tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post5329085489275162852..comments2024-01-30T07:41:20.885+00:00Comments on Broken Barnet: Freedom's just another word: the disabled residents in Barnet, struggling to retain free travel passes issued by CapitaMrs Angryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-75698629963406673432016-05-04T00:07:56.444+01:002016-05-04T00:07:56.444+01:00Thank you, Nick and Karen, for taking the trouble ...Thank you, Nick and Karen, for taking the trouble to post these comments and provide this information. <br /><br />This is indefensible and I really cannot put in to words how appalled I am to read about what is happening. <br /><br />We must demand that this shameful and utterly unnecessary 'renewal' policy is not only immediately stopped, but that residents who have been affected by this humiliating process are not subjected to any further distress or anxiety about their passes - and that anyone who has wrongly been deprived of their pass will be financially compensated.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-23698716008281664342016-05-03T20:30:59.044+01:002016-05-03T20:30:59.044+01:00I am waiting for a decision...i am physically disa...I am waiting for a decision...i am physically disabled. I had to go to Burnt Oak Library for a 'face to face' interview..the letter said this was not a medical exam..but i had to walk up some steps, and walk to the bus stop. I was asked if i could drive, i said i had learnt to drive, but had never been much of a driver and hadnt driven for 20 years. I was asked probing questions, like what my children do for me...i had to say my daughter cared for me and my son had to get heavy shopping but his job takes him away...i feel very anxious and very down. If they take it from me, i wont be able to cope financially, as i can only carry a small bag of groceries at a time..certainly not enough to live. I cant afford all the bus fares, i cant walk to the shop to top up..frankly, im terrified. My son will have to give up his job to care for me. I hope i will get the chance to appeal. The letter said, if you get high rate mobility you didnt have to have an interview...but if you can walk to a bus stop..you dont get high rate mobility! Its a trick no one can qualify!! karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00292714413825923563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-55619738615668802642016-05-03T19:45:23.869+01:002016-05-03T19:45:23.869+01:00I have a friend working at Oak Lodge special schoo...I have a friend working at Oak Lodge special school in East Finchley who says "all of" her Barnet students have had theirs stopped. It's not yet clear whether she means of the students in her class, or in the whole school, I'm waiting for her to get back to me. Apparently one students' parents will be in the local paper about it tomorrow.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-87481003370214676732016-05-03T09:51:42.152+01:002016-05-03T09:51:42.152+01:00A very important point. Unfortunately our Tory run...A very important point. Unfortunately our Tory run council is totally lacking in empathy with those residents whose needs rely on the support of any public service, and their policies are the logical outcome of such indifference. They see no value in any service in which the nature of the relationship is not one of customer and retailer: it is due to their unthinking ideological antipathy to the very ideal of public service. Closing a library is purely a business matter to them and the impact in terms of the community is of no concern. They probably do not even know the range of information that libraries provide to users, nor care what will happen when they close to those most reliant on them for such help.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-32278056651030679582016-05-03T08:03:52.055+01:002016-05-03T08:03:52.055+01:00Intrigued by your findings that callers are referr...Intrigued by your findings that callers are referred to the library I checked with someone I know who works for the libraries to find out if they had been trained to deal with this situation. She told me no and was not surprised. She said it increasingly common for government agencies, both local and national, to refer individuals to their local library as a default setting. Presumably this is done because the agencies are overstretched because of cuts or that they are increasingly privatised (e.g. Post Offices) and it's a quick way to get unprofitable customers out of the queue. The net result is falls on a demoralised workforce (because they know the council doesn't want half of them)to deal with some very taxing enquiries. My informant tells me that because the library is the last port of call after being rebuffed previously, the customer can be in quite a stressed and agitated state, which can cause some difficult situations. Where will these individuals go when the library is not available and will that place be as aware of their safeguarding responsibilities as library staff are?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-88673205469568803422016-05-02T21:30:32.499+01:002016-05-02T21:30:32.499+01:00Thank you for leaving this comment: more evidence ...Thank you for leaving this comment: more evidence of what is clearly revealed now as nothing less than an absolute scandal, causing untold distress to vulnerable residents, with no justification whatsoever. <br /><br />Your son's experience appears to be typical of the result of this appalling scheme, and I am sure there are many others who simply have no idea why this is happening.<br /><br />I promise you I will do everything I can to find out what is going on, who authorised the implementation of this process - and why.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-48099487286247499202016-05-02T18:31:12.411+01:002016-05-02T18:31:12.411+01:00We have had exactly the same experience, my son re...We have had exactly the same experience, my son received an initial letter requesting a photo and for us to tick boxes about his disability. On 12th April he received a letter from the Assisted Travel Team (Capita) informing him of the 7 qualifying criteria, and that he does not meet the minimum criteria, and that we could appeal or raapply in a year, we appealed by email and received an email response saying that the process could take up to 30 days, and not to contact them before as it may further impact the time taken to complete the renewal. There has been no mention of the card being deactivated.<br /><br />My son with his Personal Assistant, travelled on British rail and the tube last week, his card did not work but the understanding staff just let him through the bariers, the PA did not mention it as he thought it was a glitch of the readers. I travelled with himn on Sunday and found his card not working, the staff at London Bridge told me that it had been cancelled.<br /><br />Luckily my son cannot travel alone, so did not suffer from this abuse.<br /><br />I phoned the Assisted Travel Team this week, the helpful person who answred my call said that there was a note on my sons file that he is not known by the Denis Scott Unit, or to the Barnet Learning disabilities service Team, I was amazed, he is very much known to them. the young man said that they had had a lot of calls like mine, and that they would investigate what had gone wrong, it would take about 5 working days, he also said that there seems to have been a problem with the communication between his and the BLDS teams, there sure has. I am sure this is totally unlawfull, and to top it all today we have received an email informing us that his Blue Badge expires 4th June, it is the same department we apply to, I have just completed the online application, I hope it works without issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-79247944843258650392016-04-30T19:08:14.908+01:002016-04-30T19:08:14.908+01:00Yes, Anon: don't worry, we have not seen the e...Yes, Anon: don't worry, we have not seen the end of this story quite yet, and there is more to follow ...<br /><br />Thanks, John, for your comments and links. You are right, the eligibility criteria are statutory, and it is entirely unclear just what exactly Barnet/Capita thought they were doing in regard to the 'renewal' - or withdrawal - of these vital passes, whilst as I found, blaming London Councils for all the upheaval. I think we know why they were doing it, however.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-19773382975272754702016-04-29T19:40:59.331+01:002016-04-29T19:40:59.331+01:00Here's a link to what looks like the most rece...Here's a link to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-local-authorities-on-eligibility-for-disabled-people" rel="nofollow">what looks like the most recent statutory guidance on eligibility for Freedom Passes</a>. John Bracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15068175156565343146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-58729004839640168852016-04-29T19:31:46.691+01:002016-04-29T19:31:46.691+01:00The legal right to a pass is set out in legislatio...The legal right to a pass is set out in legislation, see <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/38/section/151" rel="nofollow">s.151 of the Transport Act 2000</a> and <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/29/section/240" rel="nofollow">s.240 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999</a>. <br /><br />Changes to eligibility can't be made without changing the legislation (which hasn't happened) and there's also guidance issued by the government which the legislation requires councils to follow as to how they run their schemes, such as <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/3621/travelconcession.pdf" rel="nofollow">this guidance</a>.John Bracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15068175156565343146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-26657795702911034612016-04-29T19:29:27.308+01:002016-04-29T19:29:27.308+01:00Clearly there is something seriously wrong when ca...Clearly there is something seriously wrong when capita can arbitrary choose to apply any critira they pull out the air & to suggest that one of those critira changes is that the disabled person should have a monthly medical or other formal assessment is ridiculous ! The person responsible for this should be named & yes the Legal position on this must be clarified. & if it is purely a capita decision the Legal case should be taken against them . Because as usual if it's Barnet council We Pay . Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-78134285595384760212016-04-29T19:10:22.110+01:002016-04-29T19:10:22.110+01:00Thank you for your comment, Anon: it is interestin...Thank you for your comment, Anon: it is interesting, although quite horrifying, to see how many families have been affected by this process, but naturally feel isolated and unable to question what is happening on a wider scale. <br /><br />The question must be asked as to why this 'renewal' scheme has been implemented - and by whose authorisation. <br /><br />I hope that we have at least now brought this issue into the public domain, and that Capita will have to explain why disabled residents are being subjected to this process.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-60173168389552084962016-04-29T15:31:31.246+01:002016-04-29T15:31:31.246+01:00Good afternoon. My son received one of these lett...Good afternoon. My son received one of these letters back in January asking for an up to date photo and eligibility criteria. He had had to also provide this information to Crapita 6 months previously. Now here is the interesting thing, I called London Councils who told me they did not change the photos unless the person's likeness had changed so much they had been challenged by a ticket inspector. My son received his "approval letter" to say he could continue to use his pass, the letter was not even addressed to him personally just a generic letter. I am wondering what the heck have they done with his photo, and his personal information as he is still using a pass with a photo he's had for 10 years. The thing is, you cant refuse to cooperate with Crapita or they will deactivate your pass. Its absolutely shocking but not surprising that the guy you spoke to didn't know what autism is, the calibre of the staff Crapita have employed across the council is as dire as it can be. <br /><br />Regarding the mayoral vote, there is no one I feel deserves to be elected so we have no choice. Certainly would not vote for Goldsmith after he voted to take away disabled people's benefits. I think it will take another couple of years before the muck hits the fan and Barnet have to withdraw from the contract just as we have seen so many other councils around the country having to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-39205944478148493132016-04-28T17:40:49.157+01:002016-04-28T17:40:49.157+01:00If I were the relative of a disabled resident whos...If I were the relative of a disabled resident whose pass is revoked in these circumstances I would certainly be seeking to clarify the legal position.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-69675097588350023562016-04-28T16:01:29.700+01:002016-04-28T16:01:29.700+01:00I thought it couldnt get any worse? This is surel...I thought it couldnt get any worse? This is surely discrimination, is there any chance of a legal challenge to scare the Crapita/Barnet buggers? My heart goes out to those affected by this.<br />Lisa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com