HELP! WCA CANCELLED ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT!!.

I am new to this site so please forgive me for the lengthy post.

I attended a WCA weeks ago. I suffered a lot of trauma, stress, anxiety leading up to the assessment, at assessment, and throughout out assessment.

My witness attended with me. I asked in advance for any face to face meeting to be recorded on my questionnaire, and out of courtesy called main number to remind them of the request of recording the assessment, as well as an adjustment requested for day I attend.

I obtained name of person I spoke to and area they were based in, and advised they would send an email to request recording, should not be a problem, unless I hear back from them. I was advised to ask receptionist on day of arrival for assessment, for adjustment to be put in place, and receptionist should be able to cater this for me.

On day I attended the appointment, the receptionist did not understand what I was requesting for basic adjustment, and my request was never catered for.

I arrived there in a taxi, obtained a receipt from taxi driver, (states where I was picked up from), the date, and where I was dropped off. (specific assessment centre)

My witness noted there appeared to be no CCTV, and no signing in book for visitors at reception.

My witness asked for a travel claim form from receptionist, and my filled in on my behalf, handing over to the receptionist. I was called in after waiting 20 minutes, over my scheduled appointment time.

Whilst in room, my witness firstly raised about the fact I requested recording to be set up and whether this would be the case before we proceed.

The assessor was cold and very robotic. To my shock I was told no request on my file for the recording existed. Assessor was told this was requested, and we had a name of the person we spoke to over the phone, as well as it being stated in questionnaire - WCA.

In a hostile attitude and tone of voice, the response was 'nothing I can do, as no note to say it was requested, what I can do is offer you another appointment and cancel this one''.

My witness said it was not quite clear cut, travel was paid to get there by taxi, and had to come out of their way to organise and support me, also stressing that the whole assessment leading up caused me immense anxiety/stress, prolonging appointment to another time would escalate my anxiety and suffering. I too pointed out I did NOT want to postpone the appointment for assessment, and stressed i wanted it over and done with there and then.

I stressed my witness would be taking notes, and this itself was a way of recording the assessment.

The assessor was not happy and said would have to seek clarification whether this was allowed. I knew it was allowed for taking notes, as was stated in the booklet sent out to me.

We were left for some time, and after about 25 minutes came back, advised my witness could take notes, as long as assessors name is NOT publicized in any way.

My witness responded there was no intention to publicize any names at all. We went ahead with assessment, and throughout I became very distressed, specifically to the sensitive questions asked, which I felt was damn right inappropriate.

I won't go into detail on this forum. I won't name the center or the assessor.

By time it was over (60 minutes) in total, with no physical examination, and my new medical documents submitted as additional evidence were not taken seriously, as there was a clear failure to ask for my signature to the submission of those documents. I was given no receipt at all and I left and got a taxi home when finished. .

Following day I dictated a letter to be sent to their head office in London, to voice my concerns about assessment, for example the non recording when this was requested, the insensitive question, debate about my witness taking notes, and the fact no adjustment was implemented as requested in advance.

I never had an acknowledgement, but was outraged to receive a letter recently, advising my appointment which I had weeks earlier for assessment has been re-scheduled, and they have given me another appointment to attend this month!

I was confused, not sure if they had sent the letter in error. My witness sent a follow up letter, attaching my first letter of concerns, and sent recorded.
Concerns were raised to why I would have to attend a second appointment for assessment when i had already completed one??

I need to give time to receive a response, but in meantime a friend found their email address to raise a complaint via email, and eventually communication in addition to the letters sent to their main head office, to why I was sent another appointment for an assessment when one had taken place!

The response was, my original appointment was cancelled, and therefore a further appointment for assessment has been set up. The advise was I had to attend the second appointment/assessment.

A reply was given, advising I had not cancelled any appointment, the assessment had taken place in presence of my witness, and evidence was attached in the email of the receipts of the taxi drivers, both who dropped me off at their assessment center on that day and second one when returning home!

I received a response to say they would now be investigating matter.

In meantime my letters addressed to their head office in London were also scanned over to them via email. Again advised an investigation will be pursued, and they will get in touch with outcome.

I note on your forum it is mentioned about cancelled appointments, and to advise DWP decision maker, by sending them all documented evidence, explaining why the appointment was cancelled etc. In my case it was NEVER cancelled, and they are telling lies about this to cover themselves for whatever reason.

I am not on ESA but UC, which is all carried out in digital form. Do you think I should write to DWP decision maker at this stage, and advise what has occurred despite my benefit being a digital benefit and despite fact WCA relations manager are investigating my claims?

I have a feeling they will now NOT deny I attended the center on day of the original assessment, due to my heavy evidence, but may well say the assessor had given me an option to cancel the meeting, as I raised fact they had not recorded it. They may lie and say this was when it was cancelled.

I have heard terrible stories of these assessors lying about vulnerable people. The issue is, my witness confessed to me later on that day, of ''actually recording the whole assessment on the I-phone''.

Here is my only proof, but apparently is in-admissible evidence in court. I am waiting Manager of WCA getting back to me with outcome of their investigation.

Do you think I should at this stage write to UC decision maker, and send all documents, letter of complaint/concerns with taxi receipts by registered post?

Please help as I am so traumatized, my GP today has placed me on anti-depressants on top of the other medications I take for anxiety and panic attacks and other conditions. I would be ever so grateful for your view on how I can deal with this. It is causing me so much overwhelming stress.

If the covert recording is still available I believeit can still be used asevidence. After all the DWP often use photographic and film evidence that has been obtained covertly.

You will need to get a transcript of the recording to support any MD or FtT, if your claim is unsucccesful at the initial stage.

As Gordon said ask fora copy of the "cancelled" assessment report and also make a Subject Access Request for all the Documentation held by DWP and Maximus on your claim.
A form for this can be found here

www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-r...personal-information

If youdo have to attend a further assessment hopefully it will be recorded for you by maximus and you will eventually get a good
result