Capital works via HLS , payment time scale ?

[Oscar]

Wondered about putting this in "What grinds your gears" thread but just wondering how long people are waiting for capital works claims to be paid ???

Did my first claim end of October , £16 k and paid in three weeks from submission , which I thought was very good and a pleasant surprise . Two days later , I submit another claim , £30 k . Got e mail about a couple photos I sent which I replied too and get return e mail to say all good . Its now been 10 weeks and still not paid . Checked two weeks ago on helpline and told its validated just waiting for payment.
Problem is that I have paid out another £55 k for materials , of which £40k is finished and waiting to claim for [only allowed one claim at a time, so in affect they owe me £74k at the moment ] and got £30k of materials coming next week which I will have to pay for in couple weeks time. Oh by the way , only got two years to do the works so the rush is because of THEIR rules !! Getting hacked off with it and still have another £150 k of work to do in next 14 months.

Its all on the scheme they agreed too and timescale is their making so why s it taking so long ???

 

[Kam]

I had a payment actioned yesterday on a claim that was submitted mid November. Apparently, they are working on 12-16 weeks to make payments, which I think is disgraceful.

 

[Oscar]

Thankyou for reply and yes its frustrating.

 

[tinsheet]

Claim in just before Christmas, email yesterday!
No photos of the work taking place?
Previously sent in before and after photos that was accepted last year, have the goal posts moved?
Seriously fowling up my cashflow

 

[Oscar]

My take on it, is photos of completed work should be adequate however I have heard that inspections may ask to see " before pictures" so take them but just keep until asked . Never heard of " during work" photos however I claimed for waterpipe laying ,which is difficult to photo once it's in the ground (!) and only had one photo of me doing the job in 3500m so they then wanted invoices for the pipe and fittings but they paid up .

 

[Oscar]

@Janet Hughes Defra , have you got any views or logic why it's taking so long to pay claims ?
Thanks

 

[Overby]

They've been on strike haven't they! Dismal

 

[Overby]

@Janet Hughes Defra , have you got any views or logic why it's taking so long to pay claims ?
Thanks

To go to a meeting last week and be told that claims would be paid promptly and they're moving away from trying to pick fault and find problems, to then read the above posts, isn't good. Farmers are, by and large, an honest bunch, surely getting everyone paid asap should be a priority? Not sitting on the end of a phone line trying to find issues or minor discrepancies to pick at.

 

[tinsheet]

To go to a meeting last week and be told that claims would be paid promptly and they're moving away from trying to pick fault and find problems, to then read the above posts, isn't good. Farmers are, by and large, an honest bunch, surely getting everyone paid asap should be a priority? Not sitting on the end of a phone line trying to find issues or minor discrepancies to pick at.

Bloody frustrating!

 

[Oscar]

Still waiting !!!

 

[Overby]

@Janet Hughes Defra Do you have any info on the capital payments situation? As a mentioned above, the current roadshows are stating claims will be paid promptly, on a basis of trust (as long as photos sent etc). How can it take 12 - 16 weeks to process a claim? And why are the operators at the other end being so obstructive .
I have more works to get on with, but need paid for my current claim in order to buy the materials. Currently weeks of silence.
I know many others are in the same situation.


Thanks for any advice.

 

[Overby]

No reply?

 

[Overby]

Notification today payment is on way. 4 weeks.

 

[Oscar]

Phoned up RPA again today , now just over14 weeks from claim submission . Nice chap on phone who checked and said he could not see any notes or issues and agreed it was a long time . He has raised a query with payment section who have 48 hrs to respond , so we will see .

 

[Oscar]

Well they missed the 48 hrs by another 50 hrs but very apologetic lady phoned Monday late PM saying that she agreed it was a very long wait and that it was their end at fault . She had hoped to give me some positive news but could nt , however she promised to update me by end of the week as my query had gone up a scale at their end ( apparently ?!) . Wait to see .

 

[Oscar]

Lady never phoned me back !! It's been 16 weeks today since claim went in !

 

[Kam]

Lady never phoned me back !! It's been 16 weeks today since claim went in !

My sympathies to you. If it's any comfort, I've still not received my stewardship payment yet.

Second capital claim going in at the end of the month for 5500m of hedging, I bloody hope it doesn't take 16 weeks or more for payment!!

 

[Oscar]

Still no payment so phoned again today , exactly same routine , 48 hrs meant to reply ??!!

 

[Oscar]

No surprise , no reply in 48 hrs !!
19 weeks now and still no way forward .
Don t know what I can do ??

 

[AnnaMooMoo]

I’m 2 weeks and counting for my GS2 and 1000m of hedge planting- gapping up claim on the old payment rate.
About to start putting in water troughs. I recall there being a 2-3 month delay last year but may have been because their email system didn’t like the format of my supporting evidence.
Solidarity from Wiltshire!