A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

smileyt_2

VJ'smum will be thinking of you today. xx

PAH what that council worker told you is a pile of absolute b*ll**ks! And if I were you I would be asking for an ex-gratia payment for the money you paid back. Unless there was an overpayment, you don't pay CTB and HB back, it's not a loan!:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: They have basically stolen from you.
Go and see your local councillors too about the situation, and put in a complaint with them about the woman's attitude. If you can put it in writing and hand it to them at their surgery, making sure you take two copies and they see you keeping a copy for your records, then I think they have to investigate and give you a reply. Who does that woman think she is? I'm with katieowl on this and am sharpening my pitchfork too! A prong up the derriere would do wonders for that council worker's attitude!!

Mardatha glad to see you back, I was going to pm you today to see if you were still around. I have just bought some Latah tomato seeds from Real Seeds in the hope they are as productive as you found them last year.

scrabbles_2

I'm aghast that a council could behave this way.

Incidentally when I worked for JCP EVERY call we took was recorded and kept for a good long time at that. And it was the same for the LA benefits lines - as I understand it, that's the law. In which case you are legally entitled to a copy of that recording - and you'd also be able to find out exactly what happened with this 'paying back' thing - and you'd have all the evidence you'd need to make them wish they'd never heard of you. Do you know how to do a subject access request under the DPA? If not, I'll draft it out for you.

VJsmum

Thanks all. i am on the train and working on the basis of no news being good news. sorry to offload, but you are all so supportive here
i am a bit worrisd about the forecast snow tonight and whether it will affect me getting home especially as i have an appointment tomorrow with the doctor to stock up on my anti panic pills. I have had 30 which have lasted 2 years but have a feeling i may need them in weeks to come.

Thanks again - you really are a lovely lot!

Byatt

PAH, I am gobsmacked. I have in my time for working with the govt, had the misfortune to come across people just like the one you mention. Their lack of knowledge and patronisingingly appalling rude manner just makes my blood boil. Definitely complain and send copies to MP and the manager/head person of that office. Did you get that person's name by any chance?

Anyway, lots of brilliant advice given here, just wanted to add my support and blood boiling fury over your treatment.

Hugs and support. xxxxxx

edit: just wanted to add, again as someone who worked for the govt, that never, ever underestimate the power of the complaint letter. Find out the name of the person in charge, enter "complaint" on the letter and explain the facts of the phone call. As you did here. I know people say contact your MP and I endorse that.

Feel like an army of MSE'ers should march on your LA. We will be with you in spirit though, so imagine us all surrounding you with support, and fight, fight, fight.

edit again, VJsmum, so sorry to hear about your dad. Hugs. Let us know how he is.

EstherH

PAH:

That's appalling! I hope you do get the help you need from the person you had forgotten about. Sorry, can't remember which organisation you said.

VJSMUM': sorry to hear about your dad. Hope today goes well for you.

We are on council tax benefit now as after the government changed the tax allowance last year my husbands small pension which was topped up with income support, was over the limit for income support. So what was suppose to help, ended up being a load of hassle and we are probably worse off now having to pay something towards dentist, opticians etc plus about £60 a year council tax and prescriptions when we are ill. I get free but hubby has to pay. Having said that I am just so thankful that we did get the CTB as I thought we would have to pay the lot. I panicked when I saw Preparedathomes original post as I thought in the new tax year we would have to pay it all. We are in that older age group that someone mentioned before.

Well, being old style, we get on with it.

Make my mince stretch by batch cooking a large amount with loads of extra veg chopped up in the food processor, some oats and some soya mince mixed in. When all cooked up, everything else blends in and it still tastes meaty.

I'm expert at getting all the meat possible off a chicken.

Have very little waste food in my recycling bin. Mostly peel and bones and fat. I can't understand who has my share of the third of food that is thrown away each week. They must be crazy. I can understand a few things going off if you don't keep an eye on it but a third???

I'm no good at crafty stuff, cooking and knitting though.

Esther x

kidcat

VJsmum - ((huge hugs))


PAH- Gq has already given you the appropriate legislation etc, having had many similar fights with councils over the years (including winning a full tribunal whilst heavily pregnant) I would say that most will only know a little bit about their particular area, anything different (including payslips that look different to their own!!) throws them. Keep fighting, stay calm, note down every call time and request tapes of calls (under DPA you are entitled to them). Good luck.

Mardatha - we missed you.

I discovered today that if you are registered as a carer then your GP has to give you an appointment within 24 hours and that if I tell the walk in centre that I am a carer they will prioritise seeing me/kids. The walk in centre one is of particular importance as I regularly sit there for two hours upwards with DS who will be climbing the walls and if I am ill its often not possible to cope.

ginnyknit

VJ's mum, thinking of you and sending hugs x Not much anyone can say but we are all here for you

Pah you have a lot of friends behind you and I know when the DWP took us to hell and back how much it means to have someone who understands, everyone here kept me going until we resolved it. It makes me so angry :mad::mad: that good people are treated so badly, they have no idea what the strain of all this is like. Lets hope someone can halp you x

It trying to rain here but feels like icy rain. Am off to do some baking as we have run out of scones -disaster! Oh has written on my magnetic shopping list on the fridge 'SCONES' serves me right for making microwave strawberry jam, which is totally addictive. He even spent 10 minutes in Mr A working out which frozen fruit was most economical for making more jam. He decided the summer fruit was best, I am guesssing we are going to be spending a lot of time searching out whoopsied fruit this year :rotfl:

Byatt

kidcat wrote: »

VJsmum - ((huge hugs))


PAH- Gq has already given you the appropriate legislation etc, having had many similar fights with councils over the years (including winning a full tribunal whilst heavily pregnant) I would say that most will only know a little bit about their particular area, anything different (including payslips that look different to their own!!) throws them. Keep fighting, stay calm, note down every call time and request tapes of calls (under DPA you are entitled to them). Good luck.

Mardatha - we missed you.

I discovered today that if you are registered as a carer then your GP has to give you an appointment within 24 hours and that if I tell the walk in centre that I am a carer they will prioritise seeing me/kids. The walk in centre one is of particular importance as I regularly sit there for two hours upwards with DS who will be climbing the walls and if I am ill its often not possible to cope.

1) never a truer word. :T

2) I wondered why I was getting in to see the dr so quickly after I phoned! I thought they had improved the system.

meme30

ginnyknit wrote: »

VJ's mum, thinking of you and sending hugs x Not much anyone can say but we are all here for you

Pah you have a lot of friends behind you and I know when the DWP took us to hell and back how much it means to have someone who understands, everyone here kept me going until we resolved it. It makes me so angry :mad::mad: that good people are treated so badly, they have no idea what the strain of all this is like. Lets hope someone can halp you x

It trying to rain here but feels like icy rain. Am off to do some baking as we have run out of scones -disaster! Oh has written on my magnetic shopping list on the fridge 'SCONES' serves me right for making microwave strawberry jam, which is totally addictive. He even spent 10 minutes in Mr A working out which frozen fruit was most economical for making more jam. He decided the summer fruit was best, I am guesssing we are going to be spending a lot of time searching out whoopsied fruit this year :rotfl:

Am loving the idea of microwave strawberry jam. Could you post the recipe please?

VJsmum sorry to hear about your Dad, hope things are better when you get there. Big hugs. :grouphug:

D&DD

VJ's mum have a safe journey sending lots of hugs and positive vibes to keep you warm on your travels! Will be thinking of you,your dear dad and all the family XX

PAH I can't offer any advice hun as the wonderful ladies who've answered have far more knowledge about these things than me but wanted to offer my support..sometimes being the family 'rock' is a terrible weight to bear hoping things look brighter for you soon XX

Mardy where you been girl?? I thought you were frozen solid!

Hearing reports of nasty weather oop north so please take care if you have to travel peeps think we're going to dodge this lot later but then even a centimetre here seems to cause chaos
The last lot hasn't thawed yet so will be tricky if more comes on top.

Kidcat hope you feel a little better today sometimes you just need to have a good ole bawl it always seems to help :A

OH is off today so nothing remotely productive happening here
have walked dog and cleaned her ears and thats about it!