GDPR as a carer

Hi, it’s me again.

One of the big problems I seem to be having at the moment and have suffered long term with this is the use of GDPR and information walls that everyone seems to operate with.

My mum recently got a bill, and I had to call the place to sort it, and discuss payment. I was told no despite the fact that these people know I’m a carer. I keep getting told that I have to be with my mum when she makes the call.

Due to work commitments, I cannot be with her all the time and making these calls would cause a loss of income causing me to be in financial difficulties. My mum has given these people permission time and time again as she doesn’t understand anything at all when it comes to finances. So it’s pointless anyway.

It’s hard getting my mum to say the right thing never mind getting her to understand. Her default position is “I can’t pay my partner died four years ago, I suffer with mental health.” And hopes it goes away. Obviously it doesn’t.

I have asked for help time and time again, but it feels like no is listening. I asked for financial help from the social worker in regards to this, and got nothing. The carers association also don’t seem to care and just seem to adopt a deal with it attitude.

I’ve had enough of it.

I don’t get why companies don’t have registered carer options when dealing with carers
.

Draft a letter for your mum to sign that says she wants you to act as her spokesperson.

I used to have similar problems - BEFORE G had the stroke - as I dealt with admin at our business and he was busy with patients all day. A hospital appointment would arrive and I would call to explain he couldn’t make it and needed to rearrange. SO many times I was told “we cant discuss this with you - Data Protection!”. Even when a letter arrived on a Friday morning giving and appointment on Monday morning and I phoned to explain the silly woman would not listen. I got to the point of saying “OK - I am unable to tell you he cannot attend at short notice so YOU will waste an appointment - I am recording this call so I have evidence that the missed appointment is YOUR fault.” She hung up. I waited five minutes and called back - another person simply said ‘OK do you want to rearrange for a better date?’ NO mention of Data Protection there.

As I now have LPA I have provided copies for everyone we deal with as it became such a PITA when I had to get him to hold the phone and mutter ‘Yes, this is Graham, speak to Chris’. Some places just take it too far!

As @Charlesh47 suggests, a letter signed by Mum should be sufficient for all but the most pedantic. Lodge it with all the businesses etc that you heave to deal with.