Hi after six years from a repossession I'm now hoping to get a mortgage. The underwriter has asked me to write a letter explaining why I was in difficulties. Also my partner needs to do the same. We have both moved on. My credit rating is excellent now but worried that even though the lender had given us a decision in principle and is aware of our past history, we could fall at the last hurdle. Does anyone have a template or know what the Underwriter is looking to see?

Hi all by way of update went back to work on Friday. Nothing has changed. Still no risk assessments, many staff not even aware of what happened. No training on offer. The message is if you are beaten up by a client get over it come back and then forget all about it. have spent all weekend writing my letter of grievance which I am handing in in the morning

Hi forgot to say the hospital reported it to HSE but not my firm.

Hi Ford no I haven't but will do. Thank you. my GP has recommended as occupational health assessment. I told my firm this and their response was "we can do it and will do it but you may be shooting yourself in the foot" my thinking is it will confirm whether or not I can go back to my job although because nothing has changed and they have learnt nothing I am not sure if I can. Also the thought of being alone in a room with any client still panics me. Jackie yes I do have a hard decision to make and as financially I have absolutely no choice I have to go back. I still feel angry and aggrieved and thinking about putting in a grievance but I just cannot afford to not earn a salary.

Ok so having been inspired by all the help I have had on here I met with my firm on Friday to plan return to work. Here is their response - Did you do a risk assessment ? no Have you done one now ? no What about making staff aware of the risks now this has happened to me? - you are over reacting and clearly not well. I told them I felt let down ? We can't change the way you feel. Told them I was hurt doing a job for them? We are not responsible once you are out of the office, we cannot cover all eventualities. When I tried to argue that they were I was described as "excitable, clearly not well, saying nothing different than I said four weeks ago and told to go carry on with counselling. They have offered that when \I am ready to go back I can start off in a less pressured role with no reduction in salary (to be reviewed in a month) They did say they were sorry it has happened to me but that it really is nothing to do with them and totally the fault of the hospital. When I suggested there be guidelines for staff to follow when dealing with potentially violent or aggressive clients , the response again was "you are obviously not well". In the end I ended up in tears and left the meeting telling them \I would consider their offer. Please can someone tell me if it is me that is missing the point !

Thank you will ask them. I am so sorry you have also suffered ptsd. did this make you physically unwell. I have permanent arm pain but GP says it is anxiety related?

Thanks for your response. yes it was a secure forensic unit. I have reported it to the police. the police interviewed her and she told them she was in a bad mood as she was being bullied on the ward and so took it out on me! although I have been doing the job 14 years but recently relocated to a different branch of the firm and prior to that had not dealt with those type of clients. I will do my best to keep my marbles !

Thank you. I totally agree what makes it worse is not being paid is making me feel like it is my fault. Can they cover themselves by saying they are leaving me alone as I am signed off. What I need is some acknowledgement and reassurance that this should not have happened to me and won't happen again. They sent an inexperienced secretary in to another psychiatric hospital 2 days after my attack telling her not to worry she was just there to fill forms in. My GP has referred me but there is a long waiting lust and in the meantime I can't pay my rent or bills. How can this be fair. I have arranged a meeting with my dept head for Friday.

Thank you so much for all the replies. I have found a solicitor who is dealing with the personal injury side of things for me on a no win no fee arrangement. he though doesn't think I have a strong case against the firm. The way I see it though is I went to work that day doing my job and I was hurt. had I had training then A. I would have insisted a member of staff remained in the room B. asked for a personal alarm C. Been able to break away After the attack I rang work and told them. I was simply told to make sure someone escorted me of the building and go home. the next day as my neck hurt I went for a check up and had to have xray and Ct scan. I was then told they thought my neck was broken so I was kept overnight before being given the all clear but since then I have had constant arm pain. my firm blame the hospital and say any personal injury claim should be against them. I think it is both. the hospital also let me down, it took ages for anyone to come to help me and then 3 of them to get her off me. my solicitor has told me my firm have done nothing wrong as training would not have stopped it happening and also that staff had been going to hospitals for years and so it was not reasonably foreseeable. i also know my firm have not changed their procedures and untrained staff still being sent to hospitals, and for this reason I feel I cannot go back but am being forced as can't survive on sick pay and now worried sick about the future. the firm employ over 100 staff. in the time I have been off sick apart from the first two weeks no one in authority has spoken to me and simply say come back when you have a Fit note or if my GP saying phased return then they will consider it. my GP is disgusted and says the way they are treating me is causing secondary stress on too of the attack and urges my firm to help me rehabilitate and so I am stuck between a rock and a hard place ! I have never been on long term sick before and having worked their 14 years expected better than this.

Hi sorry forgot to say there is no human resources department.

Hi thanks for your response. I have never had any training and I don't think there was any risk assessment. I have not been asked about details of the incident or offered any practical help or support. My GP won't sign me fit to work and I am now not being paid apart from SSP which I can't survive on. I organised private counselling but due to not being paid I can't afford it anymore. I feel like I have been written off. Have worked there 14 years

Hi I work for a law firm and part of my job is to visit psychiatric patients. Recently I was assaulted by a client who punched me in the neck and then pulled me around the room by my hair. I have now been off work for 8 weeks and my dr believes I am suffering from from post traumatic stress. My employer is not accepting any responsibility and I feel let down and scared to return to that job. Can anyone advise what my rights are I believe my firm were negligent in that I have never had any training on how to deal with potentially violent clients .

Hi - my husband went to the hearing in December where they were appealing the decision to revoke the licences of all five companies they run. They lost on all. Unfortunately nothing that happens to them seems to change how they act towards their customers. Have you had any dealings with them?

Thanks and I am trying but even though they know i have no assets they will do it anyway they are a company who we reported to the fsa and the fsa subsequenlty banned them - still they carry on after selling our home they now say we owe them £325,000 and rising.

I am being threatened with bankruptcy for a mortgage shortfall if I am declared bankrupt I will lose my job. Are there any alternatives. Having just started life again after repossession am worried sick that if made bankrupt and then lose job once again will lose my home because can't afford rent - can anyone offer me any advice