Can't cancel my medical after ATOS cancelled mine!

Thank you everyone for your responses, it's so good to be able to share my problems with others who understand them. Thank you thank you thank you!

I have spent ages on the phone going around in circles, banging my head against a brick wall of of automatons stating that their hands are tied and they can't possibly change my appointment, and eventually, joy of joys, I have a ray of hope.

I managed to get through to someone who actually seemed to be human and has said they will try to get it changed. I was able to give them the dates I can make it (essentially any day from 4th December onwards), and they said that a new appointment date would be sent in the post.

I wait with bated breath...

Fingers crossed!

CatherineS wrote:

Thank you everyone for your responses, it's so good to be able to share my problems with others who understand them. Thank you thank you thank you!

I have spent ages on the phone going around in circles, banging my head against a brick wall of of automatons stating that their hands are tied and they can't possibly change my appointment, and eventually, joy of joys, I have a ray of hope.

I managed to get through to someone who actually seemed to be human and has said they will try to get it changed. I was able to give them the dates I can make it (essentially any day from 4th December onwards), and they said that a new appointment date would be sent in the post.

I wait with bated breath...

Hi CS,

Glad to hear that you are getting somewhere.

However, it may be advisable to reiterate the content of the telephone conversation in an E-mail(recorded deliver letter , keeping copy)mentioning the name of the person that you spoke to, and the time and date of the call, to ATOS, and the same by letter to the benefits office dealing with your claim.

At least then you will have written evidence of your call.

If you simply wait for a letter from them, "the clock will be ticking", and there is much misinformation being given out over the phone.

cheers

bro58

Derek4 wrote:

MattyB wrote:

Hi Catherine,

I am so sorry you are having all this hassle. ATOS also cancelled my first appointment for IB to ESA transfer and then sent me a date that was impossible for the friend who was going to accompany me. When I phoned to explain, the ATOS person I spoke to agreed to change the date for me because he understood that the first cancellation had not been down to me. You could perhaps try phoning ATOS again because the person you speak to next time might interpret the rules more sensibly like the person I spoke to did.

Good luck,

Matty

It shouldn't really make any difference as Atos have no right to tell you that you are only allowed one cancellation, but the difference in the OP's case is that Catherine cancelled her first appointment.

Atos cancelled the second appointment so the score's 1-1, and a further cancellation from the claimant will leave the score 2-1 to Atos!

That may be the thinking behind it, if there has been any thinking.

I've heard of claimants having more than two appointments cancelled by Atos for various reasons including HCP sickness and administration errors but they don't seem to understand that ESA claimants can suffer from sickness as well.

Sorry Derek, I had completely overlooked the fact that Catherine herself had cancelled her first appointment when I wrote my post. Very silly of me as she had clearly stated what had happened. That's what comes of writing when my brain was too tired and befuddled!

Best wishes,

Matty

CatherineS wrote:

Thank you everyone for your responses, it's so good to be able to share my problems with others who understand them. Thank you thank you thank you!

I have spent ages on the phone going around in circles, banging my head against a brick wall of of automatons stating that their hands are tied and they can't possibly change my appointment, and eventually, joy of joys, I have a ray of hope.

I managed to get through to someone who actually seemed to be human and has said they will try to get it changed. I was able to give them the dates I can make it (essentially any day from 4th December onwards), and they said that a new appointment date would be sent in the post.

I wait with bated breath...

Hi Catherine,

I hope very much that you will indeed get a new appointment date. My mother had MS so I know how stress can make it worse.

Good luck with your assessment.

Matty

MattyB wrote:

Derek4 wrote:

MattyB wrote:

Hi Catherine,

I am so sorry you are having all this hassle. ATOS also cancelled my first appointment for IB to ESA transfer and then sent me a date that was impossible for the friend who was going to accompany me. When I phoned to explain, the ATOS person I spoke to agreed to change the date for me because he understood that the first cancellation had not been down to me. You could perhaps try phoning ATOS again because the person you speak to next time might interpret the rules more sensibly like the person I spoke to did.

Good luck,

Matty

It shouldn't really make any difference as Atos have no right to tell you that you are only allowed one cancellation, but the difference in the OP's case is that Catherine cancelled her first appointment.

Atos cancelled the second appointment so the score's 1-1, and a further cancellation from the claimant will leave the score 2-1 to Atos!

That may be the thinking behind it, if there has been any thinking.

I've heard of claimants having more than two appointments cancelled by Atos for various reasons including HCP sickness and administration errors but they don't seem to understand that ESA claimants can suffer from sickness as well.

Sorry Derek, I had completely overlooked the fact that Catherine herself had cancelled her first appointment when I wrote my post. Very silly of me as she had clearly stated what had happened. That's what comes of writing when my brain was too tired and befuddled!

Best wishes,

Matty

No problem Matty, I make the same mistake myself sometimes.