contact HM Courts & Tribunals and complete a form GRC3 to get any response at all. I have to say the HM Courts & Tribunals service was very efficient in my case.

I spoke to a young girl on the helpline, when I asked what measures they can take against an organisation for a data breach, she repeatedly side stepped my question. Reading the reviews here, I guess the answer is NOTHING.

All these quango's are designed to give the illusion of consumer protection. In reality they exist to waste our time, cause life limiting stress, and solve nothing. They invent new ways to make money and the entire public sector is a self serving bloated waste of space.

I would say opt for the legal route, but that is equally precarious, long winded, full of jargon and expensive. What is the point of laws if only the rich can afford to enforce them? It means the law is another a weapon of oppression.

In many countries the corruption is open. In Britain it's hidden behind illusions. If companies pay the ICO a fee, and the ICO always takes their side against consumers, it's nothing more than white washed bribery. British bureacrats are master manipulators who make things look good on paper. But the public has always been shafted. We the public are being played, we have no rights in practise.

absolute joke of an organisation , unless its a high profile case with lots of media attention you are wasting your time , following a housing ombudsman report that clearly is inaccurate and contains defamotory inaccurate statements that relate to me I provide the the HO with irrefutable evidence a number of their statements within their report were inaccurate and I had the right to rectification under GDPR , the HO refused to alter their report and I made a subsquent complaint to the ICO , I provided a huge amount of evidence including a 3rd Party organisation statement / email that demonstrated beyond doubt the HO report was inaccurate and still the best I could get from the ICO was an acknowledgement that " i may disagree with their view " and a suggestion that I make a complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), Via my local MP , Really ! As with the HO the ICO clearly will not acknowledge any evidence that will demonstrate any decisions made by their staff are incorrect . due to this individuals like ourselves have continuous uphill battles with public sector workers ( that we pay for out of our taxes ) who have no concerns relating to possible redress regarding their decisions . to reiterate unless its a high profile case with media attention in my experience the ICO is not fit for purpose ,this also appears to be a constant with Ombudsman . dont waste your time .

I do not see any justification for this organisation to exist and waste taxpayers money. Their response time is over 6 months now, vague and unhelpful.

1 star as minus dont exsist. please add the minus stars @trustpilot Claim to regulate to data sector yet most of them couldnt wipe their noses as they are to busy looking for excuses to end calls. They have no idea on how to regulate this sector but that goes for all regulators with the exception of OFCOM. THEY HAVE NOW VERY LIKELY COST ME A COURT CASE AND WITH DAMAGES OF OVER £15,000 WITH THEIR NEGLECT TO THEIR PAYED WORKLOAD ! They abuse your rights and expect you to turn up smiling with a nice bottle of wine and bunch of flowers. Their phone staff should be working for the gestapo or down with the penguins where they cant melt and then have extremely negative impacts on innocent peoples lives !

PLEASE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY WHEN RINGING THIS PLACE HAVE THE CALL RECORDED FROM YOUR END AS THEY STOPPED CALL RECORDING PROBABLY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THE SHAMBOLIC SERVICE THEY PROVIDE !

Bring Back The Romans fgs

Appalling. The ICO is not a patch on what it once was, and like most other regulatory organisations now consistently always sucks up to the will of corporate business regardless of all wrongdoing and illegal spying on private citizens in the UK. My family were illegally spied on by building contractors in Bedwell Stevenage for over 9 months and lots of legitimate evidence was given to the ICO but alas even though many m neighbours were illegally spied on and the movement of vulnerable families monitored illegally the ICO now in ignorance pretend this is OK which clearly it is not. In Starmer's Britain everything has become broken!

A complete and utter waste of time. They take 4 to 6 months to actually review any case submitted. When they do, they just find in favour of the firm you are complaining against, without any research, investigation or discussion.
No reason for this waste of space organisation to exist.