My 'ordeal' with ATOS

[silverfox1961]

Thought I would share my ordeal with you regarding the treatment I had at the hands of our famous ATOS. Sorry for the length as I decided to wait until the end to post this.

 

My tale starts back in November 2012 when I filled in the forms and sent them back. This was followed by an appointment at my nearest centre (Centre A) at the beginning of December 2012 but this was changed to a date at the end of December. It was only on the morning of the assessment that anyone took time to read my form. I don't do stairs and the assessment centre was on the second floor so the nurse who was going to do the assessment rang me to cancel the appointment and to re-arrange the appointment at a different centre (centre B).

 

Nothing was heard for 8 months!

 

In August this year I was 'invited' to another assessment at centre A (second floor??) to which I called and Atos gave me the phone number of centre B and told me to arrange the appointment myself (great service eh!) This I did.

 

Two weeks later I got a cancellation letter for a centre that is nowhere near where I live (let's call this one centre C)

 

A few days later I received another appoinment for...... Yup, centre A! Another phone call ensued and a new appoinment was made for centre B.

 

On the day of my appointment I received a phone call apologising and saying that the assessor had 'unexpectedly' not turned up however, in the same days post was a letter dated 4 days previously telling me that the appointment had been cancelled. Did ATOS have a psychic on their staff who knew 4 days in advance that the assessor wouldn't turn up.

 

Just to point out, the previous letter was to cancel an appointment at yet a different centre ( call it centre D)

 

It was September by this time when the last appointment turned up for centre A again!

 

You can imagine my annoyance that a Government contracted company can get it so wrong.

 

As such, they received on of my scathing complaint letters. I am good at these as I can be so polite whilst ripping them a new one.

 

The full and frank grovelling apology was swiftly received followed by a new appointment at centre B (and about ruddy time too) I don't think they would have dared to send me another wrong appointment.

 

On the day of the assessment, I arrived to find the receptionist frantically trying to contact the afternoon appointments to cancel them as they had 'issues' to clear from the morning session. My appointment went ahead. I don't think they would have tried to contact me to cancel.

 

I have to say that the nurse was very friendly, took the time to listen to everything I said and to note it properly on the computer.

The assessment took over an hour and in the end the nurse stopped the assessment as she could see I was physically and mentally exhausted.

 

Anyhoo, the outcome of the assessment. I received a letter today confirming that I would stay in the support group and my next assessment won't be for 3 years

 

So, after everything, the right result (for me anyway)

 

Oh yes, I did have it recorded but then had to show the nurse how to switch it off:lol:

[Nystagmite]

Your last sentence made me laugh, thanks!

 

Your case is ridiculous. I'm sure I read somewhere that the Equalities Act (in your case, sending you somewhere with no steps) doesn't apply to Atos. Which makes no sense at all.

[silverfox1961]

Your last sentence made me laugh, thanks!

 

Your case is ridiculous. I'm sure I read somewhere that the Equalities Act (in your case, sending you somewhere with no steps) doesn't apply to Atos. Which makes no sense at all.

 

The lady knew how to press the record button as that was red (as is usual) but the stop button was a small black one and the word 'stop' was quite small.

 

After she had pressed stop, the machine said 'Finalising' and she thought she had cocked it up. Bless.

 

Centre A had a lift but because I am not quick enough to keep up with the flood of people going down the stairs in the event of a fire alarm, they refused me access.

 

If only they had put that little gem on my file, half the hassle would not have occurred.

[silverfox1961]

Got a letter today telling me they will deposit £15.50 in my account for travel expenses! They pay well as it was a 60 mile round trip