Is the Jobcentre useless?

Smudge310

Hi,

Is it just me or is the jobcentre and the whole process useless!!?

I was employed as a Construction Design Manager for 2.5 years on a large scheme, when that came to an end all the staff were made redundant due to the lack of new work.

I registered with the Jobcentre Plus on the 10th March and find the whole process pointless. Although I am looking for work, making phonecalls, looking online, reading papers and visiting companies there is really nothing in the construction industry at the moment.

The thing is when I go to the jobcentre to sign on they dont offer any help at all. I had a few forms to fill in (B16) for my wife as she works part-time, but is self employed and these forms are not set up for this kind of work. When I asked for help filling in the forms and explain her situation, they just looked at me and replied "just fill in the forms" Argh!! Thats the problem!

I know its only been 6 weeks, but they dont seem to care, it all seems like they just want you to sign on the dotted line to become another statistic.

To top it all I phoned them up today to find out where my payment were as I haven't been paid anything yet and I was told that my claim has been closed! They sent a letter out to say they cannot pay my allowance from the 10th March as they haven't got all the information (my wife's B16) which was in the post to them and they now have. My point is they never told me my claim is closed and never informed me that there was a cut off date for the information and if it wasn't received in that time my claim would be closed.

I have now sent a letter to them to reconsider opening my claim as they now have all the information, but I had to phone up to get told this. Whhen I went into he jobcentre last Thursday to sign on, the lady behind the desk told me that they now have all the information they need. She didn't tell me my claim is closed though :mad:

Has anybody else had the same amount of fun with the jobcentre, or is it just me?

Cheers

Rich

whiteroom184

hi rich

yes i agree the job centre is set to make you endure pointless forms, countless unanswered phonecalls and to stengthen red tape. I think the whole job centre plus needs overhauling.

Like you i am a skilled proffesional who has been made redundant and the services they offer are inadequate. for instance when i had my consultation and job search with an officer they searched jobs going back 3 months and asked me to apply for some more than 2 months old! we all know these jobs do not exist 2 months on. as for forms see my other thread on this http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1613767

i really dont see the point in the services they offer at all

mountainofdebt

Smudge310 wrote: »

Hi,

Is it just me or is the jobcentre and the whole process useless!!?

I was employed as a Construction Design Manager for 2.5 years on a large scheme, when that came to an end all the staff were made redundant due to the lack of new work.

I registered with the Jobcentre Plus on the 10th March and find the whole process pointless. Although I am looking for work, making phonecalls, looking online, reading papers and visiting companies there is really nothing in the construction industry at the moment.

The thing is when I go to the jobcentre to sign on they dont offer any help at all. I had a few forms to fill in (B16) for my wife as she works part-time, but is self employed and these forms are not set up for this kind of work. When I asked for help filling in the forms and explain her situation, they just looked at me and replied "just fill in the forms" Argh!! Thats the problem!

I know its only been 6 weeks, but they dont seem to care, it all seems like they just want you to sign on the dotted line to become another statistic.

To top it all I phoned them up today to find out where my payment were as I haven't been paid anything yet and I was told that my claim has been closed! They sent a letter out to say they cannot pay my allowance from the 10th March as they haven't got all the information (my wife's B16) which was in the post to them and they now have. My point is they never told me my claim is closed and never informed me that there was a cut off date for the information and if it wasn't received in that time my claim would be closed.

I have now sent a letter to them to reconsider opening my claim as they now have all the information, but I had to phone up to get told this. Whhen I went into he jobcentre last Thursday to sign on, the lady behind the desk told me that they now have all the information they need. She didn't tell me my claim is closed though :mad:

Has anybody else had the same amount of fun with the jobcentre, or is it just me?

Cheers

Rich

No its not you - it seems that all the jobcentre is good for is to paper push .....and I'm sorry of that offends anyone but I have yet to see anyone in that place do anything constructive.

As for your claim I would ring and ask what the compliant proceedure is .....my claim has been badly handled (which they admitted today) and after being told that my claim was closed yesterday they have now agreed to make the first payment (after 7 weeks) today - whether they actually will or not is another matter!

I also object to having to ring an 0845 number but that's another moan!

sinister_nutmeg

yes, I'm afraid we have had very similar experiences. The (really very nice) people at our Jobcentre don't seem to consider the possibility that anyone would want help getting work, and are only interested in ticking the right boxes to claim benefits. I get the distinct impression that they are kept in the dark as much as 'clients' as to the way to get unusual(ish) information through the system - your wife's experience sounds very similar to mine, except my 'problem' is voluntary work, not self-employment! All in all it's pretty depressing.

smirkyguy

My jobcentre is pretty bad and I find the whole signing on process more stressful than going for interviews. I'm not sure the staff are really aware of how people like me are feeling when we go in to see them.

Last week I was sat in front of an advisor who, once again, didn't bother to read my list of applications. He then proceeds to call out to his colleague (I assumed she was taking a break) and she wanders over for a chat. This went on for several minutes and I couldn't believe that they were having a private conversation in front of me like that. I noticed another staff member watching with interest and I gave him a shrug as if to say 'what's going on here?'. Next thing you know, he's walked over and is joining in with the banter! I couldn't wait to get out of there!!! :mad:

Smudge310

Many thanks for your replies. Its not just me then....

Oh well.... on with the search.....

wishface

Yes.

Is the simple answer.

They don't help at all.

coolio_2

On the plus side, they're total inability to be any help, the 3 security guards you have to go past just to get through the front door, and the staff who are ill equipped to even know where to start to help you, is great motivation to find a job.

I was in the same predicament 5 years ago and ended up having to be interviewed and give a statement after lodging a complaint as one advisor pressurised me into comitting benefit fraud to save on her paperwork, then proceeded to get my telephone no of the system and call me at home to harrass me. Oh and she asked me to bring back a suitcase of fags for her from the US.

When my partner was recently unemployed the lady who did the interviewing when first registered was asking all sorts of inapproriate questions and taking personal notes for her daughter...how much per hour, what exams to do, which agencies to register with, any contacts, etc. That initial interview took 90mins. Luckily they were back in work 2 weeks later.

Horace

They are all the same unfortunately. I have to visit mine on 28 April - it will be the first time I have set foot in the place for 6 months:j and it will be the last:j Guess you could call me one of the lucky ones - I have been doing New Deal for self employment (got on to it because I am disabled) and I have made a decision to continue with the business and claim working tax credits instead. They simply have no idea what they are doing - I got myself onto the New Deal thing because my advisor said I was on it when in fact I wasnt and she didnt even know which forms had to be completed (she was advised by the local chamber of commerce what forms had to be completed). I have actually been signing at the chamber so therefore no need to venture into the jobcentre.

I always thought it was funny that the security guards would ask what I was doing - needless to say they always got a silly answer, I mean what did they think I was doing going in there as if they get passersby popping in for a natter and to read their newspapers (which didnt contain job adverts only escort services etc:eek:).

They are ill equipped to deal with professional people but its ok if you have loads of babies because they are falling over themselves to give you money and help you stay on benefits (sorry if this offends but I have found that if you have kids you get more help - I wasnt able to have kids).

Dave101t

i agree, all the jobs were menial when i went there. they pretty much ignore anyone with real qualifications. lucky i was there for a lark only.

Sues48

OP, I'm sorry you've had a bad experience but I do not think it's fair to say that all jobcentre staff are rubbish, I'm a New deal adviser and try my hardest to help my customers. The trouble is we are under resourced, poorly trained and the computer systems are not up to the job in hand, none of which we have any control over. A whole new raft of changes came in from the 6th of April and the only training I have received is e learning which I had to complete at my desk in the public area between interviews in bursts of 15 or 20 minutes, not exactly an ideal learning environment. Today have have seen 15 different people and with the best will in the world there is only so much we can do in the limited time available.
I will agree that we are not giving a lot of our customers the service they deserve but that is not down to the jobcentre staff it's down to the government, so please feel free to write to your MP and complain, perhaps if enough people do we may get some changes, but somehow I think not.