ESA form send to ATOS and decision maker?

Justanother1

As other posts have said there are geunine concerns with both Atos and the DWP. I've only seen this 1 post from the Atos person, but this 1 post merely seems to give a generalised not poster specific response. I do think if someone has taken the time to ask a question the Atos person could at least address them specifically rather than merely typing out something from some handbook, it's very impersonal and not very polite.

Fridge3

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

It might be nice if someone thanked the ATOS rep for posting here. No wonder they don't post very often when people just shoot them down in flames when they do, ungrateful so-and sos.

As a most informative, helpful and relevant to OP, I thanked it.

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

And now I see they have been reported! I give up.

Should save some time, after that, I don't suppose the the reporter need bother the atos representative with requests for help again.

cit_k

rogerblack wrote: »

ATOS can only quote the official line given by the DWP as to how claims are processed - their response is largely a copy word-for-word of what the DWP say will happen.

On what grounds is that claim made?
If its a query from the media, then that may well be the case, as they are meant to refer them back to the authority (the dwp) as per contract.
As they are answering (as they claim) directly on here, they must not feel that clause is applicable, so unless you can suggest another reason why they are legally bound to quote only the official DWP line then I cant see any grounds that would be the case.

Rather like welfare rights workers, employed by a council, they often do not only quote the offical line from the dwp, but instead, if applicable, will tell you the official line, along with warnings of what may well happen if the official line is not followed, if evidence shows a likelyhood of that being the case.

rogerblack wrote: »

If the DWP does not keep to their published standards, that is not a matter for ATOS.

Arguably it should be.
If they are officially giving out 'advice', to people who quite rightly will take that advice as 'gospel' due to their involvement in the process, the advice should be accurate, and not risk disadvantaging the claimaint, where there is a reasonably high chance that could occur.

Plus, ATOS are, or certainly have been, involved heavily in the design of the system and procedures, if they were not to take on board any failings of the official procedures by the dwp, then that would mean these problems are not considered in the design or alteration of the design of the system.

rogerblack wrote: »

ATOS are part of the problem - but they are not the sole part.
A large part is the lack of decision-making by decision-makers, who have in the past tended to be rubber-stamp-impression-makers all too often.
This is allegedly changing.

Indeed, and ATOS should know that, so ideally should be ensuring any advice given to claimaints reflects the above.
Considering its been known for a long time, that this is the case, it makes a mockery of when ATOS claim that they do not make the decision, as they (unless highly incompetant) would have known in many cases the decision would be rubber stamped, so in effect, their report would be directly responsible for the outcome of a decision in many cases.

cit_k

Fridge3 wrote: »

Should save some time, after that, I don't suppose the the reporter need bother the atos representative with requests for help again.

Why would that be? Are you perhaps implying that ATOS would refuse to help someone simply because they reported a breach of rules? That I wold be wasting my time asking them any further questions?

Would that not mean a company acting in a childish and vindictive manner, and would then mean people could assume they would act in such a manner if a claimaint reported a breach of protocol to ATOS themselves or the DWP regarding their assessment procedure or report surely?

cit_k

Re sending it back in the pre-paid envelope as advised by the ATOS rep, personally I would recommend if possible, sending it by recorded or special delivery, so you have proof of posting and proof of receipt.

Whilst the proof wont actually prove it was seen by a decision maker (or possibly, but not sure on this part, even atos) as sometimes mail is opened and sent on to the correct department so can still go missing after being signed for, it will hopefully help to prove, should a dispute arrive, show that you fulfilled your end of the bargain and DID send something to them at that point in time.
It also means, you can check to see it has at least arrived somewhere in the system, and a few days later, you can ring up to check it is safely being processed. If it is not being, you have proof it should be in the system, and can inform them of that then and there.

Otherwise, you might not find out the form was lost, until its way to late to do anything about it.

cit_k

In addition, I would recommend keeping a photocopy (or taking photographs of each page, or scanning them etc) of everything you send, every form you fill in, all evidence that is sent.

Garry_Anderson

cit_k wrote: »

In addition, I would recommend keeping a photocopy (or taking photographs of each page, or scanning them etc) of everything you send, every form you fill in, all evidence that is sent.

What about sending a pdf of IB50/ ESA50 to their email address.

seven-day-weekend

Fridge3 wrote: »

As a most informative, helpful and relevant to OP, I thanked it.

Should save some time, after that, I don't suppose the the reporter need bother the atos representative with requests for help again.

So did I. I suppose I expected the usual suspects to at least be pleased that the ATOS rep was here.

I would not bother again if I was the ATOS rep. They give their free time up and it is still not appreciated.

seven-day-weekend

cit_k wrote: »

In addition, I would recommend keeping a photocopy (or taking photographs of each page, or scanning them etc) of everything you send, every form you fill in, all evidence that is sent.

I do that anyway with ANY official correspondence and would be no different with ATOS. It is just common sense.

suelees1

If it was the intention of Atos to score a PR coup by putting a rep on here it looks like it's failed. Too many folk on here have experienced poor decision-making based solely on the assessors reports and are not so easily conned.