Why can't the IT department

[peugeot]

Just get the forums working with one address. Surely that can't be difficult.

These forums are just complete crap now and are so confusing as well as frustrating. Posts are going missing, students/members don't know when they have replies and email alerts are a thing in the way distant past.

It's quite a while until 30th November.

[Baggybooks]

Not only is it a long time until the 30th, but this is potentially one of the busiest times on the forum - or it used to be.

I doubt if any students with serious revision problems would post a query on here, or the other forum, or indeed the 3rd version.

[peugeot]

I know they weren't perfect before but they were somewhat manageable. Now they are just completely useless.

I think the AAT should withdraw these forums completely until they work properly.

What do others think?

[Baggybooks]

I can't imagine the anguish of posting an important question and then feeling that you are being ignored.

Regular users may be aware of the problems, but what if you are new to the forum?

It gives the impression that other students and members can't be bothered to reply.

[peugeot]

I can understand that the IT department are probably as frustrated as the users here because of the hassle they have been getting.

I know from my discussions with Mark who is the administrator of the accountancy students website, that changing a forum sometimes cannot happen overnight. Now, I don't profess to be an IT whizz but I do know that the accountancy students website is going to be changing, but the work has been ongoing for a few months.

I don't doubt this is the case with the AAT website.

I, too, have sent emails to Anna Hillier and she has always replied and I do believe that - despite members opinions of the IT department on here - that they are working on this problem.

Conversely, the site does seem to undergo major overhauls just before (or during) examination time. I agree 30th November is getting too near to exam time, but I would be very surprised if lessons weren't learnt from the fiasco in June.

I know that some students feel ignored (which is understandable) and I do think the forums should be withdrawn and a link posted to the accountancy students website, where they have a dedicated area for AAT students at all levels. The members could post their queries on there as well.

I just think that withdrawing the forums whilst they are being upgraded wouldn't cause too much upheavel because at the moment they do not serve the purpose for which they are intended.

As I have said above, I don't, for one minute, think the IT department have purposely ignored this problem and I do believe there are genuine reasons why it has taken so long - but students and members should feel they are getting a good service and if that means withdrawing the forums and posting a link to another forum in the meantime, then that should be the next stage before the new forums go live.

Kind regards
Steve

[farmergiles]

Well said, Steve. Completely agree with you.

[peugeot]

I did start this thread quite frustrated because of the problems on here, but, realistically, I suppose the new forums have to be tested to ensure they work correctly - I have no idea how long that would take, but I suppose there are all sorts of tests they have to do. I don't doubt IT can be extremely technical and long-winded.

The existing forums have not worked properly for over 12 months so I think the IT department might be making sure all i's are dotted and all t's are crossed before they do go live to ensure they don't come under fire from the forum members.

I am cutting the IT department some slack here because I do believe there are genuine reasons. Don't get me wrong, I feel as frustrated as everyone else that posts are going missing, queries aren't being answers etc etc. but if we take a step back and look at the positives, I think they are working on a solution and we have to go along with that. Some people could (rightly or wrongly) argue that is has taken far too long.

I will wait to see what the AAT's response is to my suggestion about withdrawing the forum until their works are complete.

Best regards
Steve

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