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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Problem at the chemist

39 replies

Flowerpower41 · 12/09/2015 06:02

I have been going to the same chemist for over 7 years since I moved to this current address. The lady in question (a member of staff) knows my face and must surely recognise me each time I go in there.

I picked up my routine prescription (blood pressure tablets and mild anxiety tablets as I am borderline Asperger's) yesterday or the day before not sure when and I routinely handed over my Child Tax Credit exemption card as I don't have to pay for prescriptions.

I have been self-employed for nearly 5 years. Prior to that I worked 8 months in an office. Prior to that the early years of ds's life I funded our everday expenses by selling a second property.

I could have sworn she wrote down on the exemption certificate sheet 'Job Seekers Allowance' on it - why is society so misguided and prejudiced about single parents does it not occur to her I might be working and leading a productive useful life and paying my way.....? Why is she so grossly misinformed I wonder?

Should I have said something?

Does she not know in her work capacity that there are many many women out there as working single parents and we aren't all benefit layabouts with no qualifications. Apologies to anyone reading this thread who is on benefits and not currently able to work for any reason - I am sure you have your reasons - but the media hype about single parents is ridiculous!

I feel I really must challenge her now should that happen on a future occasion.

OP posts:
Fatfreefaff · 12/09/2015 06:07

I prepay my prescriptions using a 'season ticket', DH has diabetes donnas free prescriptions. Both of us fill in the back of the slip and have never been asked for ID. Why don't you fill it in yourself. Maybe she just ticked the wrong box. You really are overthinking it.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 12/09/2015 06:11

You're assuming she thinks anyone on job seekers is a layabout by her ticking a box ? In the nicest way you're attaching too much meaning to what is a routine job for her . Fill it yourself .

CrohnicallyAspie · 12/09/2015 07:02

There isn't a box on the prescription sheet for JSA, is there? I thought it all went under 'exemption card'. And I thought it just went on the back of the prescription sheet. Are you sure whatever she was writing elsewhere was related to you?

I have a prepayment card and always fill that bit out myself, I don't want to take the risk of them putting the wrong box and me getting in trouble for it.

Thebirdsneedseeds · 12/09/2015 07:22

Grossly misinformed? That's a real stretch. She hasn't said anything to you but you seem really cross. You are projecting your insecurities and this lady appears to be your scapegoat. You have no idea what her opinions are on single mums, working mums, stay at home mums, mums on benefits, rich mums, poor mums. I don't think you need to challenge her, I think you need to get some perspective. She's giving you a prescription, not judging you at the pearly gates.

SoupDragon · 12/09/2015 07:25

Don't you just tick a box on the back of the prescription yourself and sign it? Confused

Thebirdsneedseeds · 12/09/2015 07:27

Oh and for the record...I think YABU.

londonrach · 12/09/2015 07:29

Yabu. Sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder. Its a box. It needed ticking. Do it yourself next time.

goawayalready · 12/09/2015 07:31

there is a box on the back for jsa

InimitableJeeves · 12/09/2015 07:34

Why would ticking the box for JSA mean that she assumed you were a single parent, let alone that you were a benefit layabout? There isn't a logical connection.

CrohnicallyAspie · 12/09/2015 07:45

Oh yes, the box for JSA is right next to the tax credits one. Maybe it was a genuine mistake?

I suggest in future you tick it yourself and/or make sure the right box is ticked before signing.

ChickenTikkaMassala · 12/09/2015 07:47

You sound very insecure OP, next time just tick the correct box yourself.

NerrSnerr · 12/09/2015 07:51

I don't understand what being a single parent has to do with it? How could she know? Why would she care? I bet she ticked huge wrong box.

NerrSnerr · 12/09/2015 07:51

I think she ticked the wrong box, I don't think the boxes are huge!

yeOldeTrout · 12/09/2015 08:00

Is everyone on JSA a benefits layabout without qualifications? Biscuit

Lostlight · 12/09/2015 08:08

Why can't you tick the box yourself?

ceyes03 · 12/09/2015 08:10

Jesus wept, are you such a special snowflake that you don't think you should have to fill in your own prescriptions? Do it yourself!

Birdsgottafly · 12/09/2015 08:18

Do you have the misguided idea that just because someone is claiming JS (or any other benefit) they are not leading a "productive and useful" life?

Your whole post screams "how dare she put me in the category of claiming benefits", you need to work on your own preconceived ideas and fill in your prescription yourself.

XCChamps · 12/09/2015 08:20

Surely some on JSA is a job seeker, rather than a single mum staying at home on benefits for as long as the system will allow her?

You're projecting OP and your own attitudes, rather than hers are coming to the fore.

GeneParmesan · 12/09/2015 08:21

She probably just made a mistake. She might remember your face but it's harder to memorise everyone's exemptions.

Original poster
Flowerpower41 · 12/09/2015 10:46

The lady wrote Job Seekers Allowance in ink - or it was already on the back of the exemption sheet - since I could see it there handwritten.

I always tick it myself and sign and always have to show the card too. Not sure why I saw that handwritten this time.

I think it was an innocent mistake.

It is almost impossible to live a life as a single parent without being subjected to endless assumptions and prejudices that abound in society about us however! Until somebody actually has to become one nobody would ever know how it really is.

Thank you all for your input however.

OP posts:
CrohnicallyAspie · 12/09/2015 10:48

What exemption sheet are you referring to? I have only ever seen or needed to fill out the back of the prescription form, I've never seen a separate sheet with the reason for exemption.

definiteissues · 12/09/2015 10:52

I'm a single parent. I "know how hard it is."

I don't act like a twunt because of someone doing their job.

You are projecting your own feelings and making yourself sound like a judgemental pita

Have a Biscuit

TiredButFineODFOJ · 12/09/2015 10:59

I have to say, you are taking this really personally and I don't think it is actually something aimed at you.
Most Exemptions are for JSA, I worked in a chemist and you are forever ticking and writing that. She may easily have been on "auto-pilot" and just wrote it as that's what she usually writes for the majority of exemptions.
You are entitled to the free prescription, so if it's wrong, and it's checked and queried, it will be uncovered as a mistake.
I don't think it's a "judgement" or stereotype about you, and I don't think you will be pulled up over it.

Supermanspants · 12/09/2015 11:07

It is almost impossible to live a life as a single parent without being subjected to endless assumptions and prejudices that abound in society about us however! Until somebody actually has to become one nobody would ever know how it really is

All that because someone ticked the wrong box???? Confused

definiteissues · 12/09/2015 11:10

Sounds likely that the majority of judgements that are aimed at the OP happen only in her head Grin