How accurate are estimated ESA appeal dates?

I had a letter from the Tribunal Service recently saying: "Because of the high volume of cases we are currently dealing with, the appeal is not likely to be heard before: 01/11/2011". So in effect they're predicting a 4-month wait.

I've seen many posts on here of people saying they've waited 9 months, a year, or even more. (Though that will be a mix of DLA and ESA appeals). So that's wildly at odds with the estimate I've received. If cases are dealt with in sequence, you'd expect the estimate to be fairly accurate, wouldn't you?

I'd be very interested to hear people's experience of ESA appeal dates. Was the initial estimated date close? Is it was missed, did you get any updated estimate? Or did you just wait and wait and wait? If you phoned to find out what was happening, did you get a useful answer?

This is not an 'academic' question. I want to relax and forget about the tribunal until shortly before it happens. But I also want to be fully "match ready" ( or do I mean "combat ready"?) when the date comes.

Andy.

I think Tribunals Service's guess is as good as yours!

i was told iwould wait till october for an esa appeal. then got a letter giving me a date for end of july, all seems a bit hit n miss. good luck

Brian - That takes the biscuit. Can I ask: In what month did the TS originally tell you it would be October?

All seems chaotic, doesn't it? Perhaps I need to stay at "DEFCON 1" permananetly. That could be a bit wearing.

Andy.

Unless TS were whizzing through hearings at lightning speed, I reckon the hearing was brought forward due to a cancellation.