response carries little weight. In any case, the position of the competent authority on a nationality status enquiry will need to be weighed up against the position taken by any other competent authority, or authorities, involved in an individual’s case.27 (ix) Inconsistent treatment by competent authorities 42. The assessment of the positions of competent authorities becomes complex when an individual has been treated by various State actors inconsistently. For example, an individual may have been allowed to receive public benefits, which by law and in practice are reserved for nationals, but on reaching adulthood is denied a passport. Depending on the specific facts of the case, inconsistent treatment may be an instance of a national’s rights being violated, the consequence of that person never having acquired nationality of that State, or the result of an individual having been deprived of or losing his or her nationality. 43. In cases where there is evidence that an individual has acquired nationality through a non-automatic mechanism dependent on an act of a State body, subsequent denial by other State bodies of rights generally accorded to nationals indicates that his or her rights are being breached. That being said, in certain circumstances the nature of the subsequent treatment may point to the State having changed its position on the nationality status of that individual, or that nationality has been withdrawn. 44. Even where acquisition or withdrawal of nationality may have occurred automatically or through the formal act of an individual, State authorities nonetheless will often subsequently confirm that nationality has been acquired or withdrawn. This is generally undertaken through procedures for the issuance of identity documents. In relation to mechanisms for acquisition or loss of nationality either automatically or through the formal act of an individual, greater weight is warranted regarding the view of the competent authorities responsible for issuing identity documents that constitute proof of nationality, such as passports, certificates of nationality and, where they are only issued to nationals, identity cards.28 (x) Nationality acquired in error or bad faith 18 45. Where the action of the competent authority in a non-automatic mechanism is undertaken in error (for example, because of a misunderstanding of the law to be applied) or in bad faith, this does not in itself invalidate the individual’s nationality status so acquired. This flows from the ordinary 27 Please note that in cases of a non-automatic change in nationality status that requires an act of a State, the existence (or lack) of documents normally issued as part of the State’s action will be decisive in establishing nationality. Please see paragraph 33. 28 Indeed, other authorities may consult with this competent authority when taking a position on the individual’s nationality.