- Location
- East Sussex
I had chased it but luckily I eventually had a contact who helped to get it through. The problem having been caused by mapping cock ups. Which is also causing continued problems over BPS!!
NFU & HLS / ELS payments.
- Thread starter Timbo
- Start date
I had chased it but luckily I eventually had a contact who helped to get it through. The problem having been caused by mapping cock ups. Which is also causing continued problems over BPS!!
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Kerching 
had some Mid Tier Money arrive yesterday and the remittance slip today.... The remittance slips are rubbish though, I have not got a clue what period this payment covers 
had some Mid Tier Money arrive yesterday and the remittance slip today.... The remittance slips are rubbish though, I have not got a clue what period this payment covers - Location
- East Sussex
Kerching
I have never received a remittance slip, just pleased to have the money!!
Well I have been told several times now that we will be paid in March for the money which was due in October last year, it seems a lot of us are in the same boat. So are the RPA finally going to get there finger out and pay us all in the first couple of weeks or is it going to be a long drawn out affair.
I have had to extend my overdraft twice because of the delayed payments which has cost me over a grand in fees and interest. There’s not a hope in hell of getting that money back or the money lost on selling stock early as funds are needed and fodder is short. Do these folk not realise the financial impact of their incompetence, surely it’s been spelled out to them enough times now. Perhaps Mr Gove and his colleagues should have their wages held for six months or a couple of years in some cases and see how they cope
I have had to extend my overdraft twice because of the delayed payments which has cost me over a grand in fees and interest. There’s not a hope in hell of getting that money back or the money lost on selling stock early as funds are needed and fodder is short. Do these folk not realise the financial impact of their incompetence, surely it’s been spelled out to them enough times now. Perhaps Mr Gove and his colleagues should have their wages held for six months or a couple of years in some cases and see how they cope
Farmeraduk
Member
- Location
- Oxfordshire
It might be worth checking all of the addresses the RPA have on your file, our remittances used to go to an old address of a farm we used to rent?
Well, just got my agreement file out and rang the RPA helpline, after going through what seemed like twenty options finally got through to a lady. She said payments were slightly delayed but were getting processed, I said that was somewhat insulting seeing my payment was six months late. She then said there was no agreed payment date so they could pay me as and when they could do it wasn’t late. After a polite conversation I asked to be put through to someone in the payment section to see what the hold up was. She said she needed my SBI number, yes you guessed it, it’s the only number not written on the agreement. You just couldn’t make it up, my holding number or agreement number weren’t good enough.
I rang off before I said something I shouldn’t
I rang off before I said something I shouldn’t
The Son
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
I was offered a one year extension last year on our HLS which was due to end August 2019, the paperwork arrived last week, and I had a phone call this afternoon asking why I haven't returned the signed documentation.
I informed the polite Gentleman as I was still owed all my money from 2017 I was reluctant to sign, especially as I had spoke with my case officer in the first week of Jan and she had assured me that payment was being processed and should be with me within three weeks.
He assured me that I would be paid, I said fine, give me a date and I will sign paperwork, he said he couldn't.........don't think I will be signing the extension paperwork.
I informed the polite Gentleman as I was still owed all my money from 2017 I was reluctant to sign, especially as I had spoke with my case officer in the first week of Jan and she had assured me that payment was being processed and should be with me within three weeks.
He assured me that I would be paid, I said fine, give me a date and I will sign paperwork, he said he couldn't.........don't think I will be signing the extension paperwork.
Bit of an update after two further calls and still no money I have been referred to the Farming Crisis helpline. It’s got past a joke really if the RPA was a business it would have revived a winding up order long ago. Also in a so called first world country how can our government crow on about the need for us to be more eco friendly and less based on food production then not pay us the money they owe. At least if we produce scalable goods we can sell them, at the moment many of us are owed at least twelve months payments and many a lot more.
In my case I have extended my overdraft twice and am now in the stage when I can’t pay the bills as I am past my limit. Is the ROA going to pay interest on these late payments and cover the fees for extending my overdraft. Probably not but they should do, I recently accidentally forgot to relicence my pick up and got caught and prosecuted. It made me almost choke on my dinner when I got the bill. Not only did it include a fine, costs and unpaid duty but a victim surcharge. What a joke
God knows what’s going to happen after brexit, I for one will be seriously thinking of emigration
In my case I have extended my overdraft twice and am now in the stage when I can’t pay the bills as I am past my limit. Is the ROA going to pay interest on these late payments and cover the fees for extending my overdraft. Probably not but they should do, I recently accidentally forgot to relicence my pick up and got caught and prosecuted. It made me almost choke on my dinner when I got the bill. Not only did it include a fine, costs and unpaid duty but a victim surcharge. What a joke
God knows what’s going to happen after brexit, I for one will be seriously thinking of emigration
- Location
- Northumberlandia
Bad crack this i was gonna like your post but then thought no we need a dislike !!!
I agree 100% about there is no one at the RPA who gives a toss about the state these extended delays in payments is actually costing all farming business's
you must be lying out a fair bit, poss some capital works money also & thats even worse.
We just wish there was someone at the top here who had to give us all a 100% answer but there isnt.
will we see a penny before end of march? will we get the balance of payment by end of june?
I agree 100% about there is no one at the RPA who gives a toss about the state these extended delays in payments is actually costing all farming business's
you must be lying out a fair bit, poss some capital works money also & thats even worse.
We just wish there was someone at the top here who had to give us all a 100% answer but there isnt.
will we see a penny before end of march? will we get the balance of payment by end of june?
- Location
- Northumberlandia
just to add altho its not relative in this case but i applied for a grant to improve some farm tracks about 3yrs ago, did all the work just before harvest etc etc perfect conditions
sent forms in expecting to get the full payment withing a month of doing so, it was all signed off everything correct.
Paid me the following january.... yes some 7 months later, its ok i was only lying out just over £9k
when i complained they said why didn't you do the work later in the year, i simply told them because its quite wet in the winter season its simply not possible
they have no idea or understanding tho.... i wont be claiming again for anymore.
just as-well i was able to bankroll the money eh, they even said you shouldn't have paid all the contractors as quick.
Clueless beyond belief....
sent forms in expecting to get the full payment withing a month of doing so, it was all signed off everything correct.
Paid me the following january.... yes some 7 months later, its ok i was only lying out just over £9k
when i complained they said why didn't you do the work later in the year, i simply told them because its quite wet in the winter season its simply not possible
they have no idea or understanding tho.... i wont be claiming again for anymore.
just as-well i was able to bankroll the money eh, they even said you shouldn't have paid all the contractors as quick.
Clueless beyond belief....
- Location
- Northumberlandia
UPDATES !!! has anyone else had this email today? ive removed my info & persons name also..
Dear Sir or Madam
I apologise for the length of time it is taking to complete your 2018 Environmental Stewardship (ES) claim(s). I know this is not good news and understand how important ES payments are to your business.
I can assure you that we are doing all we can to pay your claim as quickly as possible. If you have recently received your ES payment, please ignore this letter.
Our focus is currently on clearing historic advance and final payments. We are aiming to complete 95% of 2017 final payments by the end of July, and then to complete the remainder of 2018 advance payments.
The additional time we have taken does not necessarily mean that there is anything wrong with your claim. For some claim types, we need more time to finish all the checks we have to do before we can make any payment due. For example:
If we need any further information from you, we will contact you. If we have already contacted you, then please respond as soon as you can.
Yours faithfully
########## ##########
ES Operations Director
Dear Sir or Madam
I apologise for the length of time it is taking to complete your 2018 Environmental Stewardship (ES) claim(s). I know this is not good news and understand how important ES payments are to your business.
I can assure you that we are doing all we can to pay your claim as quickly as possible. If you have recently received your ES payment, please ignore this letter.
Our focus is currently on clearing historic advance and final payments. We are aiming to complete 95% of 2017 final payments by the end of July, and then to complete the remainder of 2018 advance payments.
The additional time we have taken does not necessarily mean that there is anything wrong with your claim. For some claim types, we need more time to finish all the checks we have to do before we can make any payment due. For example:
- inspections undertaken in 2016, 2017 and 2018 where the results need to be applied to your claims
- mapping changes to the land in your agreement that need to be completed.
If we need any further information from you, we will contact you. If we have already contacted you, then please respond as soon as you can.
Yours faithfully
########## ##########
ES Operations Director
- Location
- Romney Marsh
- Location
- Newcastle upon Tyne
Once bitten, twice shy. It will be a cold day in hell before I sign up to another of their schemes!
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Yes had that email, but mine did include 2017 as well as 2018. Maybe by July I might be one of the 95% for 2017?!! Not banking on it though!
- Location
- Northumberlandia
annoyingly i agree but when its a fair bit of cash its a diff one to refuse esp on land i earn next to nowt on from farming anyways.
but still pay the same rent on as the good stuff.
- Location
- Newcastle upon Tyne
I agree, but it's bad enough putting up with some spotty oik telling you that the tree you planted should be 3" to the left when you get payment in full and on time but when they subsequently decide not to pay you and then hide behind EU rules, it pees me off just a little!
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Posted for @Old Tip Email to DEFRA contact:
"Subject: When will my HLS money arrive
Afternoon
I have been given your contact by the NFU as Mr Gove said to contact yourself re late payments.
I could go on and on about the total lack of trust with the RPA and the fact that their staff and systems are broken beyond repair.
I am currently owed £16,000 that used to arrive in October and helped pay for the animals winter feed. I need to buy in feed as I have a lot of land in HLS and therefore it produces a lot less crop. This isn’t an issue and I am keen on conservation, I have been asked to increase my cattle numbers to help the eco system and protect rare moths and butterflies.
I hold farm visits to explain why and how this works and promote the great increase in these rare insects.
The catch is I have to take all the cattle and sheep off in winter, this expensive with extra housing and feed needed which the HLS Payment goes some way to compensating.
The problem is I have all the expenses and am not getting the payment, I have had to extend my overdraft twice this winter and currently have less than fifty pounds I can spend.
Would you or any of your colleagues like to sign a contract with a known salary only to not get paid for months on end but still be expected to turn in for work every day.
I think not, mine and many farmers trust with this government and the RPA especially is less than zero.
Last week I was asked to ring a charity for assistance as I can’t pay my bills, we have no heating and can’t afford fuel for the car. How can this be right
Totally Dejected"
Reply:
"Mr XXXX
Mike has forwarded on your email to me to respond to you directly. I’ll ask the operational team within the RPA to review the position and myself or my colleague XXXX will come back to you as soon as we have an update.
Kind regards
XXXX XXXXX | Countryside Stewardship Planning, Co-ordination and Communications
Rural Payments Agency | Room 301 | 3rd Floor | Foss House | Kings Pool | 1-2 Peasholme Green | York | YO1 7PX
"Subject: When will my HLS money arrive
Afternoon
I have been given your contact by the NFU as Mr Gove said to contact yourself re late payments.
I could go on and on about the total lack of trust with the RPA and the fact that their staff and systems are broken beyond repair.
I am currently owed £16,000 that used to arrive in October and helped pay for the animals winter feed. I need to buy in feed as I have a lot of land in HLS and therefore it produces a lot less crop. This isn’t an issue and I am keen on conservation, I have been asked to increase my cattle numbers to help the eco system and protect rare moths and butterflies.
I hold farm visits to explain why and how this works and promote the great increase in these rare insects.
The catch is I have to take all the cattle and sheep off in winter, this expensive with extra housing and feed needed which the HLS Payment goes some way to compensating.
The problem is I have all the expenses and am not getting the payment, I have had to extend my overdraft twice this winter and currently have less than fifty pounds I can spend.
Would you or any of your colleagues like to sign a contract with a known salary only to not get paid for months on end but still be expected to turn in for work every day.
I think not, mine and many farmers trust with this government and the RPA especially is less than zero.
Last week I was asked to ring a charity for assistance as I can’t pay my bills, we have no heating and can’t afford fuel for the car. How can this be right
Totally Dejected"
Reply:
"Mr XXXX
Mike has forwarded on your email to me to respond to you directly. I’ll ask the operational team within the RPA to review the position and myself or my colleague XXXX will come back to you as soon as we have an update.
Kind regards
XXXX XXXXX | Countryside Stewardship Planning, Co-ordination and Communications
Rural Payments Agency | Room 301 | 3rd Floor | Foss House | Kings Pool | 1-2 Peasholme Green | York | YO1 7PX
That is an absolute disgrace.
We have a capital grant scheme for Hedgerow maintenance that was done and claimed for last spring, we do the work ourselves so although the materials are to pay for there will be some profit in it, unlike if we got contractors in which would take most or all the claim, (about £5,000). No sign of any payment yet and unfortunately we entered another agreement to do as much again this winter so have done the work and paid for 2 years posts, netting, etc. Luckily we are not in the situation others are in financially but 10 Grands worth of work is not to be sniffed at.
I hope that this is sorted quickly, especially for others worse off than ourselves. Absolutely no excuse to treat people like this.
We have a capital grant scheme for Hedgerow maintenance that was done and claimed for last spring, we do the work ourselves so although the materials are to pay for there will be some profit in it, unlike if we got contractors in which would take most or all the claim, (about £5,000). No sign of any payment yet and unfortunately we entered another agreement to do as much again this winter so have done the work and paid for 2 years posts, netting, etc. Luckily we are not in the situation others are in financially but 10 Grands worth of work is not to be sniffed at.
I hope that this is sorted quickly, especially for others worse off than ourselves. Absolutely no excuse to treat people like this.
- Tags
- mapping