IHTM23114 - Contacting the VOA: contact points

With the VOA ( IHTM23002)

• It is intended that all e-mail contact by IHT will be direct to the VOA caseworker. If there is no response within 15 working days, follow up with a telephone call and thereafter refer to Our Valuation Office Liaison if there are still difficulties.

IHT Mailpoints

• Because of the greater turnover of IHT staff in Nottingham, Mailpoints are used to minimise the potential problems arising from a VOA e-mail message to IHT being sent to a redundant workstation or to a redundant or incorrect e-mail address.
• If the respective caseworkers have been in contact recently, the e-mail message will be sent by the VOA caseworker direct to the IHT caseworker. But, if there has been a period of non-contact, the VOA caseworker will send any interim or final report to an IHT Mailpoint address. Likewise, acknowledgement slips ( IHTM23072) will generally be sent to Mailpoints.
• Each IHT registry has a Mailpoint address where the VOA can send reports by e-mail. Each Registry has nominated staff ( IHTM23118) who access the Mailpoint post-box each day to review and distribute any messages to caseworkers. It is up to each individual caseworker, or team, to decide how best to utilise this facility but it is important that the post-box is reviewed every day.
• It is important that the Mailpoint box on the VOA 1 and VOA 2 is completed at the time of referral so that the VOA know where to direct any e-mailed report. A full list of the Mailpoint addresses ( IHTM23118) can be found elsewhere in this manual.