No error codes in FIS but some when I try to submit

Have you got the latest version of FIS?

We've had that happen a few times. Sometimes it's things like new ULNs that can't be validated in DAS. We don't really use FIS to check for errors now, we just use SLD for error checking as it's easier, and always up to date. We just don't actually submit the file until it's clean. I know of a few providers do the same. We still use FIS weekly to create some SQL data for reports.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. Yes I am running the latest version of FIS. It was just weird as the learners that had errors against them are older ones, and have not had errors appear against them before - just appeared all of a sudden. The error code was the same for all of them - R121 (I hadn't put the 'to date' in the funding and monitoring box) - but like I said, it has only flagged it now, even though the learners completed months ago! Anyway, have cleared them now so they are now just appearing as Warnings as their actual end of learning date is past their planned programme end date. Thanks again for your help - it's slightly comforting to know there is a way to find answers outside of trawling through the technical guide. Jo

We encountered the exact same issue of suddenly triggering R121 errors at the point of submission on Wednesday last week (we were using the latest version of FIS (2425.9 v23) which did not highlight the error to us, nor has previous ILR submissions within SLD). The ESFA advised that they corrected the error between R08 and R09 so that it now triggers correctly. However, we did not see have any communication about this prior to R09, nor was this updated within FIS so we were completely blindsided. We did not have enough time to correct the error, and they have now triggered clawbacks of the completion payments, although they had advised that this should not affect completion payments already received in 24-25 and that we would be able to rectify in R10.

Thanks for sharing Helen - I hope it all reconciles in the next submission - that's brutal! I noticed the errors even though FIS wasn't showing them, because when I went to 'submit' it told me I had 7 errors, and did I want to still submit - so thought I should do some investigation and thankfully I did, as I was able to turn them in to warnings and resubmit within the deadline. Phew! 

Hi all,

Sucks this happened Helen - just wanted to confirm the College's I have worked for (4 total) we also use SLD as our error checking tool due to having similar experiences with the unreliability of FIS errors matching the SLD (ULN's, LSD Postcodes etc) 

In addition, we now always submit our final file at least 24 hours before the close to allow for any unforeseen circumstances such as sickness/absence or network issues etc. Once had a power-cut around 2/3pm of the submission day which added to much un-needed stress for the minimal differences in the ILR file..!

Joanna Trendall I'm pleased you were able to, Jo!

Ryan Wiseman Thanks for your helpful response, Ryan! Best endeavours mean we always aim for submission the day before the deadline, but inevitably a few issues crop up when compiling the return that mean investigations creep into the deadline day. We have never felt that SLD should be the error-checking tool as we've only ever seen 1 or 2 discrepancies between FIS and SLD in previous submissions and FIS as an ESFA-provided tool, should be in sync with SLD!

Thank you Ryan Wiseman and Helen Howitt - yes I will now be double checking the SLD page from now on! 

Our internal deadline is two days before submission deadline, but as you say, there can be unexpected issues. Even if not doing a final submission, and if you don't want to start using SLD as your main error checking tool, it's worth submitting an ILR on SLD a week before deadline just to see if anything crops up.

I don't know what MIS system you use Helen Howitt but in ProSolution you can bulk update all the ACT Date To records in one go to match the Achievement Date of each corresponding enrolment, it takes less than a minute 😊

Thanks Ruth Canham-James - this will absolutely form part of the submission process now. We use a different system but that's a useful tip regarding a bulk update as we do have some similar functionality that could be explored!