Stage 5
County Court
Applies UK GDPR law and can order marker removal or award damages
The County Court applies UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and common law. Unlike the FOS, which uses a fair and reasonable test, the court applies legal tests. If a CIFAS marker is inaccurate personal data, the court can order its removal and can award damages for the harm caused.
Visit Court website →What Court can do
- Apply UK GDPR accuracy requirements
- Order data correction or erasure where the law supports it
- Award damages for inaccurate data processing
- Make legally binding orders the institution must obey
- Enforce data protection rights that may go beyond an Ombudsman outcome
What Court cannot do
- Act for free, there are court fees
- Investigate on their own, you must bring the claim
- Move quickly in every case, court timelines can be months
- Provide the same informal process as the FOS
Key facts
Applies law, not a fair-and-reasonable standard
Can deal with removal and damages together
Court fees may be recoverable if the claim succeeds
Usually the final route, not the first
Need help with a CIFAS marker complaint?
The system supports your case through every stage, including Court.
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