merton council discrimination - have just fired off a complaint.

Anthillmob

ive just spent 2 hours at the council waiting to see someone about re-housing (only got a one bed need a 2) only to be given a form and told to bring it back. i asked if she could fill the form out for me because of my hands and she said no as they dont fill out forms for anyone and theyre too busy.

its disgraceful!

my email :

To whom it may concern

This morning I spent 2 hours waiting to be seen by somebody in housing with regards to being moved from my current council accommodation. Ticket number 79.

Whilst I appreciate that you were very busy today with only ONE member of staff dealing with the public I feel I have to complain for two reasons :

1. I asked if the lady who I saw could fill the form out for me as I have arthritis in my hands (am registered disabled) and she said no she couldn't and that Merton Council do not fill out forms for the public. Can I ask why? I work for the London Borough of Sutton and if a claimant requests help with filling out a form then we will fill out the form for them. Surely by not filling out forms you are discriminating against people with disabilities/learning difficulties/the elderly/etc.

2. Having been given the form I asked if i could have got one from reception to which i was informed yes. Why is it then that when I popped in on Monday to ask for a form I was told by reception staff that I needed to come back and see someone as i wouldn't have to fill out any forms.

I trust you will take these comments on board and act on them accordingly. I look forward to a reply.

Regards

Gemma *****

nearlyrich

Then they wonder why people have no sympathy when thy go on strike.

Many of them have no idea how to work with people, you were just a number remember (ticket no 79)

They get a bit of power and they think they are GOD!

Anthillmob

unison wrote and asked me to strike on tuesday. im on m/l so was quite suprised by this!

shellsuit

I asked if the lady who I saw could fill the form out for me as I have arthritis in my hands (am registered disabled) and she said no she couldn't and that Merton Council do not fill out forms for the public. Can I ask why? I work for the London Borough of Sutton and if a claimant requests help with filling out a form then we will fill out the form for them

Now don't take this the wrong way because I'm with you on this - just that if I received this email a couple of things would confuse me.

If you have arthritis in your hands, how did you type the email?

If you work for X and someone needed help with a form filling in and you say you would help them, how could you if you can't fill your own form in?

The above isn't meant to be nasty or harsh in any way, but you contradict yourself in those points, so I would scrap them or change the wording (thats if you haven't already sent it! )

crazy_guy

shellnsteve wrote:

Now don't take this the wrong way because I'm with you on this - just that if I received this email a couple of things would confuse me.

If you have arthritis in your hands, how did you type the email?

If you work for X and someone needed help with a form filling in and you say you would help them, how could you if you can't fill your own form in?

The above isn't meant to be nasty or harsh in any way, but you contradict yourself in those points, so I would scrap them or change the wording (thats if you haven't already sent it! )

I believe the "We would help them fill it out" meant the council she works at, not her personally. :rolleyes:

IvanOpinion

Would you not be better getting your housing issues sorted first before sending a letter of complaint

Ivan

Anthillmob

If you have arthritis in your hands, how did you type the email?

very carefully lol. its far easier for me to type than hold a pen. anyways all they know i could have voice recognition software or something. and at work i dont get asked to fill in forms because im not frontline staff but i was just saying what customer services have to do.

Poppy9

Anthillmob, if you are a member of Unison contact them and ask to speak to the Welfare Officer. All branches have one and they will help you with any form filling, housing needs etc. A colleague, who was living with parents and was registered disabled was given assistance in obtaining a brand new 1 bed flat.

The welfare officer should also be able to advise you on any number of matters including assessing your entitlement to benefits.

electron_3

Im pretty sure that on the housing forms where the delcaration is they have a box
asking whether the form was filled out by someone else.

Anthillmob

electron wrote:

Im pretty sure that on the housing forms where the delcaration is they have a box
asking whether the form was filled out by someone else.

they do. even the form she gave me does.

Anthillmob

well i got a reply. from my COUSIN!!!! i knew she was a team leader for housing but i never knew she replied to the complaint emails. lol

Dear Ms *****

Thank you for your recent E-mail regarding the problems you experienced when
you came and saw a Duty Officer on the 30th of March.

I am sorry that you had to wait such a long period to see a member of my
team, in order to collect an application form. Unfortunately, we were very
busy last week and only had two members of staff available at the end of the
week, which did mean some of our customers had to wait a long time for an
interview.

I have spoken to ******** ,the Manager of Merton Link
Reception and asked her to remind her staff that anyone coming in can
collect a number of forms from reception, to prevent customers having to
wait such a long time to see one of my team. ********** will also be
replying to the points you have raised.

I have spoken to the Officer who interviewed you, *******, and she has
advised me that she asked whether you could get a friend to help you to
complete the form to prevent more delay for other customers. I am sorry that
she did not query whether someone was available to do so. I have asked her
to make sure in future that all customers are offered assistance, if they
request it, as other members of the Housing Needs Team who cannot carry out
interviews would be able to help complete an application form.

Once again I apologise for the delay you experienced. If you need any
additional information please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Yours sincerely