Sorry all, especially `highly_delighted` for not replying sooner. My ex-partner is also sick so haven`t been online for while. Anyway, got my 19 points at tribunal ! One of the tribunal members was a doctor (who I vaguely recognised and works in my local hospital). He asked me loads of questions about how I get around when I`m attending appointments at the local hospital. I told him the truth - I hobble from one chair to the next and take my time. I described where the chairs were exactly. He asked me precise questions to check I was telling the truth. He then revealed "I work at that hospital most of the time", as I thought, so he knew I was being truthful. The two members of the tribunal panel were very polite and fair actually. Nice, genuine couple of guys. The other panel member was a solicitor. They let me express my pain and could see I wasn`t lying. I`m still really fed up with the "powers that be" and know this process will go on. Many people sadly would never make it through the appeals process through sheer stress even though they are unfit to work. My heart goes out to them. I know it made me ill and VERY irritable but worth it in the end. Coincidentally, a few days ago my ex-partner received a letter from the "National Office of Statistics/DWP/Natgen". The letter said her home had been "chosen" out of 24 households in our postcode area to take part in a "Family Resources Survey". The letter said they had written to her before/tried phoning many times without success. This was untrue. My partner doesn`t go out and has an answering machine. Apparently, the survey is "voluntary" but just seems suspicious timing after just winning my appeal. She`s too ill to take part in surveys so will turn them down. Anyway, thrilled for everyone who has won their tribunals. Incidentally, I`d love to work if I could - life on benefits is sheer hell. I missed the TV shows but will download them and watch. Best wishes to everyone out there and look after yourselves. Keep smiling !

Yeah, you can go alone. Great idea under the circumstances. Thinking of you. Try and get a good nights sleep. It won`t be as bad as you think. Good Luck and stay Sunny.

By the way, I had my mother with me in the appeal. I had written a LOT about her that I didn`t want read out. I highlighted everything that was "sesnsitive" and it wasn`t touched upon during the appeal. There were two people at my appeal, a solicitor and a doctor. That was all. It was very, very informal. Not at all what I expected. No judges, just an office desk and three chairs. Hope this helps.

I have just won my tribunal today at 2:00PM getting 18 points (originally got null points). The tribunal staff, as I read, are very, very helpful and friendly. They have no link with DWP/ ATOSH. They are very understanding and will listen to you and help. Either phone the central number (0300 123 1142) and explain to the clerk your situation tomorrrow morning. Don`t forget to have your ref number handy (begins with SC...). They will offer you good advice. I was still faxing evidence 2 hours prior to my hearing and even handed some in when I got to tribunal office today. Don`t worry they are VERY understanding. You could fax through a letter tonight which should reach them by tomorrow. I didn`t have access to fax facilities but used an efax service (free months trial and then cancel it). Failing that, you will have no problem at all if you ask to have a quick word with the clerk tomorrow in private (if you wish) or just hand them a quick note explaining your situation briefly. Please DON`t worry. They are quite used to dealing with very complex problems and they WILL help you. The staff I just dealt with in B******N ( a large seaside city south of London) were ultra helpful and so were the staff in Sutton. Just do whatever is easiest for YOU. The tribunal staff are there to help and they will. I was v panicky and now I`ve been through it I can promise you "Don`t worry, even at this late stage".

Just come back from tribunal which I won ! I went to ATOS medical. I have severe pain resulting from fractured spine and other probs. ATOS scored me zero points. I was so angry. Severe pain will result in very few points from ATOS. They are sly, and are trained to trip you up at every oppportunity. They will ask you everything about how you get from A to B. Prepare to be asked EXACTLY "How did yoyu get here today ?", "How do you get your children to school ?","How do you shop ?". Don`t worry about ATOS. No matter what you say, they will make up their own answers. DON`T WORRY ! MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE "DESCRIPTORS". These are the questions around which you need to get your points. MOST IMPORTANT POINT - they watch you from the moment you are in their sight. Ask for help to open every door. I mean, EVERY DOOR. I took a bag of meds with me and placed them on the desk. ATOS criticised me for being able to put them back into a plastic bag without help. ASK FOR THEIR HELP IF YOU NEED TO LIFT/MOVE anything. They are watching every move you make. When you are called in ask for help with the doors. Say "I can`t open this door on my own. Could someone help me please ?". Don`t get paranoid, please ! Just warning you if you get a letter saying you have scored zero points DON`T worry. It`s happening to thousands every week. Just appeal. I will keep an eye out for your posts and help you all I can just like the other Caggers. Appeal is by far the best way to get your point across to nice, listening individuals (unlike ATOSH) and, providing you prepare very well, you WILL win in the end. Don`t be disheartened by my comments but I have yet to meet someone who has beaten ATOS at the first stage. It can be done though. Don`t forget ATOS scored me zero points. The appeal group just awarded me 18 points. If you need help I`ll be online for a while....best of luck.

Thanks for that. It reassures me a lot. Will let you know the outcome! Take care.

Thanks very much for your support Highly_Delighted ! So pleased for you. I truly am. I am taking my mother with me just for moral support but have a feeling tribunal might be postponed as sending last of my medical evidence today (yeah, Wednesday I know!). I have only just received some of my medical info back from hospital and also my "bundle" from ATOS/DWP only arrived 8 days ago despite being promised at least 2 weeks to read thru it. CAB are helping as well. Not much more I can do now, except pray ! Thanks for your comments - it`s just good to hear someone winning is a result. Best of luck in the future:-D keep up the fight.

I am HUGELY pleased for you. I have my ESA tribunal this Friday (the 13th, I know) in Brighton. It has made me so ill. I don`t sleep because I can`t get it out of my head. ATOS scored me zero points (no surprise there). I have to wear Fentanyl patches which are many times stronger than morphine but don`t even touch the pain in my spine. I fractured my L1 vertebra in a suicide attempt about ten years ago. If it weren`t for my 7 yr old daughter I`d jump again but this time I know who`s offices I`d jump from ( they dont give A toss). Give them something to clean up at least. I only receivd my bundle from them 8 days ago so I am still sending in evidence at this late stage. Too bad, I say. I am so pleased for you. I know how people are being treated - I have bookmarks all over the place pointing to organisations that campaign/help. Good luck to all those who are facing a similar future - God bless you all and never let them win ! You`re right RAJ111 by the way. Who ever thought that this country would end up like this ? So very very SAD. I don`t know how they sleep at night.

I can`t believe the video has been taken down. Is there anyone who still has a copy ? This is so maddening. A day after receiving the tribunal letter I was sent to the cancer centre with a suspected tumour in my spine. I had just been for an "examination" by the DWP (assessment I think they call it) and told fit to work. does anyone else feel overwhelmed by the DWP and feel they are targeting the wrong people. I am no scrounger. God, I would LOVE to work.

Sorry am I being dumb.I`m logged in and when I try to access the video I just get the message "PRIVATE". Any ideas anyone ? I have to face a tribunal soon and am very anxious.This would be a great help.Thanks to all of you out there.

Hi everyone. Hope someone still out there ! Have managed to get debts down to £17000. Barclays simply said "having considered circumstances" they wrote off a debt for about £13000 which was very surprising. Wrote a letter to MBNA over a month ago requesting a copy of the original credit card agreement along with a postal order for £1.00 as advised. I have heard nothing since. I sent the letter recorded so they must have received it. What`s my next step ? To write to MBNA I presume ? I will be making a donation to CAG when my mum has sold her house as money is a bit tight at the moment (I`m on DLA). Your help is appreciated as always. Hope u r all keeping well. x:)

good news. My solicitor who is a family friend has put the house in my mums sole name. He has contacted HFC and they will not be pursuing the charging order once the house is sold. Now I just need to send the postal orders to the remaining creditors and try and get a copy of the original credit agreements. Can i ask what a CCA request is exactly ? ie. what does CCA stand for. I presume, even though some of debts have been handed to debt collectors, I send the postal order to the original bank to request the credit agreement ? really appreciate yr help

Debs, thanks v much. quick question. Can i ask Restons AND HFC for all the info they hold ? I presume so. Will this have to be a subject access request or just a CCA request ? Really appreciate ALL your help folks. God bless.

take your point. Payplan are only involved because: 1) they`re free ( still funded by banks though, I know) but don`t charge commission etc. 2) when my dad went to CAB owing £100,000 + they referred him to Payplan. He was in such a state that he`d have robbed a bank so payplan seemed lesser of 2 evils. 3) Payplan are keeping the other debtors happy ie. the £30,000-40,000 my mum owes to her other creditors till the sale can go thru. Take note of your comments though. I`m doing my best to help but on disability benefit so hard to help more than already do.

thanks for all yr comments. The house is valued at £295,000(sounds like a lot but property prices here are thru the roof). There is no mortgage - despite Restons mentioning there was a mortgage during the charging process when there wasn`t. My dad got into all this debt using credit cards to pay off the mortgage so I can`t be greedy. The debts that are left (£30,000) and are in joint names with my mum/dad, one is in her sole name - she actually knew nothing about them till he died - it makes me wonder how my father could take out credit without her signature or something ? He had well over 20 credit cards, some with the same bank, and it amazes me how he did this ! He was in his 70`s ! Anyway, Payplan have told me they will settle my mum`s outstanding debts when house is sold. I know most will settle for a ballpark figure especially the ones bought by debt collectors who have got the debt for a small amount. I`m more concerned with the charging order. Luckily the solicitor handling the sale of my mums house is a good family friend. I can ask him to speak to HFC because I`m getting nowhere. The charging order is in my fathers name - I read somewhere that when there`s a surviving spouse and the debt was in the deceased name that the charging order is split in half. I`m probably wrong on that one. As I mentioned before, my dad was in a repayment scheme with Payplan and I think the charging order gives HFC preference over his other creditors. Bit too late now. I`ll see if I can get hold of HFC again. I`ve written many letters - would I be better speaking to Restons (a last resort for me). Thanks again for all yr help. When this is resolved I`ll be making a contribution to the forum - it`s fantastic. I`ll follow your advice folks, thanks for yr recent comments.