My name is Teresa Roper and I am an advocate of many disabled people before the WCB in Alberta and throughout Canada. The issue of the bonuses is a tough subject with me because WCB in Alberta has continually said ( as has their Board of Directors) that there is no bonus for “termination” or closing of a claim. I however, do have the paperwork to prove it. Since 2004 I have been trying to find a way to get the issue before the legislature. I had contacted old Ralphie (Klein) and of course he was not interested in the least. I tried the NDP, and never got a call back from anyone (and no I didn’t try only one call) Finally I tried Kevin Taft, and his wife was a wonderful person to talk to, she called back and told me he was away for a short time and that he would get back to me when he returned. He spoke to me for a while, took the paperwork. NOT ONLY about the bonuses but also other proof of FRAUD committed by the WCB, as well as what can only be called “proof they cook their books” to create overpayments on claimants files. In 2005 I participated in an award winning radio documentary program on WCB, I sent him the proof I had and the documentation to support it.. Too bad that after a visit from WCB that talk show host no longer has a talk show!! Anyway. Mr. Taft wrote to the Auditor General, Mr. Fred Dunn, and asked him to have one of his auditors meet with me. I have been informed numerous times that someone will meet with me, and that any significant deficiencies identified from the assessment will be included in the Annual Report of The Auditor General to the Legislative Assembly… So fart many, many letter that say this, and help from Mr. Taft, but no one has ever contacted me from the Auditor General Office.
So I keep taking on claims one by one and plodding away, hoping that someday the Government has the courage to look at what the WCB are doing. That WCB stops being able to commit fraud and not even get their hand slapped and that maybe someone with some clout in the Media doesn’t just write about it for a week, and I thank you wholeheartedly for your series Mr. Loome!! ( Even though you put an “h” in my name – LOL –)
BUT this need to be there every day – a la Britney – till someone somewhere does something.
Also.. You write: “The most important bit of information you need to understand when faced with a WCB claim is that the minute you cash that first check from WCB, you sign away all your rights to sue your employer for causing your injury. Make sure you are completely aware of this . . . WCB will cut you off for no reason and will cause you great difficulty in your recovery.”
This is not quite right.. sorry.. The moment your employer pays his first premium, you cant sue him, and if the employer is in a mandatory industry and hasnt even paid or applied – he’s still protected, and as one worker/employer I represented found out.. even if you dont want WCB coverage.. if your a truck driver for 20 years with massive liability insurance, if and when you have an accident – its WCB and you can do nothing but hope they treat you well!
Teresa Roper
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 9th, 2008 at 8:52 am and is filed under Your Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Thanks Teresa, it’s so good to know someone who has proof is still trying. Hugs.
I am injured worker , i worked at meat plant , when i was injured , i was shocked , i was terrified , i just start thinking about future , pain keep getting worst , i become abnormal. Alberta WCB , what they did to me i keep thinking about 24/7 , they raped me , .. they played me well , i lost my job beacuse of injury , i cant work , i become homeless. i wasnt able to eat for days . very humuliating thing i never thought of . , all my life shattered . i lost every thing . i am young ,but my life is hell. my injuries are permanent.. all my friends dont even talk to me . just am disable , jobless person who cant work. al most 9 years . am living horrible life. sometimes i cry , filled with rages ..pain.. very painful , am thinking about killing my self . definitely i will kill my self……….i cant handle this life for years to come. Doctors advised me To live with pain for the rest of life. they cant do nothing…painful..i am a person who even work for food , but reduced to nothing . pain , pain … i dont know what to say . i live on disability . Alberta WCB raped me , i think of what they did to me day and nights , i still hear the voices that abused me .. still… they took away my life , am dead man ……..am nothing , nothing , it was better just being nothing , the pain is worst.my pain is hell , i feel like my very bones are foreign objects inside me.
I dont know how explain my pain .
thanks
Hang On
I have been a injured worker since 1986 pal. I know what you are going through I’ve had 3 back surguery’s. Ive been put through every frikken hoop that the w.c.b. has. I tell you to make sure you have a good doctor if you do not FIND ONE. I’ts very important. A single word phrased in a different way is a huge opening for these asses. Make sure you appeal all of there dissisions.I’ve had them follow me with cameras focused in my house I still have a hard time watching the stupid tape they made. I tell you to hang in there pal I know about the pain I’ve lived with it since 86 fight like hell pal.
There may be options for you. I have fought against the injustices of WCB across Canada ( although I can no longer represent in Ontario because of a provincial law) If you want to contact me, please send me an email to claimshelp@trhclaims.ca
Teresa
Oh my goodness, I am so sorry for what they have put you through. I understand pain, terrible pain, as I too am an injured worker that has been put through hell. That is an excellent way to put it though, raped. That is EXACTLY what it feels like! Keep trying, and plugging away, something has to change soon. This type of abuse of injured workers can not be allow to continue. I shall pray every day for you. Don’t give up, we all need to stick together to bring this information to everyone, that these workers comp boards are raping people.
Take care,
Jeannette (fellow injured worker)
I too have evidence of FRUAD by WCB, when i questioned my claim and requested an audit of my claim due to monies held back and other monies removed as overpayments ( some more then 3 times for the same overpayment) each audit was not an audit but an overpayment review, thier maniplulation of my file with false information added and pertanant information removed, WCB of Alberta started a fraud investigation against me ;months after I requested the audit on my claim.
I was not allowed to use my evidence in court against WCB ,my lawyer first told me that it would be an easy win, however come court day he informed me that we do not have the proof of manipulation of files so I best plead guilty to avoid jail time for fraud over $5000.00. I then took my evidence to the RCMP a 9 page document of WCB’s manipulation of my file and finances. 2 weeks later I contacted the RCMP to check on the investigation, only to be told that I should hire a forensic auditor to sort it all out and get a lawyer,as far they were concerned there was nothing they could do against WCB even thought there was more then enough evidence to convict you or me which they would have done at the drop of a hat.
I have been dealing with WCB of Alberta for over 15 years now, the last couple years I have taken WCB to Appeals over overpayments, requesting audits due to overpayments an payments not sent out to me that I was entitled too, the amount involved here was over $ 25,000.00. Through their manipulation of files they had taken me to court for fraud all this was 3 years after I started with the audit to be done, which had been in front of that Appeals commission 3 separate times, the last time the Appeals Commission said that they would only look and see if the Audit was done correctly, not to review information about overpayments or monies owed to claimant. There is much more to this story pertaining to actions of WCB employees with threats and intimidation. To make a long story shorter the WCB of Alberta set me up with a deemed position for which I was to $32,000.00 a year as a sales clerk, in which I was to receive approx. $814.00 per month on my claim, however they were keeping this money due to over payment for $32,000.00 which they were not entitled to remove from me as they already had that money from not giving it to me 4 years before, with no income in our household to pay bills, we were forced to go to social assistance, after about 8 months of assistance I received a phone call informing me that I had not claimed the $814.00 monthly to the social worker and was therefore cut off and file sent to a collection agency. I have just received my T-5 for the year of 2008 from WCB of Alberta, it states that my income from them for the year is $943.11, yet they call social services and inform them that I am making $814.00 per month, causing my family to live below the poverty line and yet they still continue to make discussions on my claim without informing me of these decisions.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
Why do we have to see our family doctors when fact is W.C.B. has the doctors whom know everything and have all the answers we all need .So lets make sure all injured works go straight to your nearest W.C.B. building not go to the hospitals when the doctors at W.C.B. are gods and have the cure for everything .We should all do our follow ups with them,surgery by them and all testing by them after all they only ask our surgerons and family doctors are you sure you want to write this down you know we won’t pay for that so reword it as they can go back to work and we shall pay you oh it’s happening just ask any honest doctor far between but some do care.Heres the bottom line canada our parents built this country up for us and our kids time to reclaim whats ours and remove these people from these places and get some with a real mind not crime minded lets see how we can get more money out of the injued workers and in return we can have bigger parties you know throw us a few raises and why not a few side checks .Problem is goverment workers can’t be touched in the court of law BUT WOW IF THEY COULD BE CANADA WOULD BE OWNED BY THE UNITED STATES canada wouldn’t have any money left OH SO TRUE or sold to the highest bidder .Make those who cause the problem pay for the problem open the door to take goverment to court and watch the rules change I dare the goverment to do this open the chance to show goverment CRIME WAVE for what it really is ..
you all must remember that the wcb only hire bottomfeeding scum suckers of society and as much as im against violence something really bad will happen to them, they got off lucky last week. im currently working my way into a political office and i have my future goals aimed at fixing the broken wcb , these people are not human.
July 22/10
Congradulations front page of the sun.
I wonder how the employers feel.
I think it’s time to Roar again.
I owen a web site – doesn’t work
wcbca.ca
Workers compensation Board Centennial Advocates.ca
I would like to join your cause.
Client # 55
Robin
I’m another injured worker and after almost 20 years of getting screwed and screwed around by WCB I hired Teresa Roper to have a look at my claims. It took a couple of years but Teresa beat WCB Alberta using all of their rules some of which the WCB didn’t mention. The payback far outweighed Teresa’s fees.
I do have a problem with an outfit that is supposed to HELP injured workers but DOES in fact screw them over at every possible opportunity. Why should an injured worker on a reduced income have to hire a representative in order to receive fair treatment? This is just wrong and the system is broken.
Work on firing your MLA if he or she is in the ruling party.
I would love to hire Teresa , alas I cannot afford too, so like many others I must continue this fight on my own which has taken me past the Alberta Government, past the Federal Government to Interpol, if you all knew the truth of the WCB history and the system you would be shocked.
If you are aware of Government Corruption http://bit.ly/9qm6BQ it is your duty to report it http://bit.ly/au4vMT