vstorm-co Answering a citizen enquiry
Most enquiries are procedural and answerable. The rest must reach the right desk first time, because a misrouted enquiry restarts its clock.
Answer from published information
Eligibility criteria, required documents, where and how to apply, fees, statutory timescales, opening hours. Cite the page or the regulation and its date.
Route, with the reason attached
Anything requiring a decision on an individual case, a discretion, or access to a record. Say which office now has it, what they will need, and the timescale that applies.
Say the deadline unprompted
If the matter has one — an appeal window, a submission date — say it in the first reply even when not asked. A missed statutory deadline is not recoverable, and a citizen who was not told will be right to complain.
Accessibility
Match the language of the enquiry. Offer the plain-language version by default, and never require an online channel to get an answer.
Never
Estimate an outcome, promise a timescale that is not published, or ask for information the office already holds.