Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To make a complaint about DWP

66 replies

DWPeedOff · 14/08/2012 20:15

I'm absolutely rubbish at complaining! In person I get all red and mumbly, in writing I get carried away and completely lose the point. I need help of the MN type, curt and to the point.

I'm unemployed right now and claiming contributions based Jobseekers (DH works FT). We have two small children. I'm looking for work and I've had a few interviews but no job offers as yet. I was signing on at 3:30 every Monday which was fine.

DWP have now, for whatever reason, switched my sign on time to 12:30 from the end of the month. I've explained that this is no good. DC1 is at nursery and it doesn't finish until 12, I don't drive so I'd need to go straight for the bus after doing the nursery pick up. The bus is at 12:40 so I'd be late for the sign on slot before I even got there.

The DWP lady went away, came back and offered me 1pm. I again explained that this was still no good. I can get there for 1pm but it would still mean getting the bus straight after picking DC1 up from nursery. I'd get to their office for 1pm (with running from the bus stop!) and sign but when am I supposed to feed the DCs their lunch? There are no food type places near the office, a packed lunch at the bus stop isn't ideal but could be done on a dry day, when it's raining or cold that's not an option though and youngest is only 10mo, has health issues and refuses to eat while in the pushchair no matter how hungry. I told them that in all practicality I can't make it for 1pm and gave them the reasons. I asked if I could have a 2pm slot instead or a 10:30am one or if I could come on any other day of the week.

Their response: "if you had a job you'd have to be there on time and on the set day no matter what your reasons". If I had an effing job the children would be in childcare and all of this would be a non-issue. They've said I'll have to come for 12:30 next week and that all I can do is keep asking for a different time slot because as people sign off their time slots will become available and one of those might be a better fit. In the meantime though I'm stuck with a time slot that's not feasible. I don't even know why they've changed my existing time slot as it was ideal.

They wouldn't let me speak to a manager but they gave me a leaflet with a complaints address. AIBU to make a complaint? Is it even going to make a difference? I'm scouring their customer charter to see if there's anything in it that says they have to take any of this into consideration!

OP posts:
WildWorld2004 · 14/08/2012 22:07

Id rather be out looking for work than sat doing nothing at the Jobcentre. You cant find work at the jobcentre.

WorraLiberty · 14/08/2012 22:08

The thing is, the JC has accommodated the OP.

They obviously understand that you can't muck about with the hours given to you in a school nursery, so they've given her the 1pm slot and that's completely doable.

All she has to do is bring a sandwich for her child to eat on the bus.

WorraLiberty · 14/08/2012 22:09

You cant find work at the jobcentre

Grin Grin Grin Sorry but that's literally made me spit my drink out...I mean I'm not just saying that...I really spat it Grin

TheDreadedFoosa · 14/08/2012 22:09

I really wanted to say yanbu, really did cos i think posters on benefits often get bashed for very weak reasons, its just an excuseto kick someone when they're down.

BUT

This is really a non-problem, you can get there after nursery, the only issue is lunch. And i think youd have to be really grasping at straws to not find a very simple solution to that.

WildWorld2004 · 14/08/2012 22:11

Have you ever searched for a job through the jobcentre? There is nothing. The majority of the jobs that are available are not advertised through the jobcentre.

carernotasaint · 14/08/2012 22:11

OP check out the Channel 4 website for this weeks Dispatches episode. They gave it the misleading title of Tricks of the Dole Cheats. Its not what you think......its an expose of ridiculous situations like yours which you will see if you watch the WHOLE programme. Channel 4 website has been inundated with comments. If i were you id be putting my complaint on there.

ilovesooty · 14/08/2012 22:13

Over 85% of jobs are filled without being advertised at all.

NowThenWreck · 14/08/2012 22:17

YANBU . Complain, and you might get a better slot. Nothing to lose by it anyway.
Please can the " they are paying you poster note that OP is getting contribution based jobseekers. She has already paid for this herself.
If you cant get a different slot, then you will have to bring food with you. It's really no odds to them what time you sign on. They are just being arsey for the sake of it.
And if she had a job, she would be getting actual wages, and be able to pay for childcare.

WildWorld2004 · 14/08/2012 22:17

Ilovesooty exactly so im not going to find a full time job sitting at the jobcentre. Thats why 20 minutes is a long time to me. Id rather spend that time sending CVs, visiting & phoning employers, filling out job application forms.

NowThenWreck · 14/08/2012 22:18

And yes, I have never in my life managed to find a job at the jobcentre. They are pretty useless.

JeezyPeeps · 14/08/2012 22:26

NowThenWreck, regardless of what type of JSA it is, in order to receive it there are certain (not unreasonable) conditions that have to be met. They won't pay out if those conditions aren't met.

Showing that you are available for work by signing on once a week or once a fortnight shouldn't be a big deal, and they have changed the time to make it workable.

Some people locally need to spend hours away from home in order to sign on as the public transport isn't good. Either that or try hitching a lift and hope for the best!

TellyBug · 14/08/2012 22:31

YABU. Sorry.

Adapt or die.

mumnotmachine · 14/08/2012 22:33

Why are you signing every week?
Most people sign fortnightly?

Socknickingpixie · 14/08/2012 22:34

mumnot they can require you to sign on every week day if they want

mumnotmachine · 14/08/2012 22:35

And is its normal nursery are they not on school holidays?

WorraLiberty · 14/08/2012 22:36

OP says the signing on time changes at the end of the month...so just in time for school.

cocobongo · 14/08/2012 23:46

Lots of empathetic people on here today..... Hmm

Sounds as though it will be a nightmare- and for those saying it is 20 mins, that is of course excluding the travel time there and back. And the stress and hassle of dealing with tired and hungry children who don't want to shove a sandwich down their throat while sitting in a busy job centre.

OP, could you put in a request in writing rather than write a complaint? I suspect that they will say they have been flexible in changing the time to 1pm, even though that still doesn't really suit.

CelticOlympian · 14/08/2012 23:53

I think YANBU. Complain!

Ridiculous to say OP is not available for work because of this. Should she perhaps have the children in childcare all day just in case a job comes up? Should she pay them with fresh air?

And YANBU to say you can't find a job at the Jobcentre. I signed on once looking for work as a paralegal/trainee solicitor. They asked me to go to an interview as a bouncer. Hmm I was only on their books for a fortnight thankfully as I was doing my own looking elsewhere.

carernotasaint · 14/08/2012 23:59

They dont actually allow ANYONE to eat in the Job Centre. Certain people on this thread need to know that.

ddubsgirl · 15/08/2012 00:05

do you have another parent that could pick you lo up on a monday?

JeezyPeeps · 15/08/2012 07:07

I think people are misreading posts! The not available for work was aimed at someone who was saying they were working, taking two courses and a single parent so they didn't have 20 minutes to spare - that was not at the op!

BlackholesAndRevelations · 15/08/2012 07:20

Absurd to think your life is too busy to turn up to receive your benefits. Some people think the world owes them. By the way I'm NOT referring to the OP, just to the poster who said her life is too busy to go to job centre for 20 mins.

Incidentally, to that poster: what do you mean, you're busy working? Surely if you're claiming JSA that means you're seeking a job, not that you already have one...

limitedperiodonly · 15/08/2012 09:18

YANBU.

They're trying to remove you from the register to make the unemployment figures look better.

It distresses me that these threads attract people who parrot: 'Well, if you were serious about looking for a job...'

If you had a job you would be able to afford childcare. It's also not unheard-of for employers to be flexible.

You should make a formal complaint in writing to the Jobcentreplus manager and also to the DWP about your situation and her poor handling of it.

It is her job to deal with you. It is quite ironic that she's taking money for not doing her job.

Jobscentre managers particularly hate online complaints and they get taken quite seriously according to an advisor I met.

Sorry, but I don't know the correct procedure, but I'll try to check it today and come back.

limitedperiodonly · 15/08/2012 09:41

That weaselly cunt Duncan Smith is on Sky right now being allowed to claim that last month's fall of 5,900 people claiming JSA means that employment is rising.

It's not the same and he knows it.

Shame the Sky presenter appears not to.

BitchyHen · 15/08/2012 09:41

Last year I had to claim JSA as I was not working enough hours to be elligible for Working Tax Credits. When I went to my first appointment I explained that I worked 12 hours a week as a cleaner and lunchtime supervisor - I was given a sign on time of 12.30.

The advisor told me that they weren't allowed to change the time, but I could come in early to sign on. Would you be able to do this op?

Another option might be if you are a lone parent, you can see a lone parent advisor and sign on at the same time. You can usually make an appointment at a time that is more convenient for you.

Swipe left for the next trending thread