Ogmore MP Huw Irranca-Davies has demanded that the government publishes a leaked report which is believed to be highly critical of the Post Office’s handling of problems with the Horizon computer problem.
Hundreds of sub-postmasters all around the country have been left devastated financially, often losing tens of thousands of pounds, because of problems they believe lie with the Horizon computer system which handles financial payments in post offices. Many sub-postmasters have also lost their post offices and careers, as well as their life-savings.
Over the last couple of years, Ogmore MP Huw Irranca-Davies had taken up the cases of three local sub-postmasters who have seen their livelihoods ruined and their reputations tarnished. Up until now, government ministers have argued that there has been no major “systemic” fault with the computer system.
But the BBC recently revealed parts of the leaked final report by investigators Second Sight, which alleges that training for those without IT skills was inadequate when the new Horizon system was introduced, that equipment was outdated, and that power cuts and communication problems made things worse.
Huw says “Surely this report now needs to be published, so that the facts are out in the open. When people’s lives and reputations have been destroyed, it is indefensible to deny them the full story behind what went wrong. The public will rightly ask what the government is hiding?”
One of the cases Huw has taken up involves an elderly couple who have lost their Post Office business and – in addition – are nearly £20,000 out of pocket from losses they incurred directly from the Horizon problems. They now face a very uncertain retirement, and even have the threat of possible future action by Post Office Ltd hanging over them.
Huw has tabled a parliamentary question asking for the publication of the report, and is seeking a debate in parliament, so that the hundreds of sub-postmasters affected can begin to put their lives back together again.
very well said… as one of the long suffering postmasters, I can tell you that the post office has behaved in a way you would not believe. during the whole mediation process they have tries their very best to scupper it from day on. there should be an immediate judicial review. but for some unknown reason, nobody seems to have the balls to do it.
This happened to us Huw. We were £300 down one week and £200 another week. We knew there was a problem with the horizon system but the Post Office refused to believe it. We were able to put the money in, but not everyone can do this. As you know, they don’t allow any leeway with deficits in the balance, the post master is automatically at fault. So the bottom line is, we are still £500 out of pocket.
It’s about time post office are brought to justice over this appalling tragedy. My sister and bother in law have both suffered immensely over this at there local post office in Worcestershire. Whilst I accept that as a relative I am rightly personally upset over this but let’s stand aside and look at this as a customer. I banked one cheque with post office into my post office ISA. This was for a sum of almost £2200. Post office/horizon could not get that right and credited my account a sum of almost £4000. How on earth did that happen. They stopped my monthly direct debit as “I” had paid too much into my ISA. Had I not been honest I suspect I could have enjoyed this unexpected bonus of someone else’s money but that would have cost someone else an unexpected financial loss. This took me an immense amount of time and effort to sort out and I closed my ISA as I was so fed up. Post office did admit fault and paid they me £50 compensation. So they admitted fault. I find it incredible therefore that they can still try and defend their horizon computer system as reliable. I still have all the paperwork to prove this.
My wife & I purchased a PO in 2008 & from day one we were falling short, we requested additional training but nothing. After 3 years & the Po accusing my wife & I off £30,000 losses we decided to sell the PO. This was goinig so well until PO decided not to give the PO to the potential purchaser & stopped the sale, we were deverstated. Po then took the PO from us & gave it to a local shop owner for nothing, leaving us pennyless. During the time at the PO my wife suffered 2 nervous breakdowns & even tried to take her own life due to the faults of the Horizon