reallymadwoman
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Everything posted by reallymadwoman
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@ee Disputed EE account ***Resolved***
reallymadwoman replied to reallymadwoman's topic in Telecoms - mobile or fixed
To recap, EE know that their account holder lacks capacity and (presumably!) know there is an outstanding complaint with the Ombudsman Service. They've instructed third party debt collectors to write to the account holder direct. Whilst I'm sure it's simple incompetence, this is so wrong on so many grounds. -
We have answers to most of these questions. Do you know if there is any way of circumventing the consultation process if emergency repairs are needed?
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Thanks. As you say, we can't afford to move and it's also not helpful to assume we haven't already looked into that possibility.
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We have already looked at all options for moving, it's simply not possible. The only ground floor flats in this area which are big enough for our needs are a lot more money than we'd get for our current flat, plus we've already paid for a lot of adaptions (and would have to pay to have some of them removed, it was a condition of them being installed in the first place). We estimate it would cost at least £100K to move at all, and to move to a bungalow would be at least twice that.
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Not everyone can move home whenever they feel like it, and if we could afford a bungalow, we'd already have one.
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So the lift is now back in operation and I can come and go as I please. However, the prospect of this happening again is not something I want to think about - it was bad enough being stuck inside for 10 days, had it actually taken 3 months minimum to get the lift back in operation I'd have had no choice but to move out temporarily. There must be something that could be done to bypass or shorten the time needed to get repairs done in these sort of circumstances - I can't imagine that we'd have to, for example, suffer a leaking roof for months. Does anyone have any ideas?
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The government says working pays, obviously not!!!!
reallymadwoman replied to Max1968's topic in Benefits and HMRC
I feel for you! The whole Universal Credit system appears to be a nightmare. My son, who is main carer and usually gets carer's allowance plus income support foolishly took a part-time, short term contract job for 10 hours a week for 6 weeks. As a result his income support claim has been closed, but they didn't tell him for 3 1/2 months and kept paying until 2 weeks ago even though he'd submitted payslips etc weekly. They haven't (yet) asked for any overpayment to be paid back. We consider ourselves to be fairly tech savvy, but even so we've had to spend nearly 3 hours this morning making a claim for universal credit, which allegedly can't be back dated even though the delay is DWP's error. I've told him not to bother with part-time jobs in future, once he'd paid travel expenses he was no better off anyway and it's just too much hassle to sort out afterwards. -
Would it be worth speaking to the police again? What this person is doing might amount to harassment, but there's always a risk that you'll make things worse if they know they're getting to you.
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Agree, whoever it is was acting on behalf of BG. I'd be submitting a written complaint immediately, but then I hate BG.
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@ee Disputed EE account ***Resolved***
reallymadwoman replied to reallymadwoman's topic in Telecoms - mobile or fixed
So this went to the Ombudsman Service who supported EE in that doing a credit check when the account was opened means it must have been genuine, and telling me the phone is being used proves that it's Mum's partner using it and setting debt collectors on him when they know he's now in a Care Home and haven't even bothered to tell us how much is outstanding is perfectly reasonable. It's the sort of logic I expect for a certain 'independent' appeals service for private parking charges, and so I'm giving the 'final' decision the same respect I'd accord the IAS. -
The same person reported me three times, DWP have to investigate but after the first one they apologised for having to bother me again. It's horrible so it's an easy way for someone with a grudge to get at you if you let them. If you can, try to view it as a necessary part of the process which is nothing personal. If DWP had any doubt about you working, it would be an interview under caution.
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I hope someone with specific advice will post soon. In the meantime, I know from reading other people's posts that if it was going to be an interview under caution, the letter would say so. A letter from Compliance tends to suggest that DWP don't really give much weight to the allegation but they do still have to check. I'm sure that if you asked they would come to you rather than make you go to the office if you would be happier with that. Having been on the receiving end of malicious allegations I know how stressful it can be. In my case they did visit me at home and were obviously happy with my explanation and suggestion as to who had made the allegation and why. I had a letter a few days later saying they had closed the investigation. If you have a crime report or anything in writing from the police to back up your suspicion it would probably help to have it with you.
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Online Blue Badge renewal
reallymadwoman replied to reallymadwoman's topic in Special needs, Disability etc
My PIP award expires in a year (so I'll be getting the renewal forms for that soon, as well as currently being reassessed for ESA!) hence the blue badge being only for a year. Again, down to the PIP assessor who somehow believes my genetic, degenerative condition will miraculously disappear. My complaint also went to ICE but because I'd got the maximum award anyway they didn't even look at the issues with the assessment - half my conditions missed off, half the consultants involved missed off, most of my medication missed, the box she'd ticked not agreeing with the 'justification' she'd written etc etc. Despite the wheelchair and not seeing me walk at all, she somehow decided I can walk 20 metres using an aid, which I can't use because I have no grip and my right shoulder dislocates if anyone breathes on it. -
Hi all, Apparently all blue badge renewals/applications in future will have to be done through the gov.uk portal and paper applications will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances. However, the system is apparently not working very well at the moment. The letter I received implied that as I was renewing an existing badge I would only have to provide proof of continuing entitlement, and that everything would be done online. I duly scanned my last PIP award and started the process - I previously qualified as 'virtually unable to walk' as I'd never bothered to apply for high mobility DLA, but got enhanced mobility PIP when I transferred. I actually had to provide proof of identity, proof of address, proof of the points I scored for moving around, proof of the duration of my PIP award, a letter dated within 12 months to confirm I was still receiving PIP and a signed passport type photograph, to be sent by post to my local council. I duly posted everything, only to be asked for all the proof of entitlement again as they wanted proof dated within the last 12 months of what points I got for mobility, which simply does not exist as I haven't been assessed within the last 12 months! When I copied the list of required proof from the original application they did accept what I had sent, so I'll be getting my new badge soon but only for 12 months and still at the same cost of £10! I only applied on the basis of my PIP award because I thought it would be more straightforward but actually I'd have been better off having another assessment (they didn't bother actually assessing me last time I renewed) and getting another 3 years. I hope these are teething problems with the new system as it would be much easier for me if everything could be done online, but I doubt that's true for everyone.
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Sold scooter - buyer now wants to return for refund
reallymadwoman replied to foxeymoxey's topic in General Motoring Issues
Be aware that my son had a similar issue with a motorcycle which he sold which turned out to be a [problem]. The people involved regularly purchased motorcycles and scooters, all of which had a head gasket failure almost immediately (usually after less than a mile!), often with a report from a garage to back them up. However, when asked to return the motorcycle to the garage which had replaced the head gasket 2 weeks before the sale, we never heard from them again. We contacted the police after a friend of my sons had the same experience and the people were eventually prosecuted for attempted fraud. You can see why your post has raised alarm bells. You have absolutely no liability for any damage or fault which occurred after the sale of the motorcycle so long as you sold it as a private individual and so long as you didn't make any false statements about the condition. You are not obliged to make any contribution to the repairs nor are you obliged to give a refund. There are plenty of threads on here involving the sale of second hand vehicles. Have a read, then come back with any specific questions you have. -
What a horrible position to be in, I don't envy you having to make such a decision as it's a bit of a no win situation as somebody is going to end up very upset whatever you decide. I don't think the seller has any legal right to ask for the dog back and I believe you are entitled to refuse to return him. If you were to perhaps consider returning him as a gesture of goodwill, you would be able to request a full refund of the purchase price plus anything else you had spent on the dog in the meantime, eg the vet's bill, food etc.
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I have no experience of Maximus, but I've had complaints about ATOS go to the ICE twice now, and be at least partially upheld. The last one took 15 months from when the complaint was accepted to when ICE started investigating, but I believe the wait is getting longer. The increase in their workload is apparently mostly down to ATOS/Maximus complaints. ICE refused to investigate the standard of ATOS' report as they said I should have appealed even though DWP told me I couldn't appeal as I'd got the maximum award anyway so all the errors and omissions were irrelevant.
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Finally some good news - the insurers are paying for the lift repairs in full so no consultation needed and they should be done by the end of next week. In the meantime, we've managed to get me into the apartment and in theory at least I can go out if I absolutely have to, e.g. hospital appointment. In practice, getting out and back in again put me in bed for a couple of days so I'm not going to attempt a repeat, it's a long, long way down those stairs and it felt like twice as far getting back up. The wheels are currently padlocked to a convenient post at the bottom of the stairwell with all removable parts safely stored in the apartment. At least it's raining so I wouldn't want to go out.
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I managed to get the form back in plenty of time, Maximus should have had it for 2 weeks now. I'm trying not to obsess about it and I can't quite bring myself to ask them how long it might be. Whilst I'm waiting, I'm making a start on the PIP form - since I can't go out at the moment, I've got plenty of time.
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The motor has burnt out. This is apparently potentially covered by the lift insurance which might get things going a bit quicker.
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Thanks for all the replies so far. To our endless amazement, the Management co have got someone looking at the lift tomorrow. There's still not much hope of getting it fixed before Sunday, but at least they're doing something. We'll keep on top of them for updates and if things drag out much beyond the middle of next week then we'll look at other options.
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I am effectively homeless because I can no longer get to my home. Had I been at home when the lift failed, I wouldn't be able to get out, which is actually the better option. I'm going to ask my husband to speak to the management company about paying for a temporary stairlift - is there one which will take me and the wheelchair? If not, the stairlift on it's own is no use.
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There's at least one previous thread on here about this exact issue. Few DWP staff are aware of the rules which applied prior to 2001 and it has caused problems for many claimants in your position. A search should turn up the other threads.
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I'm planning on a lengthy stay with my Mum, at least she's in a bungalow.
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We're away at the moment, due home on Sunday. We only found out by accident that there was a problem with the lift - my son popped around to check on the place and found an 'out of order' sign. Since the management company know I'm a wheelchair user, I'm a bit miffed that they didn't bother to let me know there's a problem, it's apparently been out of action for a week already. I don't have a social worker. We own the flat, it's leasehold. I'm not sure what a medical opinion would add at the moment, but if necessary I'll contact my GP for a letter.
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