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Original poster

surely, having no money for transport, is a valid reason to not be able to sign on tomorrow?

79 replies

Tortoise · 06/09/2011 16:37

I put £5 aside for tomorrow to get the train to go and sign on ( lone parent jsa). But checked earlier and only have £2 left on electric pre pay meter so I have had to put my last £5 on that.

So, phoned job centre to say I can't get in to sign on tomorrow only to be told it may not be considered a valid excuse (as she called it). And I wouldn't get my benefits until I can get there to sign on and I would most likely lose money.Sad

I've already have to do without much food yesterday day so that dc had enough to eat. No money until Thursday child tax credits.

OP posts:
Voidka · 06/09/2011 18:31

The trouble is you cant get it out of paypal that quick.

Voidka · 06/09/2011 18:31

Please let one of us help you Tortoise.

RandomMess · 06/09/2011 18:33

I just think having to spend £5 per fortnight to sign on when money is so tight is an awful lot in itself Shock

HappyMummyOfOne · 06/09/2011 18:33

"Oh HappyMummy. I do hope nothing ever happens to burst your utopian bubble and you end up in a situation where you are on your arse"

Voidka, my post was in relation to Alices blaming this on the governments. Anyone can run out of money, blaming it on the state in this case was wrong and I'm entitled to say that just as you are entitled to post.

SuePurblybilt · 06/09/2011 18:37

I can't get to Somerset, no Sad. I also cannot do online banking but I hope you do accept help from someone.

Original poster
Tortoise · 06/09/2011 18:37

Thank you for offers. I just had a thought. If kids bank account bank is open early enough I could probably get some money out of one of their accounts and put it back Thursday.

OP posts:
aliceliddell · 06/09/2011 18:42

Yes, HappyMummy anyone can run out of money but it is often found to be more likely if you're on JSA in a recession with 2 kids and new school shoes to buy, than if you're one of the dozen or so millionaires in the current Cabinet who were orevious members of the Bullingdon club and who know nothing of OP's situation and care even less.

RandomMess · 06/09/2011 18:42

yeah, go for it. Can you ring and tell them you may be late due to having to wait until bank open?

Go on line and see if you can find out what time it opens?

Original poster
Tortoise · 06/09/2011 18:47

Sure it opens at 9.30 on Wednesdays. Train normally at 10 (will check that lol). About 1 mile walk from bank to train station! Used to walking that though as station is just down the road from my house. So should make it.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 06/09/2011 18:48

Grin fantastic.

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 06/09/2011 18:50

DO you have parents, friends or a partner nearby who could just lend you a fiver? I'd be mortified if a friend didn't ask me for such a simple but important thing. They won't mind at all, that'd barely cover my weekly chocolate spend Blush

Original poster
Tortoise · 06/09/2011 18:52

Fuckity (lol) Parents broke and living in Turkey! Would rather borrow from kids than friends. I am rubbish at asking for help.
Partner is very new so would feel terrible asking him. I did txt and drop hints lol! Just can't ask outright.

OP posts:
fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 06/09/2011 18:54

But people aren't mindreaders. Trust me I've learned this the hard way. It took me more than 6 months to ask my dp to pick up a pint of milk. People who care about you will WANT to help.

schroeder · 06/09/2011 18:56

Oh good glad to hear you have found a solution, I am stupid and forgot that paypal goes in quick, but takes days to take out. [idiot]

Gluttondressedaslamb · 06/09/2011 19:02

Try to borrow the money to get there. My son is on JSA, and he missed signing on because he was at a job interview. His local Jobcentre refused him his allowance so he had to go to the regional one 15 miles away to sort it out. He got his money but not the job :(
Its a real pain if you dont go - there must be someone you could borrow from?

booyhoo · 06/09/2011 19:06

glutton i'm really shocked atthat!! surely being on a job interview is a perfectly valid reason for missing your JSA appointment. they can hardly hold his job seeking allowance of him for actually seeking a job!!

Original poster
Tortoise · 06/09/2011 19:13

Glutton that's terrible. That should be a valid reason for not going.
Got a headache now. Probably tension headache. Had 2 pieces of toast for tea. Now worrying there isn't enough to last until Thursday! It was crap cheap bread too and not very tasty lol!

OP posts:
TheOriginalNutcracker · 06/09/2011 19:14

The whole thing of having to sign on every 2 weeks is ridiculous anyway, especially as they don't even check that you applied for any of the jobs you've written down or anything else. Total waste of time.

booyhoo · 06/09/2011 19:24

tortoise, is it possible to take enough out of thedcs account tomorrow to get your self a decent meal, andsome more bread milk etc? you need to keep all the right levels of evrything up.

Original poster
Tortoise · 06/09/2011 19:33

Bought bread and milk this morning. Made biscuits yesterday which was about all Ive eaten today! Rather yummy lol. Also got jam and reduced multi pack crisps for dc.
I need to lose weight anyway Grin. Although homemade biscuits won't help that!

OP posts:
LittleWhiteWolf · 06/09/2011 19:40

Thats great Tortoise, now that you've thought of an option. Are they expecting you at a set time? Will you need to ring them to warn you might be a bit late?

Original poster
Tortoise · 06/09/2011 19:44

Have to be there at 11.40. Guess I don't have to let them know I will now be turning up.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 07/09/2011 08:24

Glad you've found the money. For the future, you'll have to make sure you have the bus fare set aside somewhere safe. If your income depends on getting to that appointment your bus-fare is the most important item in your budget. If you're struggling to make ends meet, make sure you are claiming all the benefits to which you are entiteld by running this Benefits Checker and ask the people at the Job Centre if they can offer any additional help. Also tell your boyfriend that you're struggling.... if he wants to buy you a few groceries or but some money in the electric meter, don't stand in his way.

Gay40 · 07/09/2011 08:33

I would definitely ask about postal signing.

SansaLannister · 07/09/2011 08:36

It's 20 miles in some areas, for postal sign on. Check with the centre today.

But yeah, no sign on, no £££.

As for having a job interview at the same time, you need to show them the letter with the interview time for them to re-arrange the sign on.

This happened to a friend of mine and she emailed her MP when they got arsey.

She did get the job, though Smile