Purpose of the CAB forum?

Legacy_user

I am failing to understand the purpose of the CAB forum.

Where a CAB representative does reply it seems to be one of 3 stock answers every time.

1. CAB aren't covering that area
2. Look at the guides on adviceguide.org
3. Visit your local CAB

Very little helpful information is given and TBH the best information is still coming from the regulars on this site rather than the so called professionals.

System

I suppose the number of responses speaks volumes. May be some more time is needed for somebody to think of a purpose?

Wywth

Maybe if those who post there despite the instructions on the nag screen that must be confirmed as read before first entering, and repeated in the PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING sticky, didn't post questions that the CAB don't currently address, then the CAB could spend more time posting proper advice rather than answering all the off topic posts that should ideally have been posted elsewhere on the MSE board in the first place

In fact, if you had read that sticky, you would know the answer to your question too.

i.e. "the Citizens Advice Bureau discussion board which aims to help people get started on selected topics"

System

Fair enough but that only discounts one of the stock answers. The other 2 still make up the vast majority of the rest of their answers so my initial question is still valid.

Wywth

In my experience, 2 & 3 either follow 1, or are given supplementary to a more comprehensive answer when the question is part of the selected topics

Admittedly, I have seen the odd response where the CAB ask the poster to contact their local CAB office, usually taking full details with them, as the matter is so complex it cannot be fully answered online with the limited information, or would be better handled by a specialist at the local CAB office. But this is not the norm by any means.

OneYorkshireLass

If you type into Google 'Citizen's Advice Bureau Forum' the second link is the MSE CAB forum and I believe that's how many of the posters on the CAB area are finding it and posting on there. It brings you straight to the forum, as far as I can see, and not to the page with the message and tick box.

Most of the threads are made by newbies and I think they don't realise there are other areas of the forum where their questions would receive better answers. Perhaps there could be a pop-up whenever a user clicks on 'New Thread' - advising them to look at different areas of MSE before they post, and also to read the rules of the CAB forum.

A lot of newbies just jump straight in and don't read the sticky threads.

Wywth

OneYorkshireLass wrote: »

If you type into Google 'Citizen's Advice Bureau Forum' the second link is the MSE CAB forum and I believe that's how many of the posters on the CAB area are finding it and posting on there. It brings you straight to the forum, as far as I can see, and not to the page with the message and tick box.

Most of the threads are made by newbies and I think they don't realise there are other areas of the forum where their questions would receive better answers. Perhaps there could be a pop-up whenever a user clicks on 'New Thread' - advising them to look at different areas of MSE before they post, and also to read the rules of the CAB forum.

A lot of newbies just jump straight in and don't read the sticky threads.

Before any registered user, and you need to be a registered user to post on MSE, is able to access the CAB board, they must accept the contents of the warning page.

OneYorkshireLass

Yep, but I wonder how many don't realise there's more forums on MSE that could help more. I doubt some people even really read the warning. I also wonder how many people think they're on the official CAB website - what with the blue and yellow set-up ...

Wywth

OneYorkshireLass wrote: »

Yep, but I wonder how many don't realise there's more forums on MSE that could help more. I doubt some people even really read the warning. I also wonder how many people think they're on the official CAB website - what with the blue and yellow set-up ...

Do you mean this blue & yellow set up?



I don't know how many notice it, but it gives those that do yet another opportunity to know what the CAB reps answer questions on here, and if off topic, indicates what other more appropriate boards may be available