Phone calls?

Have been on IB (contributory) just under 3years, not previously had a medical.

Got the phone call 5 June about change to Esa, then the letter, and Esa50 3/11, on 7 June. with a return date by 20 July.

I also received a letter 2 weeks before the deadline of 20 July, requesting I urgently return my Esa50 form or my benefit would be stopped!!

I completed pack, with extra pages neatly typed by my daughter, lots of hospital leters/appointments and important information on my numerous medical conditions and how I am affected by them and it was sent recorded delivery Monday 18 July.
Since Monday this week our phone has been ringing - often with 2 rings, by the time someone gets to it it has stopped and doing 1471 reveals an unrecognised number!!
Yesterday phone rang again 8.44am - 2 rings. Today it rang at 11.31am and I managed to pick up straight away but no one answered/spoke. I did 1471 and got following number this time:
01264 325540 - I googled 'who calls me' AND guess who it was ATOS.

I got my husband to phone them back asking who were they,and what did they want? Very polite lady in Newcastle answered and asked to speak to me, to go for a medical in 2 weeks time -
16 August - no problem.
When my husband heard the news he prompty informed them I had been 'medically retired' guess by who - Atos!!!!!!!!
Anyone know if the request for early return of Esa50 and the phone calls are new tactics of pressure/harrassment to us?

Suzy3 wrote:

Have been on IB (contributory) just under 3years, not previously had a medical.

Got the phone call 5 June about change to Esa, then the letter, and Esa50 3/11, on 7 June. with a return date by 20 July.

I also received a letter 2 weeks before the deadline of 20 July, requesting I urgently return my Esa50 form or my benefit would be stopped!!

I completed pack, with extra pages neatly typed by my daughter, lots of hospital leters/appointments and important information on my numerous medical conditions and how I am affected by them and it was sent recorded delivery Monday 18 July.
Since Monday this week our phone has been ringing - often with 2 rings, by the time someone gets to it it has stopped and doing 1471 reveals an unrecognised number!!
Yesterday phone rang again 8.44am - 2 rings. Today it rang at 11.31am and I managed to pick up straight away but no one answered/spoke. I did 1471 and got following number this time:
01264 325540 - I googled 'who calls me' AND guess who it was ATOS.

I got my husband to phone them back asking who were they,and what did they want? Very polite lady in Newcastle answered and asked to speak to me, to go for a medical in 2 weeks time -
16 August - no problem.
When my husband heard the news he prompty informed them I had been 'medically retired' guess by who - Atos!!!!!!!!
Anyone know if the request for early return of Esa50 and the phone calls are new tactics of pressure/harrassment to us?

Hi S3,

The letter 2 weeks before the ESA50 deadline seems quite common, I think it is automated.

As for the phome calls, did you give them your number on the ESA50?, you dont have to, nor indeed do you have to answer them, or call them back, I am not going to, they must inform you in writing if no phone contact is made.

The phone calls are the norm, and purely for their convenience, not yours.

As for ATOS confirming your early retirement, it is apparently quite common for ATOS to declare someone unfit for work on behalf of the employer, and then say the same person is fit to work, at an ESA assessment some time later.

It appears that it's "Who pays the piper".

I hope that is not the case with you and you gain a correct assessment.

Hope this helps, good luck.

bro58

bro58 wrote:

Suzy3 wrote:

Have been on IB (contributory) just under 3years, not previously had a medical.

Got the phone call 5 June about change to Esa, then the letter, and Esa50 3/11, on 7 June. with a return date by 20 July.

I also received a letter 2 weeks before the deadline of 20 July, requesting I urgently return my Esa50 form or my benefit would be stopped!!

I completed pack, with extra pages neatly typed by my daughter, lots of hospital leters/appointments and important information on my numerous medical conditions and how I am affected by them and it was sent recorded delivery Monday 18 July.
Since Monday this week our phone has been ringing - often with 2 rings, by the time someone gets to it it has stopped and doing 1471 reveals an unrecognised number!!
Yesterday phone rang again 8.44am - 2 rings. Today it rang at 11.31am and I managed to pick up straight away but no one answered/spoke. I did 1471 and got following number this time:
01264 325540 - I googled 'who calls me' AND guess who it was ATOS.

I got my husband to phone them back asking who were they,and what did they want? Very polite lady in Newcastle answered and asked to speak to me, to go for a medical in 2 weeks time -
16 August - no problem.
When my husband heard the news he prompty informed them I had been 'medically retired' guess by who - Atos!!!!!!!!
Anyone know if the request for early return of Esa50 and the phone calls are new tactics of pressure/harrassment to us?

Hi S3,

The letter 2 weeks before the ESA50 deadline seems quite common, I think it is automated.

As for the phome calls, did you give them your number on the ESA50?, you dont have to, nor indeed do you have to answer them, or call them back, I am not going to, they must inform you in writing if no phone contact is made.

The phone calls are the norm, and purely for their convenience, not yours.

As for ATOS confirming your early retirement, it is apparently quite common for ATOS to declare someone unfit for work on behalf of the employer, and then say the same person is fit to work, at an ESA assessment some time later.

It appears that it's "Who pays the piper".

I hope that is not the case with you and you gain a correct assessment.

Hope this helps, good luck.

bro58

S3,

Don't take this as fact, but there is a chance that they may not have even read your ESA50, before ringing you, as it seems very quick.

Some people on here have even been rang, or received letters regarding an assessment appointment before they have sent their ESA50 back, apparently these letters are automated as well.

On the day of your medical, if accompanied by your hubby, (which would be advisable), tell him to take notes, and make a point of asking the ATOS HCP, if they have read your ESA50, they must read this before assessing you.

cheers

bro58

Hi bro58 and Gordon - many thanks for your explanations Silly me did not realise I could omit my phone number from the Esa50 form.
I think you are right in that my Esa pack with lots of extra info of hospital letters of recent admissions/surgery and impending surgery together with how my illnesses impact on daily life were definately not read!!
Hey ho!!!!!
Thanks for your help, will keep you updated.

Hello, I have just received one of these phone calls, could hardly follow what the gentleman was saying, just heard Medical Assessment. When I gave my date of birth he replied, this is not the date we have written here, so I said well maybe you have the wrong person, asked for my address, gave it, reply was , Oh will get someone to phone you back. Put phone number into Google , Atos, can they not say who they are. I had my Tribuneral in May this year after a wait of 9 months, went from 6 points to 18, have only one year before my earliest retirement date, filled in my WCA, now being told I need another medical assessment, this has been 2 years of pure hell. My condition, Osteo Arthritis is progressing, which is so much worse now than May.