RaPId delay = increased costs

This entry was posted on Monday, May 10th, 2010 at 1:53 pm

By Stephen Higham, solicitor

I have already blogged about the number of issues caused by the new system for PI solicitors, insurers and the Ministry of Justice; (whisper it) ‘RaPId’ claims.

The exit-ing government ironically labelled the scheme ‘RaPID’ and (as with most IT schemes set up by them over the years) it has spectacularly failed. The scheme has already been postponed due to the secure website not being completed in time but rather than arranging for all the work to be completed in a timely and usable fashion, only an extra 24 days were granted.

As a result of the government steamroller, road traffic accident claims which occur after 30 April 2010 and fit the criteria must now proceed via the internet ‘portal’. This is a secure website, protected by individual usernames and passwords for solicitors and insurers. Without these log in details, claims cannot proceed.

However, there are a plenty of solicitors who are still waiting for their username’s and passwords to be issued even though the actual scheme has now been mandatory for over 2 weeks.

An e-mail from support@rtapiclaimsprocess.org.uk sent on 13 May 2010 only adds to the confusion. In it, solicitors who have yet to sign up are urged to do so as the normal process can take up to 5 working days for claimant lawyer organizations. But in the same e-mail it says “For both insurer and claimant organisations who registered before the 30th of April, you can expect to receive your login details shortly”. So which is it? Over 2 weeks (for those who registered in time) or only 5 working days (for those who didn’t)?

If those running the scheme don’t know what’s happening, what chances have claimant solicitors and insurers got?

The government’s planners also failed to think the practicalities of the scheme through. As a result, accident victims and their solicitors will suffer increased delays and costs, while getting paid less under a new fixed costs regime.

This scheme was an unnecessary, time consuming mistake. It was forced through by an insurance lobby that is relentless in their abuse of innocent accident victims and the pursuit of profit.

I can only hope that things improve quickly. Innocent accident victims have already suffered enough.