So there it is after well 2 years and a whole lot of follow
up this week I finally got an answer to my complaint lodged with ICE
(Independent Case Examiner). To find out why you only need search my blog for
Seetec and do some reading on my various issues with them.
In the end I got
what is called a partially upheld complaint which according to those in the
know is a win and doesn't often happen. I won’t bore you with the details as it will take me way too
long to decide what I can and cannot share but what I will say is that it is a
lot of work to get that partial victory and the way Seetec twists the truth may
not be worth the stress once you review the reasons given for the decision.
I have to thank a lot of people for supporting me through
this:
- Unemployment Movement forums – great place to get general
- Refuted great website full of resources lots of guidelines
- Jobseekers Sanction Advice unfortunately not sure if they are continuing past January
Tips
If you think that you are going to go forward with a
complaint there is one thing I must stress RECORD everything. My complaint to
ICE took over two years and in that time I was contacted more than once and
asked about things that happened over a year in the past and then asked if I
have documentary evidence to prove things. It drove me mad and was a good part
of the reason I think for only getting a partially upheld complaint.
As a result of my partial victory I should say that Seetec has to pay ICE £5000 apparently as well as giving me compensation for their poor service.
EDIT: Just when I thought my problems with DWP and their croneys was at an end I get a package from the DWP that I had to pay £15 to get from the post office. It was a data request that I had lodged more than a year ago. A request that should have been filled in 40 days at no cost to me.
