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AIBU?

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Original poster

I was unable to attend an interview for a job will UC sanction me?

167 replies

akdox · 27/02/2025 10:26

I set up the interview myself and told my work coach about it. I told him the job and it's at the council.

I was on the way to the interview but my daughter's school phoned and said she was unwell and needed picked up. I asked them to try her dad but he didn't answer. (I feel terrible she said she wasn't feeling too great this morning but with this interview I thought she'd pick up). So I've missed the interview

Is there a way UC would know? I only told them the date and what my interview was for and obviously at my local council. But there is tonnes of interviews all the time with the council

Will my UC be sanctioned?

OP posts:
RafaistheKingofClay · 27/02/2025 16:58

Eastie77Returns · 27/02/2025 14:30

OP won't be back. She is getting an unbelievably hard time and I think her mistake was mentioning UC. There seems to be a special level of disdain on MN reserved for people who claim benefits as evidenced by the ridiculous level of vitriol on this thread. A PP claimed her behaviour was 'disgusting' and other posters are behaving as if the OP has killed someone. She will be 'blacklisted forever' with the council. Oh the drama!

I'm sure the school had multiple candidates and will survive the OP not turning up. She's ONE candidate. It's really not that big of a deal. I've scheduled interviews for candidates in the past who didn't turn up. It's annoying but it's not the end of the world!

I think the mistake was not phoning the school rather than mentioning UC.

OTOH we have found all the parents who don’t pick their kids up from school when they are asked too.

Isobel201 · 27/02/2025 17:04

TheSnootiestFox · 27/02/2025 15:46

I don't understand? Have you quoted the wrong person?

Show quote history

Sorry I think I may have had.

BuildbyNumbere · 27/02/2025 17:09

akdox · 27/02/2025 10:38

@Freshflower there is no contact details other than the address of my interview. It's at a school I don't want to phone the school.

Why on earth not?

TheSnootiestFox · 27/02/2025 17:11

RafaistheKingofClay · 27/02/2025 16:58

I think the mistake was not phoning the school rather than mentioning UC.

OTOH we have found all the parents who don’t pick their kids up from school when they are asked too.

Show quote history

Yep, and all the ones that can behave professionally under pressure and not drop their colleagues/service users etc in it because they can't ascertain an emergency and don't understand that their career provides for their children.

The 'ones who don't....' OTOH, have found out exactly who their taxes are funding to pander to their child's every sniffle.

BuildbyNumbere · 27/02/2025 17:12

Probably didn’t want the job … happy to sit at home on UC, just arranged it to get them off her back for a while.

BuildbyNumbere · 27/02/2025 17:14

MiddleAgedDread · 27/02/2025 13:21

It's almost like you don't want to get a job!! It's not exactly difficult to find a school phone number, they have websites, click on the location in google maps and there's bound to be a phone number. Surely you remember being a kid and the school having an office and a receptionist?? You really need to grow up and act like an adult if you're going to join a workplace.

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She didn’t …

cait967 · 27/02/2025 17:20

CustardySergeant · 27/02/2025 13:57

How was the job interview at the council and at a school?

If it’s a dinner lady/ midday assistant it could be both. My mil was one for years technically she worked for the local council

Frugalgal · 27/02/2025 21:28

Jesus the level of vitriol and bitchiness on here. Has Mumsnet been invaded by the loony right wing set?

welshmercury · 27/02/2025 21:40

Some parents work over an hour away and can’t get back quickly. You should have called interview people. If they won’t give you email or contact details then that’s just weird

naemates · 27/02/2025 21:45

I work in recruitment for these kinds of jobs, and yeah for 50 suitable applicants we'll get maybe 10 willing to book an interview, 5 show up and 1 or 2 accept the job. It's mostly people pretending for UC reasons. TBH I blame the system more than the people, but it's such a waste of time and money, to pay me to participate in the charade.

So don't worry, they'll not be surprised you didn't show.

Niallig32839 · 27/02/2025 22:00

A lot of people don’t show for interviews and it’s annoying. If candidates get in touch generally I’m happy to reschedule. If I hear nothing less so. Life happens and I take into account things come up and plans change but takes no time to phone, email, text or some kind of communication. If you arranged the interview there must have been some communication from someone and some details confirmed the interview surely? Also UC do contact my company on occasion and ask about candidate interviews so it can happen that people are sanctioned as it can be looked into.

Best of luck finding the right job

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 27/02/2025 22:36

Sunbeam01 · 27/02/2025 12:28

@GreenSedan I'm sorry but if the school calls and requests you collect your child because they are ill. You collect your child.

You do not proceed to finish off the rest of your tasks first.

Unbelievable.

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Most people need money in order to prioritize their children and provide them the necessities.

gettingonfor40 · 27/02/2025 22:42

To answer your question: since UC didn't find the vacancy for you, it's unlikely that they'll check up. If they had found it for you, it would be a different matter. So you'll probably get away with saying you haven't heard back or whatever.

I saw a reply saying you had to add details of every job in your journal, but iirc you don't even have to use the journal to record jobsearch.

There's a similar discussion here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/1cmcp4h/how_does_universal_credit_know_if_youve_turned/

Reddit and Money Saving Expert are much better than Mumsnet for advice on benefits.

Sunbeam01 · 27/02/2025 23:01

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 27/02/2025 22:36

Most people need money in order to prioritize their children and provide them the necessities.

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@Princessconsuelabananahammock9 I agree. It's tough at the moment for a lot of people with the cost of living crisis. And it's hard trying to keep all plates spinning as working mothers.

MichaelandKirk · 28/02/2025 09:00

I dont think the OP will be back. Wonder what sort of role she is going for as she will find being worried or cannot be bothered will not bode well in any job she gets. This system needs a complete overhaul. it shouldnt be possible for someone to decide they dont want a job because the UC is enough for them so they game it to ensure that they arent offered any role.

Even if they were forced into an interview it would be very easy to put a prospective employer off with your answers. Job done.

Some people (and its an increasing larger % then we think) just dont want to work. The benefits are enough for them, they dont want a career, they think they are being clever here and if any cash in hand jobs come up even better!

We have nail bars and Turkish barbers galore in the nearest big town to us. Big home made signs saying CASH ONLY. Are they raided? Reviewed in the any way? The nail bar I pass on the way to work is full of people from Vietnam. Cash only of course. Why are these stores not closed down?

Penguinmouse · 28/02/2025 13:29

Frugalgal · 27/02/2025 21:28

Jesus the level of vitriol and bitchiness on here. Has Mumsnet been invaded by the loony right wing set?

Or maybe most posters just have a sense of decency that whether you are on Universal Credit or not, if you can’t attend a job interview, you call them to let them know rather than waste everyone’s time.

Hollybobs1 · 02/03/2025 10:07

You could've gone to the interview, and then picked your daughter up from school. It's all excuses.

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