ATOS have started phoning me. What happens next?

It is about a month since ATOS received my ESA50 form and today, despite being expressly told in the ESA50 to communicate with me only in writing, they have began telephoning me. My illness precludes me from answering the telephone and they did not leave a message so I don't know why they called but I presume it would be to arrange an appointment for their 'medical'.

Their telephone call has made me very anxious indeed and I have tried to work out what will happen next from the information on the website. I would be immensely grateful if some kind person might let me know if I have understood things correctly.

As I understand it, ATOS will repeatedly telephone me again over the next 7 days and then, as I won't answer, will write to me with an appointment date. As far as I can tell, this appointment will be seven days from the date of the letter. After receiving this letter I then have the right to ask ATOS to reschedule the appointment if I cannot attend on the day they say I must. I can only ask for one such rescheduling.

Is the above correct?

Thanks in advance to anyone who responds to this and I hope it helps some of the other forums users as well.

Yes, you have understood the process correctly.

Thanks very much for your reply Mrs Hurtyback. I have one other question which I didn't make clear in my original post - is there any way of knowing when ATOS will send out the letter giving the date of the 'medical' after they do not get to speak to me on the telephone? I suppose what I am asking is how much notice will I get - I know it should not be less than 7 days, but is it ever more? In other words, is it the case that ATOS will send me a letter no later than Friday 27th July stating that I must attend an appointment with them on Friday 3rd August? Or might they send a letter at some date later than Friday 27th July, for an appointment later than Friday 3rd August? Or maybe it's just not possible to know.

I am sorry if I am muddled but I am very frightened of ATOS and the possible misinformation that they are going to tell about me.

You are right that it is impossible to say exactly what will happen next.

You might find this helpful, if you have not already seen it


The Transfer process


Don't forget that the process works very smoothly for many people. It is the human nature to make more noise when we are unhappy about something, that is why sites like this exist - but they also tend to give a somewhat unbalanced idea of what is actually happening sometimes.

Hi xpab10b
The last time Atos phoned me to attend a medical, they phoned once and as i did not answer they sent a letter to attend a medical. On both Atos medicals i have been to i have had about 3 weeks notice before the medical.
Mike

I transferred from Ib to ESA last November, I took a phone call Atos regarding an appoinment for the medical, despite requesting that I was only contacted in writing. However, I took the call and the medical was arranged for ten days after the call. Having read all the horror stories I was absolutely terrified but the HCP I saw was obviously observant and professional and could see the problems I have. I was placed in the Support Group, but my overwhelming feeling is that as long as you are honest the medical can actually be a good thing because someone can actually see your problems. I know it doesn't always work in the claimants favour, but I can only talk from my experience.