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Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

I know this is is news to no-one on this thread but they really are a bunch of cockwombling fuckmuppets for not storing the recordings properly in any format.
No point us having to go to the trouble of providing duplicate recordings then. If I'd have known I'd have used my digital dictaphone and downloaded it to my PC and used the software supplied to do the transcription instead of spending hours listening to the tape and trying to do it manually. :mad::(
 
Nurse didn't even label the tape as to what it was about. So presumably it was filed straight in the bin. :facepalm:

When they claim they have no record of the recording the best part is the last words on the tape are the nurse saying "you can stop recording now." :facepalm:


There is no way on earth I'm letting the original recording out of my possession and I have no way of duplicating the tape. Is there a gizmo that I can download the tape to PC and burn a CD from there? Is there any cheapo software that will allow me to filter the motor noise out to make the recording more legible(?) ?
If you can get a cassette deck from somewhere, and a suitable lead, you can plug it into a computer, and "play" the tape into the sound card from where you can record it (use something like Audacity).
 
No point us having to go to the trouble of providing duplicate recordings then. If I'd have known I'd have used my digital dictaphone and downloaded it to my PC and used the software supplied to do the transcription instead of spending hours listening to the tape and trying to do it manually. :mad::(
Next time, perhaps do a covert recording yourself, plus get them to do the duplicate job. Then, when they "lose" their copy, you can produce (at tribunal) your backup copy as well as your copy of their tape. None of which stops them from being complete and utter cunts. It'd be good to see a well-financed class action against DWP for what, individually, might look like isolated errors, but collectively looks suspiciously like a very well-coordinated strategy.
 
If you can get a cassette deck from somewhere, and a suitable lead, you can plug it into a computer, and "play" the tape into the sound card from where you can record it (use something like Audacity).
:cool: I've already got the dictaphones that I used to record the assessment I could use one of those to connect to the computer. Not sure I could simply connect the dictaphones together as the ear / mic levels may be wrong and I'd like to clean the recording up if possible. :)
 
Think I need to add hallucinations to my list of problems. When I read through the info from the DWP I could swear blind I'd seen something to say the assessment finished at 16:23 which can't possibly be right as I only used 1 side of a C90 cassette tape to record it and was no where near the end of the tape when I finished so the assessment lasted well under the 45 minutes of 1 side of the tape. Having looked through all the pages again 4 times yesterday I can find no mention of the assessments end time although I've not checked to see if I've lost a page some how. :eek: :(
 
Think I need to add hallucinations to my list of problems. When I read through the info from the DWP I could swear blind I'd seen something to say the assessment finished at 16:23 which can't possibly be right as I only used 1 side of a C90 cassette tape to record it and was no where near the end of the tape when I finished so the assessment lasted well under the 45 minutes of 1 side of the tape. Having looked through all the pages again 4 times yesterday I can find no mention of the assessments end time although I've not checked to see if I've lost a page some how. :eek: :(
Oh I do that with things too. Usually the file or report turns up eventually.
 
Oh I do that with things too. Usually the file or report turns up eventually.
I checked again last night and all the pages are accounted for. :eek: :(

Even though the DWP want to rule the transcript of the assessment inadmissible as ATOS have no recollection of a request to record the assessment, the part of the transcript where I start to black out and the HP apologises appears to have been redacted. :eek: This bit was highlighted along with quite a few other bits of the transcript and the DWP photocopy has coped well with all the other bits making them legible except this part which is totally blacked out. :mad: Might have to reprint that page then photocopy it to see what happens.

I should have recorded on my digital dictaphone a phone conversation with ATOS about recording the assessment where they explain that I need to provide the recording equipment. I also have receipts from a few days later for 2 identical dictaphones and a pack of 3 cassettes. Lets see them wriggle out of that one. :):mad:
 
Is there anyway I can get the dictaphone forensically checked for fingerprints as the Tosser turned off one of the recorders off at the end so her fingerprints will be on it?

Can I get the tape forensically analysed to compare her voice on the recording to her actual voice? :)
 
Is there anyway I can get the dictaphone forensically checked for fingerprints as the Tosser turned off one of the recorders off at the end so her fingerprints will be on it?

Can I get the tape forensically analysed to compare her voice on the recording to her actual voice? :)
It's one thing getting it forensically analysed/checked, quite another getting it done in a way which makes it admissible as evidence in court... :)
 
I checked again last night and all the pages are accounted for. :eek: :(

Even though the DWP want to rule the transcript of the assessment inadmissible as ATOS have no recollection of a request to record the assessment, the part of the transcript where I start to black out and the HP apologises appears to have been redacted. :eek: This bit was highlighted along with quite a few other bits of the transcript and the DWP photocopy has coped well with all the other bits making them legible except this part which is totally blacked out. :mad: Might have to reprint that page then photocopy it to see what happens.

I should have recorded on my digital dictaphone a phone conversation with ATOS about recording the assessment where they explain that I need to provide the recording equipment. I also have receipts from a few days later for 2 identical dictaphones and a pack of 3 cassettes. Lets see them wriggle out of that one. :):mad:
It sounds like you're pretty well set up to do some righteous arse-kicking here, even with what you do have. Not, of course, that you should ever have had to, but...
 
It sounds like you're pretty well set up to do some righteous arse-kicking here, even with what you do have. Not, of course, that you should ever have had to, but...
Lessons learned from having to deal with this shit over several years. Record everything, save all receipts, scan and photocopy everything. Don't give the bastards an inch. :mad:
 
Lessons learned from having to deal with this shit over several years. Record everything, save all receipts, scan and photocopy everything. Don't give the bastards an inch. :mad:
Good for you. Not everyone learns those lessons, so don't be taking that entirely for granted!
 
well i had my ESA interview after trying to get a home visit for 10 months finally ,
i was told i had to go from my home in w sussex to Balham in a taxi they paid for
this happend to be the last working day of the year for them my interview was the last
one for the lady interviewing i was in there for a total of 25 minutes, the last one was
1 hour 10 mins :eek: she said as i had come all that way and needed to rush through the interview hardly asked any questions like last time it was all a bit odd ,I did stick to my plan
as i had learnt from last time, well i think i had... at one point i made a move for the door and tried to open it as i was feeling a bit panicky, but the door was locked and the lady asked me what
on earth i was doing :D i replied by saying the room was to small ( in fact it was massive ) I did everything I could in the book, from what i have learnt from here and all the help greebo and others on urban have given me, but was difficult as it was nothing like my last interview as I have mentioned .
So in a nutshell its nice to write it down on here I really do not know what on earth will happen but I gave it my best.:(
 
Do Atos do all assessments for the DWP?
I've been summoned for one on the 25th after 3 months on ESA.
But it's at the DWP head office. With a 'healthcare professional' (I assume that means they're not a proper doctor, otherwise they'd say so.
Shitting it tbh. Don't know what to tell them. They're sure to cut me off.
 
well i had my ESA interview after trying to get a home visit for 10 months finally ,
i was told i had to go from my home in w sussex to Balham in a taxi they paid for
this happend to be the last working day of the year for them my interview was the last
one for the lady interviewing i was in there for a total of 25 minutes, the last one was
1 hour 10 mins :eek: she said as i had come all that way and needed to rush through the interview hardly asked any questions like last time it was all a bit odd ,I did stick to my plan
as i had learnt from last time, well i think i had... at one point i made a move for the door and tried to open it as i was feeling a bit panicky, but the door was locked and the lady asked me what
on earth i was doing :D i replied by saying the room was to small ( in fact it was massive ) I did everything I could in the book, from what i have learnt from here and all the help greebo and others on urban have given me, but was difficult as it was nothing like my last interview as I have mentioned .
So in a nutshell its nice to write it down on here I really do not know what on earth will happen but I gave it my best.:(
I'm a bit fucking appalled that they locked you into a room :eek:
 
I'm a bit fucking appalled that they locked you into a room :eek:
thanks mate for your concern but i was locked in with the nurse /health test person
she was really nice and friendly made quite a change to the last two, but I was not
being fooled into any false sense of security, I just kept thinking what greebo and equationgirl had told me... its a joke really i want care and help and to be re trained
to do a roll I can do from home, but all you seem to do is fight these shits to get money
as being a hard working taxpayer all my life until my accident (moan over)
 
If you can get a cassette deck from somewhere, and a suitable lead, you can plug it into a computer, and "play" the tape into the sound card from where you can record it (use something like Audacity).
Managed to copy the tape to PC and clean it up with audacity but what type of format do I need to save it as so it can be played on a normal CD player?
 
Managed to copy the tape to PC and clean it up with audacity but what type of format do I need to save it as so it can be played on a normal CD player?
You need to write it out as a 44100 Hz 16-bit stereo .WAV file which will then be able to be used by a suitable program to burn a CD from.
 
You need to write it out as a 44100 Hz 16-bit stereo .WAV file which will then be able to be used by a suitable program to burn a CD from.
Cheers. It's saved as a .WAV file just wasn't sure if that would play on a CD player otherwise I'm going to have to buy a laptop and take that to the tribunal as well. :eek: :mad:
 
Cheers. It's saved as a .WAV file just wasn't sure if that would play on a CD player otherwise I'm going to have to buy a laptop and take that to the tribunal as well. :eek: :mad:
You may find that, whatever format you've saved it as, your burning software will convert it. But don't count on that - you'll want to play the burned CD in a couple of drives just to be on the safe side.
 
Is this the thread to ask questions about any work capability assessments or just those done by ATOS?
Mine is going to be done by the Health Assessment Advisory Service, whoever they are.
I really don't know what I'm supposed to be telling them - the Assessment takes between 20-60 minutes, so they must have a lot of questions!
 
Orang Utan yes all things DWP related ESA ,PIP the lot ,its a minefield luck of the draw
really, depends on how the person interviewing feels on the day, I can honestly say they lie
make things up I would not have believed it, but have had the misfortune to of had a bad one
who really disliked me from the offset and managed to get zero points on an ESA interview
but had managed to secure the correct amount of points for PIP ...but for some great advice from the mighty urbanites I would be up shit street good luck to you.
 
Just read online that these people were once called Maximus and they're like the new ATOS - did a search here for Maximus and found quite a lot of mentions, along with some good advice. Gonna research the points system, but am shit scared they'll think I'm not unwell enough to find work cos I 'only' have anxiety and depression. I don't think the time I spend helping my mum is going to be considered.
 
Is this the thread to ask questions about any work capability assessments or just those done by ATOS?
Mine is going to be done by the Health Assessment Advisory Service, whoever they are.
I really don't know what I'm supposed to be telling them - the Assessment takes between 20-60 minutes, so they must have a lot of questions!

If you filled in an ESA application form, then they'll be looking to cross-check your responses on the form with your responses on the assessment - basically, if they can get you to even mildly contradict yourself, you'll fail the assessment, as they're thoroughgoing scum.

If you haven't filled in an application form, but have been put on short-term ESA due to sickness carried over from work sick pay, they'll be looking to assess how ill you are.
 
If you filled in an ESA application form, then they'll be looking to cross-check your responses on the form with your responses on the assessment - basically, if they can get you to even mildly contradict yourself, you'll fail the assessment, as they're thoroughgoing scum.

If you haven't filled in an application form, but have been put on short-term ESA due to sickness carried over from work sick pay, they'll be looking to assess how ill you are.
oh bollocks. i haven't kept a copy of the form i sent back to them, which was this:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/379/schedule/2/made
my answers were mostly none of the above, so I fear they will make me go on JSA, but they very thought of this is making me anxious as I had such a shit time last time I was on it
 
Just read online that these people were once called Maximus and they're like the new ATOS - did a search here for Maximus and found quite a lot of mentions, along with some good advice. Gonna research the points system, but am shit scared they'll think I'm not unwell enough to find work cos I 'only' have anxiety and depression.

This is why you have to be fairly brutal about presenting your "worst case scenario" as your everyday experience. If you don't, they'll pretty much mark you as "he can occasionally manage, therefore he can manage, therefore he doesn't need ESA".

I don't think the time I spend helping my mum is going to be considered.

It won't. In fact they're likely to take the fact that you help your mum as an indication that you could do care-work. :(
If I were in your shoes, I'd only mention your mum if it was to state that her poor and declining health is a further cause of anxiety and depression. I know that seems a bit cuntish, but they really are a fantastically-shit bunch of fuckwads who routinely fuck people over based on nothing.
 
I don't think the time I spend helping my mum is going to be considered.
Not only will it not be considered, it will be used to "prove" that you cannot be anxious or depressed, because nobody anxious or depressed ever helped their mum. Fact.

I would be careful not to mention it, except, perhaps, in a negative context - "Some days I'm so bad, I can't even give my poor aged mum the help she so desperately needs, etc."

ETA: or, to put it another way, exactly what ViolentPanda said :D
 
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