Ministry of Defence Fiasco

[Marianthompson47]

I wrote to the MOD earlier this year requesting military records for my father.

They wrote in October to say  that they had found said records and asked me to pay around £28 adding the records would be sent to me within 20 days.

I made the payment straight away and waited.

Then I received another email saying they were looking for records!?


I responded quoting the information they have sent me, but no response.

Today, I have received another long email where they are quoting Public Interest Test where I understand they have to ensure my father would be happy for this information to be released to the public!

My father had been dead for over 60 years!? How can they communicate with him?

Why did they not ensure they complied with rules BEFORE taking my money!?

I am not sure where to turn as you cannot even call them and they do not respond to my emails.

[haliared]

This seems to be where you can complain to, hopefully they can help.....

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-records-of-service/complaints

[familydar]

Deleted, replied to wrong post 

Jane :-)

[Ray T]

Aren’t they in process of transferring all the records from the MOD to the NA?

[willyam]

Marian,

Is the MOD citing section 41 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 in their response to you?

I ask this because I have recently had a similar knock-back - in connection with my request to obtain my late mother's ATS record.

Willyam

[ansteynomad]

I've been trying to get my father's WW2 records for the last two years and am making no progress whatsoever.

I applied for my Dad's service record (1940-46) in December 2023. I had regular updates,which were basically apologies for the delay, until about a year ago. I tried to chase it, with no result.

Earlier this month I had a lengthy and rather odd e mail out of the blue , which said his record was embargoed until 2033, but they didn't have proof of death (where had that gone? I submitted it originally) and basically invited me to [re]submit his death certificate and try again.

I did this and now I have an e mail which confirms they have found his record, but also says this:

"This record is currently closed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will need to be sensitivity reviewed before we can determine whether it is possible to open it to the public.

This department is currently handling an exceptionally high volume of cases. This has led to some delays in the service, meaning that it may take us longer than usual to respond to your request. We apologise for this and thank you for your patience.

Please note that in order to process requests as quickly as possible, we will be unable to answer requests for updates on specific cases. We are also unable to prioritise specific requests, or to take special personal circumstances into consideration."

That's pretty much the same response as I initially received in December 2023, when they said it would take about six months to process my request.

As far as I am aware, my Dad had an undistinguished war. Conscripted into the RAMC in 1940, he rose to the dizzy heights of WO2 and was then demobilised in 1946.

I will keep trying, but this is the most lengthy and obtuse process I have ever come across.

[Marianthompson47]

Marian,

Is the MOD citing section 41 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 in their response to you?

I ask this because I have recently had a similar knock-back - in connection with my request to obtain my late mother's ATS record.

Willyam

They say that the public Interest Test is currently ongoing. They hadn't mentioned it before.
Adding some if the information in the record I'd covered by section 38, a qualified exemption under the FOI?!

The FOI gives me the right to know whether they hold the info I want.

It goes on and on about section 48  and dection 41.

It says it contains medical information that had been deemed to have been given on confidence at that time!!

They say if an authority holds a large amount of medical information on a person, that person would not expect the info to be released to the public after they passed away. Everyone had a right to privacy!!!

It goes on and on....

[Biggles50]

Send a letter or email to your MP detailing the request and the response.

As long as you are a direct descendant than they cannot refuse.

Anything sensitive ie Secret etc, can be redacted.

[Marianthompson47]

Apparently, they state that not even next ofKin or family can view anything.

So I wonder why they asked me to pay (which I did).
This has been going on since last ysar. 😔😓