Dealing with the Tribunal

Yes it is a cockroach. It is a model for a drawing I will attempt soon. It has no reference to this post I just needed an image

Yes it is a cockroach. It is a model for a drawing I will attempt soon. It has no reference to this post I just needed an image

Yesterday was a huge day. It took me quite a while to get all the stuff for the application to have the termination notice declared no effect turned into pdf files so they could be uploaded during the online application process. During the process there is a field on the page that asks your reasons for making the application. I had a body of work prepared as a pdf file but there was nowhere to add an attachment. When the text from the file was copied and pasted into the space a pop-up came up suggesting that the site only accepted 14,000 characters and I could send the extra by email. I do not know what the 14,000 character reference means so I sent the file as a pdf to an email address at the tribunal and followed it up with the letter from the agent and the paperwork terminating the tenancy.

In the morning there was an email from the tribunal that said:

Section 78 of the Consumer Trader & Tenancy Tribunal Act 2001 does not allow for the emailing of notices or documents in relation to CTTT proceedings, including submissions, summons and evidentiary material.

Please send your notices or documents in relation to CTTT proceedings via post, fax or in person to a CTTT Registry.

I felt very crestfallen and a little confused as the things I had done seemed to be the sensible and proposed thing. There should always be an awareness as Government services go online that you may be among the early users of a service and perhaps there are things that need to be debugged though.

I replied with an email that said. … according to the data given at the time of online entry at your website these documents are to be sent by email, can you confirm please. The change in directions places extensive hardship on me and probably makes my application unable to be processed which means I am outside of the time limit. I have complied with directives supplied by your online service.

Please note that a pop-up arose when I attempted to place documents in the field for my explanation telling me to forward them by email. Please note also that it is impossible to use an online service that does not allow online attachments and if not online attachments then emails attachments. Perhaps if there is a conflict and the Government wishes to actually supply an online service they should look to changing section 78 of the Consumer, Tribunal and Tenancy Tribunal Act 2001 to allow it to happen
I had a bit of a sinking feeling and wondered if I had not brought another case of resentment down on my head. These things can remain problems for a while if everyone who should say something don’t and then the idiot who does gets roasted. I was concerned
I pulled myself together and sent a copy by post. I am a little surprised that I managed it as I am tiring and getting a grip on complex thought is starting to get slippery. I can tell it is happening this time because I have been buying comfort food. Some money I had aside to get drawings framed went on stuff I cannot imagine needing off ebay. I have been coping by allowing myself to go onto a sort of partial mental self-control. This has happened before. That is why my mother pays the bills. I never have enough money in my control to damage my finances. So I have seen it happening now and can reel it back but I digress. The paperwork is all largely prepared and just require printing now so that made it easier.
I had a knot in my belly all day. The estate agent has made me feel as though everybody I have dealings with is going to attack in some way. In the late afternoon there was an email from the tribunal. We have placed a copy of your document on file and it will be available for the member at the hearing on 28 March 2012.  Please ensure you bring the original document to the hearing.

We are investigating the issues you have raised in relation to the lodgement of documents on-line.
The wave of relief and appreciation. I sent back a note of thanks and best wishes. This is how it is supposed to be! People helping out and getting things done rather finding reasons to block things. Thank you so much!
In the snail mail there was a letter. The emergency hearing where the agent tried to have me tossed onto street immediately had been adjourned until a future date. That date is now set for 30th April. Knot returns to stomach!  I might not speak more of the dealings with the tribunal as it places pressures on the ability to negotiate and the tribunal is theoretically about fairness etc. I mention this set of dealings merely because they are structural (?) or procedural rather than related to the points of the cases in question.

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