Dear Sir or Madam,

I have just read the very astonishing exchange that is documented
at
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...
in the last two weeks.
Would you agree, that this is an utterly inconvenient email system
that you're using as concerns FOI matters? Having to "dig out"
answers from these lengthy auto-replies, coupled with the entirely
confusing auto-close-messages every seventh day strikes me as very
poor practice to handle FOI matters.

In order to benefit from the FOI legislation, I'm now stating a
clear access question here:
"Could you please advise me on whether any reviews of this email
system have taken place and whether you envisage changing your
system of replying to FOI requests?"

I am still grateful for comments on the paragraph above the
question, although I agree that the first paragraph is not really a
FOI question.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Bimmler

Thank you for contacting Nottinghamshire County Council. You should expect
a response from us shortly. Your enquiry is detailed below under the
heading 'Enquiry History'.

[1]Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you wish to add anything to your
original enquiry please click here.

Question Reference #081125-000014
Question: Freedom of Information request - FOI procedures and email system
Date Created: 25/11/2008 11:12
Last Updated: 25/11/2008 11:12
Status: Unresolved

Enquiry History
Customer (Michael Bimmler) 25/11/2008 11:12
Dear Sir or Madam,

I have just read the very astonishing exchange that is documented
at
[2]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...
in the last two weeks. Would you agree, that this is an utterly
inconvenient email system that you're using as concerns FOI
matters? Having to "dig out" answers from these lengthy
auto-replies, coupled with the entirely confusing
auto-close-messages every seventh day strikes me as very poor
practice to handle FOI matters.

In order to benefit from the FOI legislation, I'm now stating a
clear access question here: "Could you please advise me on whether
any reviews of this email system have taken place and whether you
envisage changing your system of replying to FOI requests?"

I am still grateful for comments on the paragraph above the
question, although I agree that the first paragraph is not really a
FOI question.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Bimmler

show quoted sections

Thank you for your enquiry. We will respond to you shortly. Please note
the following login, which you may use to check on this and any future
enquiries you may have:

E-mail address: [FOI #4362 email]
Password: Fp1k0Yjt

[1]By clicking here you may view and/or update your details..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://notts-contact.custhelp.com/cgi-bi...

We have not heard from you concerning your enquiry in the 7 days since we
sent you a response. Consequently, we have changed the status of your
enquiry to 'solved'.

[1]Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you wish to add anything to your
original enquiry please click here.

Question Reference #081125-000014
Question: Freedom of Information request - FOI procedures and email system
Category Level Your Council
1:
Date Created: 25/11/2008 11:12
Last Updated: 05/12/2008 05:23
Status: Solved

Enquiry History
Customer (Michael Bimmler) 25/11/2008 11:12
Dear Sir or Madam,

I have just read the very astonishing exchange that is documented
at
[2]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...
in the last two weeks. Would you agree, that this is an utterly
inconvenient email system that you're using as concerns FOI
matters? Having to "dig out" answers from these lengthy
auto-replies, coupled with the entirely confusing
auto-close-messages every seventh day strikes me as very poor
practice to handle FOI matters.

In order to benefit from the FOI legislation, I'm now stating a
clear access question here: "Could you please advise me on whether
any reviews of this email system have taken place and whether you
envisage changing your system of replying to FOI requests?"

I am still grateful for comments on the paragraph above the
question, although I agree that the first paragraph is not really a
FOI question.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Bimmler

show quoted sections

Dear Nottinghamshire County Council,

With all due respect, this is exactly what I meant in my request.
No, you have not yet sent me a reply, other than an acknowledgement
email. No, I am not able to login to your website as half of the
URL is truncated by the whatdotheyknow.com software. No, I do not
accept that my enquiry is "solved".

I expect your reply at your earliest convenience and no later than
December 24th

Yours sincerely,

Michael Bimmler

Thank you for contacting Nottinghamshire County Council. You should expect
a response from us shortly. Your enquiry is detailed below under the
heading 'Enquiry History'.

[1]Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you wish to add anything to your
original enquiry please click here.

Question Reference #081205-000001
Question: Re: Freedom of Information request - FOI procedures and email system
Date Created: 05/12/2008 08:12
Last Updated: 05/12/2008 08:12
Status: Unresolved

Enquiry History
Customer (Michael Bimmler) 05/12/2008 08:12
Dear Nottinghamshire County Council,

With all due respect, this is exactly what I meant in my request.
No, you have not yet sent me a reply, other than an acknowledgement
email. No, I am not able to login to your website as half of the
URL is truncated by the whatdotheyknow.com software. No, I do not
accept that my enquiry is "solved".

I expect your reply at your earliest convenience and no later than
December 24th

Yours sincerely,

Michael Bimmler

show quoted sections

Recently you sent Nottinghamshire County Council an enquiry. Our response
is detailed below, along with your enquiry, under the heading 'Enquiry
History'.

We will assume your enquiry has been resolved if we do not hear from you
within 7 days.

Thank you for contacting us.

[1]Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you wish to add anything to your
original enquiry please click here.

Subject
Re: Freedom of Information request - FOI procedures and email system

Enquiry History
Response (Amanda Oxborrow) 05/12/2008 13:13
Dear Mr Bimmler

My apologies for the lack of response to your previous enquiry, it was my error.

With regard to your original questions - I'm sorry that your find our email management system confusing
, I accept that the automated response element can be seen as confusing, although other customers have
found the suggested links can be beneficial.

However, I'm sure you will be pleased to hear that we are currently reviewing our handling of email
enquiries and will be implementing a new system in 2009. As yet we have not set a date as we are
reviewing our requirements to ensure we implement the most effective system from the customer
perspective.

My apologies again for the delay in responding to you.

Amanda Oxborrow
Customer (Michael Bimmler) 05/12/2008 08:12
Dear Nottinghamshire County Council,

With all due respect, this is exactly what I meant in my request.
No, you have not yet sent me a reply, other than an acknowledgement
email. No, I am not able to login to your website as half of the
URL is truncated by the whatdotheyknow.com software. No, I do not
accept that my enquiry is "solved".

I expect your reply at your earliest convenience and no later than
December 24th

Yours sincerely,

Michael Bimmler

show quoted sections