Jelly Bean
VIP Member
Watching on ITV plus one so an hour behind - but they are talking on the news about movements to get Vennell stripped of her award.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office - itv
- Thread starter Happy Lady
- Start date
Eirawen
VIP Member
And to think that she was an Anglican Church minister as well if she is still doing that she should be stopped. Nothing Christian about her.
Happy Lady
VIP Member
I want the know why the Government continued to extend the Fujitsu contract knowing that there had been years of controversy and heart ache for hundreds of people.
I've attached a screenshot from an article dated only two months ago, but can't register to read more on this topic as my home email address won't allow it. They need a business email address.
Eirawen
VIP Member
It beggars belief, Fujitsu is deplorable.
Milliemoo99
VIP Member
I too think its ridiculous how the Post office seemed to trust machines and computers more than their judgement and trust in their employees.
The whole 4 episodes are heartbreaking. And when you realise that someone like Jo Hamilton was prosecuted and found guilty, even after an internal investigation, that she wasnt shown, showed no evidence of theft!
I hope they actually get the massive compensation they deserve, and that the Post office officials and fujitsu get the punishments they morally deserve.
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I had an interesting conversation with my husband, who works in computing, he said one of the biggest issues at the moment, is that the customer, in this case Post office, doesnt actually know or understand enough about how networks work, to ask the correct questions.
lawyers and sales people get involved, quotes are given, Contracts are signed, millions of pounds exchanged, but no one really knows what the computer programme/ product is, or what its strengths and weaknesses or bugs are.
The only ones who know anything about the system are the computer nerds who designed the system, but even they rarely build the networks and the connections, and there might easily be a defective chip somewhere in the system, that goes wrong and creates a bug.
Fujitsu hold the current contract, and Im not sure if anyone else would want to bid for it, or be able to sort out the mess that Fujitsu seem to have created.
I cannot quite believe how Post office officials believed that the subpostmaster lines were completely secure, and that there wasnt some kind of override facility available at Fujitsu to get into the system to fix bugs. If you think of secure systems like banking, where the system is secure from external attack, but customer support advisors can, if they are asked to, access anyones accounts, to support the customer. Although in this case, the access is recorded and monitored for training and security purposes!
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Happy Lady
VIP Member
Over 250,000 have now signed the petition.
I've just watched the follow up programme where the actual postmasters were talking about their circumstances. Amongst them they told of their horrific experiences:
Post Office heavies barging into their homes whilst they were in bed, and demanding £40,000.
Being thrown out of their homes.
Losing their life savings.
Losing their jobs.
Going to prison.
Having a criminal record.
Being made to wear ankle tags for six months.
Remortgaging their homes, and their parents!
Being treated with depression and anxiety.
Having electrodes on their temples in an attempt to calm them.
Unable to gain employment with a criminal record and lack of trust.
Losing friends.
In 2022 each postmaster was awarded £600,000. I don't think this figure is nearly enough to compensate them for what they had to endure.
Eirawen
VIP Member
Truly the stuff of nightmares to think that these good people were treated like this!!!! Surely prison awaits some of the post office staff and Fujitsu
Happy Lady
VIP Member
Post Office Scandal: Strip Paula Vennells of her CBE
I just signed the petition calling on Paula Vennells, the former CEO of the Post Office to be stripped of her CBE. Will you sign too?
you.38degrees.org.uk
Over 457,000 people have now signed the petition.
During the programme I watched last night, The Select Committee were cross examining Vennells who refused to answer a simple question with YES or NO. Apparently she resigned from her position with the Church in 2021.
Some of the actors who took part in the series have started speaking up about this now, saying how difficult it was to play their roles, and how upset and angry they are at everything that's happened. They have met the sub postmasters and spent time hugging and talking.
CuriousCat92
Chatty Member
I saw Will Mellor had done this but who else has please?Post Office Scandal: Strip Paula Vennells of her CBE
I just signed the petition calling on Paula Vennells, the former CEO of the Post Office to be stripped of her CBE. Will you sign too?
Over 457,000 people have now signed the petition.
During the programme I watched last night, The Select Committee were cross examining Vennells who refused to answer a simple question with YES or NO. Apparently she resigned from her position with the Church in 2021.
Some of the actors who took part in the series have started speaking up about this now, saying how difficult it was to play their roles, and how upset and angry they are at everything that's happened. They have met the sub postmasters and spent time hugging and talking.
Happy Lady
VIP Member
If you watch the programme that I refer to, you will see it there. Yes, Will Mellor has definitely done this and he seems to be beside himself. Rightly so.
I feel as though every day something new is reported. Rightly so - again.
Chita
VIP Member
My friend's brother was one of the Postmasters involved.
Advised to plead guilty. Had to pay back money that he hadnt taken and received a suspended sentence.
Lost his job, couldn't get another and lost his home.
He was eventually cleared of all charges and received only a small amount of compensation. It nowhere near covers his losses.
He was involved in the group depicted in this drama and campaigned to get the Bosses investigated and Vennells stripped of her CBE. He also campaigned to have her removed from her role in the Church.
This has been a LONG battle.
It looks like this tv drama might be the thing to FINALLY address this travesty of justice.
I've recorded it and am just watching it now.
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The thing that stands out is how many times those poor people were told no one else was experiencing the same problem with their Horizon system.
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I just cried when the forensic accountant received the email confirming the ex union reps appointment at Fujitsu.
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I found these interesting.
Sharing in case anyone else would like more info.
www.computerweekly.com
www.postofficetrial.com
.
Advised to plead guilty. Had to pay back money that he hadnt taken and received a suspended sentence.
Lost his job, couldn't get another and lost his home.
He was eventually cleared of all charges and received only a small amount of compensation. It nowhere near covers his losses.
He was involved in the group depicted in this drama and campaigned to get the Bosses investigated and Vennells stripped of her CBE. He also campaigned to have her removed from her role in the Church.
This has been a LONG battle.
It looks like this tv drama might be the thing to FINALLY address this travesty of justice.
I've recorded it and am just watching it now.
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The thing that stands out is how many times those poor people were told no one else was experiencing the same problem with their Horizon system.
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I just cried when the forensic accountant received the email confirming the ex union reps appointment at Fujitsu.
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I found these interesting.
Sharing in case anyone else would like more info.
Did government allow Post Office to sack forensic accountants to cover up Horizon scandal? | Computer Weekly
Whatever the Post Office told the government about its decision to sack investigators examining subpostmaster prosecutions for theft could identify if the government was part of a cover-up.
Second Sight's Ron Warmington breaks his silence
Reporting the High Court class action against the UK Post Office
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Happy Lady
VIP Member
764,779 have now signed the petition.
@Chita I hope your friends brother is OK and is paid adequate compensation for all he's gone through. Really horrible, and totally unnecessary.
Richard Madely speaks in the Express about this today. Very well written.
www.express.co.uk
@Chita I hope your friends brother is OK and is paid adequate compensation for all he's gone through. Really horrible, and totally unnecessary.
Richard Madely speaks in the Express about this today. Very well written.
The Horizon Post Office scandal is beyond a disgrace, fumes Richard Madeley
If, like me, you watched this week's ITV four-part drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office then a) your jaw is probably still on the floor, and b) your blood may only now be cooling down from boiling point to a steady simmer.
Chita
VIP Member
764,779 have now signed the petition.
@Chita I hope your friends brother is OK and is paid adequate compensation for all he's gone through. Really horrible, and totally unnecessary.
Richard Madely speaks in the Express about this today. Very well written.
The Horizon Post Office scandal is beyond a disgrace, fumes Richard Madeley
If, like me, you watched this week's ITV four-part drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office then a) your jaw is probably still on the floor, and b) your blood may only now be cooling down from boiling point to a steady simmer.
Sadly he's not.
It has ruined him and his wife had a total breakdown.
They lost theiir home and had to move in with one of their daughters, who, luckily had room for them.
The compensation paid to them was only a small amount.
I will read the article you posted.
AllieBee
VIP Member
Yes absolutely. There is so much corruption in our public services. If it wasn't for Alan Bates and his tenacity, the post office would have swept this under the carpet long ago. I've just watched it on catch up and I can't get those poor people's suffering out of my head. Heads need to roll.
Chita
VIP Member
people are calling for Alan to get the OBE,
That's the lowest honour.
Knight him I say, for services to what's right and proper.
And give every post master/mistress the OBE for services to JUSTICE.
AllieBee
VIP Member
I read that he was offered it but turned it down? He said he couldn't accept it while Vennells had a CBE. What a guy he is. I'm hero worshipping him right now
unidentified
VIP Member
So much corruption!
My decorator has had contracts with our local hospital and knows he can add a zero on the end of his pricing and they’ll pay, then the person above him adds more and pockets the difference and that happens all the way to the top! You’d never ever expect something like that. I’ve witnessed corruption of jobs being created for people who’s friends with the boss
Chita
VIP Member
AllieBee
VIP Member
Fingers crossed it helps to get it gone she should never have got that. And then prosecute and jail the lot of them
Happy Lady
VIP Member
It's growing so rapidly and now stands at 783,408 so I'm sure it will reach a million any day soon.
It's a total disgrace the way these people have been treated. It should never have come to this, and I am so sorry for the upset and torment it has caused your friends @Chita. It's an absolute mess, but I do now hold hope that compensation should be forthcoming.
Before I retired, if I'd been working for a business that received so many complaints about the same issue, I'd have jumped on it to establish what the hell was happening.