Information Commissioner's Office Reviews 500

TrustScore 1 out of 5

1.1

While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more

To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more

Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 93 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many people were dissatisfied with the company's ethics and overall conduct. Customers frequently reported issues with the company's response time, noting that it took months to receive a reply, often a template response that didn't address their specific complaints. Reviewers also found the service to be unhelpful and ineffective, with staff often described as rude and unwilling to assist. Many struggled to contact the company, experiencing cut-offs on the phone and unhelpful live chat interactions. Concerns were also raised regarding the staff's understanding of basic statutory matters and the company's handling of customer data.

What people talk about most

Ethics

Users describe negative interactions with ethics, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the lack of... See more

Response time

Customers had negative experiences with response times. Many reviewers report significant delays, with some... See more

Service

Consumers find service to be negative, with many describing it as ineffective, slow, and unresponsive.... See more

Customer communications

People report negative experiences with contact, citing difficulties in reaching companies and receiving... See more

Staff

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of staff. Many customers describe staff as useless, uninterested, and... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

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 don... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolute shameful organization, that claims it can help - but never does. When the GDPR came into place it infected every organisation to comply - or else. It made Companies' processes a misery and pe... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Contacted them after Equifax told me that they had breached DPA by telling me the answers to my security questions without doing security. Provided a screenshot of their admission. Received a res... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Wow. They have now excelled themselves in uselessness. NHS hospital completely ignored all ICO letters on my DPA case. ICO say nothing further they can do! What a joke. Organisations and state bo... See more


Company details

  1. Information Services
  2. Charity
  3. Non-profit organisation

Information provided by various external sources

The Information Commissioner’s Office is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.


Contact info

  • Water Lane, SK9, Wilmslow, United Kingdom

  • ico.org.uk

1.1

Bad

TrustScore 1 out of 5

500 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

How this company uses Trustpilot

See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.

Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Condescending

I found their communication to me to be very condescending regarding my complaint - like they were giving me a telling off for having the audacity to bring my complaint to them (even though that is what people are encouraged to do when they have exhausted the complaints procedure of another public authority). I would say that they fall seriously short of what is expected of a public authority in the way they responded - even though they didn't agree with my complaint, they could have responded in a way that wasn't condescending and of an arrogant manner.

18 October 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolute waste of time

Absolute waste of time, they have no interest in protecting the general pubic. According to ICO it's perfectly acceptable for an employer to disclose a person's disability without their consent to work colleagues. Also interesting to note they are entirely self regulating. If you disagree with a decision you can complain, but they review themselves. The Ombudsman will only look at how they have conducted themselves not how they have interpreted the law. They advise you to seek legal advice if you don't believe they have interpreted the law correctly. Realistically if you had a team of solicitors at your disposal you wouldn't be going to them in the first place, so completely pointless.

18 October 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Not fit for purpose.

Took more than four months to review my complaint. Case handler never contacted me as stated on website. I simply received what I believe was a pre written template, which didn't address my complaint at all. No wonder organisations are negligent with customers data, when there is clearly no recourse. The ICO is in need of a serious overhaul as it is definitely not fit for purpose.

15 October 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Is there any point to the ico?

Is there any point in the ico? I moved house on the 18th Feb 22, the new owners builder did some work that resulted in damage to some cables on the 29th March 22. It resulted in unpaid work, and unbelievably, a Country Court Judgment against me. I found out about the debt when an enforcement agent,from the High Court Enforcement Services Ltd, (CES) visited my old property. I've since had the CCJ set aside, and after the
CES refused to remove my details I informed the ico. To then be told by the ico that the CES are legally obligated and contracted to keep hold of my data, so much for the GDPR policy of eraser. The key demand for data protection is that a company has to be transparent, however, it seems that is of no interest to the ico. To be honest, I'd not bother with this organization again, waste of time.

10 October 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Feels like scam...

They have an online form to submit complaints, but when you get to the last page and submit, an error page appears.

When you contact them, they send you a form which cannot be edited.

It feels like the service is not even legit, but just a bunch of people trying to get an income without doing anything.

Horrified.

27 September 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Liverpool school of tropical medicine…

Liverpool school of tropical medicine lost my application form and emailed me about it. Then I asked to be put forward for the position as I had applied on time and it wasn’t my fault the application was lost. Then my personal details were shared and I was harassed on LinkedIn by employees. The police were called in and they . The information commissioners office cannot find any wrong doing though even though my private details were leaked and used and the police found this. The information commissioner believes the company which states they investigate over the emails sent to the victim, as apparently there word carries more weight than the emails. It’s just ridiculous

26 September 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Useless

Complete failure to protect people from predatory practices like ''consent or pay''. Sides with business not with people, utter waste of space. Cookies are not 'freely consented to'' if the alternative is having money taken off them. That is literally not free consent. Utterly worthless.

25 September 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Complaint reference, CF-0004944 still…

Complaint reference, CF-0004944 still have not been able to get PALS to budge, they are one of the most incompetent organisations and will not issue me a final response either. They are still however refusing to pursue the complaint and I was also contacted by someone at Ombudsman who suggested I contact Information Commisioners Office, this was a complete and utter waste of time as I got through to someone who point blank refused to give me advice. I don't know if this person couldn't be bothered to do her job or was just intentionally being unhelpful. 

13 September 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If I could give it no stars I would

If I could give it no stars I would. Reading the reviews this is a very common view. Appalling . There is no service. . The Staff appear to be indifferent to complaints. There is no complaint department and even with very clear failures to comply with FOI and SAR's it fails to act. The Head John Edwards does not even bother to respond to complaints . A 97% bad rating speaks volumes and still the ICO does nothing to improve at any level.

It is not fit for purpose and should be closed forthwith

10 September 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

totally inept at every level

totally inept at every level . What is even the purpose of it? I complained direct to the head John Edward's by email. Not once has he ever replied. If I could say no stars i would.
Not fit for purpose

4 September 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Waste of space

The previous Government organisation I worked for, twice breached my sensitive data, only to deny it. After gathering overwhelming evidence and presenting it to the ICO, they took the word of my previous employer. Absolutely devastated but after exhaustive work on my behalf, I finally gathered 100% evidence, proving my previous employer had lied from day one of my allegations. I presented this to the ICO who updated their records to state 2 data breaches had occurred and then closed my case, stating they are under no obligation to do anything else!!! A Government organisation can deceive the ICO and face absolutely no punishment or consequences. I am taking my case to court but no thanks to the uninterested, toothless ICO. 97% of reviews giving 1* speaks volumes.

20 August 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Has the Information Commissioner lost yourevidence?

As others have commented the Information Commissioner’s Office has an internet form which you must fill in.

The problem is that it wouldn’t let me input the evidence.

If you state the evidence will have to come by email, it gets lost from the form - then the case is closed because your email input evidence doesn’t exist.

Trying to find out why it had this problem, it appears that complainants can only I see small amounts of evidence as their system is set that way

The Information Commissioner’s Office vexed my request for trying to point this out ….and suggest the levels be raised.

If anyone else’s evidence has gone missing, please write a review of it in this site.

I intend to take this further so any more evidence welcome.

4 August 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Broke the act they are supposed to enforce!

To echo others, about as useful as a chocolate teapot. The ICO published a document containing incorrect and out of date information about me. Now this document is splattered all over the Internet and I'm the one trying to clean it up.
So, what I'm, saying is they broke the Act of Parliament which is their only job to police and enforce! Useless! Like others, wish I could give 0 stars. Am i worried they will read this and be upset? Nope, 'cos they haven't claimed their profile, so ignorant and stupid!

15 July 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

criminal data breach re Medical…

criminal data breach re Medical information(on 7 ocassions) by Dyfed Powys Police,already made complaint with professional standards department which decided there was no wrong doing!, contacted ICO with all the evidence and i was told that police will contact me to sort this out,ICO totally spineless

21 June 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

ENTIRELY CORRUPT

ICO is another body of the government entirely corrupt. If you complaint against a public administration in the UK, they will not take any action. ENTIRELY CORRUPT

17 June 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They are useless

They are useless, they can't investigate anything even if you provide enough evidence.Three months ago I presented evidence and now after three mounths they ask me again to present the same evidence. If the Government changed the management of the ICO because all the people gave it a star, surely many of us would be happy. So don't be under the illusion that they are investigating, because they probably don't have enough knowledge of how they should be investigating. I would give zero stars, but I know it's not possible.😏😡

21 June 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Complete disgrace!!!

Complete disgrace!!!
I have made a complaint, after previously talking with one of their advisors, via chat helpline.
That advisor, plus a specialist employment licensing solicitor told me that my concerns are correct and I am fully entitled to register a Complaint.
After registering the Complaint, in their " professional " manner of work they said that : it is lawful for a Healthcare Agency to hold applicants' details, even applicants after waiting more than 10 weeks the compliance process withdraw the application.
These types of agencies earn their wages ,just because others are going to work.
They also said, that is normal for applicants to have their time wasted for unpaid training during " compliance " process.
So...in ICO 's wisdom if you want to work, and apply for a 0 hours contract with an Agency ( as newly relocated in an area) , you must submit details via social media, wait more than 10 weeks, pay yourself for DBS, waste 14 hours from your time for " training".
Then, seeing that " recruiters" take such a long time , you withdraw application because you found a much better job.
And ICO allows Agency to hold : Bank Statement for the last 9 months, passport, proofs of address and educational background, even you Do Not work for that agency.
I was Naive to believe ICO is professional.
They are far away from this.
And based on the reviews about " quality" of their work, it looks they are some kind of national embarrassment.

22 May 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Fugging useless

Yep. Pretty much agree with everything here. They are infuriatingly pointless. Absolute waste of oxygen. Will take up with my mp after the general election.

12 June 2024
Unprompted review

Is this your company?

Claim your profile to access Trustpilot’s free business tools and connect with customers.

Get free account

The Trustpilot Experience

Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.

Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.

Learn more about other kinds of reviews.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.

Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.

Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.

Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.

Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.

Take a closer look