hello Thanks for your reply. I never bought anything off the internet from them. as mentioned, I paid cash. no cards. Yes. I have been polite. but they give no alternative, it is alcohol or nothing. I think they feel they have done all they need to do. kind regards.

Thank you for your input Ericsbrother. Very kind of you. I shall see if I can change the companies mind on an alternative. I still think they should not send alcohol to people in the post without age verification and consent. And first give an option. There are a few ideologies that are pretty darn strict on alcohol. And the last thing a recovering alcoholic wants in his/her house is a very attractive presentation box. all the best.

One option could have been to open a not as described case. but you might have ended up with an automated return label and automated refund. : ? (another karma issue) ( just to note: that hyper link in my message above is created automatically by this forum . i can not remove it)

hello I was involved in an unpleasant incident at a company which I spotted was a regular thing happening there. It was not nice for me as I was mildly allergic, and I knew that it could have an even more negative reaction in some people. and so I had to do something to stop it. I did not want to be aggressive in my response. I just said it was not malicious and tried to be helpful and reasonable, as there was risk of the same thing happening again to others, I was very helpful. I was 'eventually' assured it would not happen again. I thought I might be eligible for some form of compensation. They would not send me their policy’s when I asked.They would not discuss compensation funds. But they asked for my address and sent me a surprise gift, a rather large package of alcohol beverages which most people would be overly happy about. Unfortunately I cannot consume Alcohol. I am old enough, although, they did not check ID. I used cash at the company, no cards Although I did state my age by email. It is hard to return a gift, it pulls on the heart strings. But I politely said thank you very much, but I cannot consume alcohol due to my beliefs and please may I return the package and asked for a voucher or perhaps suggest something else. They politely said to offer the alcohol to someone who could enjoy it and thanks for all the help. Can anyone give any thoughts on this? Was I wrong to ask for the return of the package? Thank you very much.

health care professional (ESA)

hi I have a family member who had one HCP interview, the interview was not fair, so we complained and eventually find we have tribunal. it had been well over 12 months waiting for a date for the tribunal, so again, another hcp interview was appointed as the ContributionBased benefit stopped after 1 year of waiting. The second hcp interview we feel was unfair too, so we have to complain against that also. so that is 2 interviews to deal with, is this normal? We thought the tribunal date would have been sorted out last year some time, now we have to deal with two complaints regards two interviews and DM issues; maybe even another tribunal, who knows? As we know, The hcp's use a WCA handbook, but what policy book do the people in the background refer too? How do we find out the rules and code of conduct regards treating people in this system? Thank you for any help you may offer.

Thank you plodderton. As I could not find maximum or suggested length of interview time in the WCA handbook. Thank you.

hello there i wonder, what is the max length of time in an pip dwp assessment, with no lengthy physical, only talking. is there a max or minimum time allowed? does the HC person have a timer on screen to remind there is a limit soon to be reached? Or is it the client who should note the time and say "time enough" Thank you.

Hi That seems to take the original question off on a tangent but interesting all the same. I think the HCP's are trained to understand the WCA handbook and they are tested on it. The WCA is a very well written manual that cares for unwell people. 'Some' HCP's are then 'perhaps' led into another room and told to ignore as much as they feel safe to do so in order to aid a DM to steer toward whatever conclusion he or she wishes. That is what it seems. Or they are working for a commission, to reach set targets, a Christmas bonus? We did not see anything in the manual regards the rights of a patient requesting to know what is being typed on screen so to confirm there and then, to make alterations if needed. but we may have missed that part? This is important else the HCP will type what he or she likes. Unless a patient wish to give up his/her voice and privacy via an audio recording too? As a witness at an interview to such events is not adequate for a DM on every occasion.

hello during an assessment is it possible to request what is being typed on the computer? A patient could say during an assessment : i felt fine yesterday and could do many tasks but that is a rare day for me, most days i feel very unwell and unable to cope. the HCP could type only: 'felt fine yesterday could do many tasks with ease!' I wonder, can the patient ask what section the HCP is currently on and after that section is over request clarification on what has been typed on each of the sections? Also can a patient take along notes or even a copy of the ESA50 and follow along, so to not miss any vital information. thank you for help.

Thank you very much I shall do : ) you're the best : P

hi there I wonder is it best to place a complaint before the decision is made? My parents say I should wait until after, so we can see what she has written. Thank you for your help.

Amazing there are rules the HCP must read all evidence ( my esa50 questionnaire is Vital! )_!! this HCP was not doing his job at all. Thank you again for your support. very much appreciated !

Hello thank you very much for your reply!! I was so lost and confused this evening. you sparked me back to life. : ) I am on ESA support group being reassessed but I found a WCA handbook which i think is relevant to the ESA wca-handbook-july-2016. (cant post link as i am new to forum) Page 154 of 255 4.1.4 Taking of Notes during an Assessment by Claimant or Companion From time to time you may encounter a situation where the claimant is accompanied by a companion and either the claimant or companion may wish to take notes during the assessment.Persons who are entitled to be in attendance are always entitled to take notes. This is because it is for their own purposes and not an official record of the process. To attempt to deny the right to do so is likely to be contrary to Human Rights legislation. " he either made up his own rules or lied to us..he said he did not want us having notes in case it went to court! can you believe? I knew we were in trouble then. I must say I was so thrown off course by this person, I felt I failed the interview through bad nerves as i did not know what to say as i did not know what he knew as he did not read my questionnaire. I wonder if he is required by law to actually read it? he said he did not read it because it included extra notes on the social and going out sections. i included 1 1/2 singled a4 pages, he said it was too much for him to read and he read nothing as a result.there was no cue outside no rush and the interview was short. plenty of time to read it. : / thank you again.

hello I had an interview with a health care professional ( HCP) When I arrived the HCP said he had 'not' read my questionnaire form This bothered me inside because i was hoping the HCP would be up to date with my condition and i could then just reaffirm what i had said in the form and add a bit here and there. On one of my first questions he asked me, i decided to elaborate a bit, to inform the HCP that my condition varies due to my depression and sleeping issues.. .but he interrupted and said "i only want short answers such as yes or no." I had no proper time to talk about my condition and how it effects my day to day tasks. i was all lost. I found a moment when he paused and I tried to explain the basics of how stress depression combined with lack of sleep greatly effects when i can get out the house and be confident. i said politely "does this make sense"... he said "no not really"! he tried to move on without asking me to elaborate... I turned to my mum and said: did that make sense to you ? and she said yes. I speak quite clearly. I was shocked he did not care to understand. my mum tried to make notes on a pad in pen.. ..he told my mum she was not allowed to take any notes as it could be used in court. so she put the pad away. The HCP cared not one wit how my poor health effects my tasks, how it varies. All he wanted to do was to type down what I could do at my best moments of health. The fact that at times I am so tired i can't move or get out the house does not seem to matter. I then decided to make it perfectly clear " My depression and poor sleeping and stress greatly effects all my day to day activities. Will you write that on your report?" he said "I don’t have to do that." not only did he not read my questionnaire, he also did not wish to type up my illness or care to understand. The HCP also kept referring to my old questionnaire not my new one ( which he had not read). kept asking me about my elbow ... but that healed years ago I said yes it is fine....yet 5 mins later.. "so your elbow. is it o.k now"? i said yes and moved my elbow about, not a trouble. But again..10 minutes later he asks..." your elbow? its o.k? " it is was just so weird that was from an old questionnaire also. surely the new one should be the most important? it was a very sharp, short and bitter interview. approx 25-30mins I was not asked at the end: would you like to add anything? I had a page full of items i wanted to say and my questionnaire content had hardly been touched upon. there was no care and I do not think at all professional, just bitterness, i dont think he wanted to be there. and hated his job. i am glad i had a witness even though neither of us was allowed to write anything down. btw. i did say to the effect: this is unfair you are just writing things down I can do 'at my best' without including how my poor health effects me too.. You just want to get me in the job que or cut my benefit. he then said: We can cancel the interview now if you like? I said: Well, that would not be a good idea as i would lose my benefit. I think you know that!? so we carried on. Thanks for reading and for any advice. : )