job centre staff-how do i complain

bee78

I am looking to complain about Job centre staffs in my area.All of them seem to be giving different information to a perfectly simple question.How do i go about making this known,how could i make a complaint.:mad:

thanks

GotToChange

Chances are that they will direct you to a leaflet dotted around the place; it is called "Tell us what you think". You are advised to ring, write or email- although I should imagine all "complaint" email is directed into one big spam folder.

(Cynical? Me?)

Are you going to give us a bit of background?

busy_mom_2

Complete the 'tell us what you think' form, keep a copy. You will get a formal reply within 5 days to say your complaint is being looked at then a full reply after that once they have investigated.

There is no e-mail and no spam.

Whats the complaint, i like to be nosy!

PasturesNew

*nosey mode* ... what's the question?

GotToChange

busy_mom wrote: »

Complete the 'tell us what you think' form, keep a copy. You will get a formal reply within 5 days to say your complaint is being looked at then a full reply after that once they have investigated.

There is no e-mail and no spam.

Whats the complaint, i like to be nosy!

Sorry to be picky - and I (think that I) know you work for the DWP - but,

"How to give us your comments
You can phone..............
The phone number............
You can also............
................
...Or you can write a letter and post it, e-mail it, fax it or hand it in to us."

Lifted from "Tell us what you think" *- Page 6.

I was being cynical about the spam folder, sorry. Nevertheless, e-mail is "offered" as an option - which is usually the easier for the complainer who doesn't have a printer, want to go into the JC unnecessarily to "hand something in " and simply CANNOT get an appropriate person on the phone - or in person (in my nearest JC, the Security Guard handles everything [badly - hence my investigation into the Complaints procedure]).


* They would not want to know what I think - between that and the travesty of a website.....(I feel another thread coming on)

What do the numerous people sitting in the area behind the front desks actually do?
(Being as every single question a person has is directed (by aforementioned Security Guard) to "use the phones" "call the Processing Centre".)




*fans self*

Zazen999

*assists in fanning GTC

bee78

Hello people,

NO i do not work for DWP,and the question i asked the a number of JOB centre staff is how long would i have to wait after i close my claim b4 i can put in a new claim. I started work in Jan 2007 and NI contributions are not enough for JSA this year,but i assume it would be for next year.so I decided to close my claim this year.hence the question,if i am still umemployed next year,when can i put in a new claim?Does that make sense.

most of the JOb centre staff say different things,they are not consistent,honestly sometime i feel they make things up as they go along.It is rubbish in my local area.The job centre staff whom i saw yesterday did not have a clue about what he is talking about ,i asked him if i will get my p45 form when i close my claim down,and he says i will only receive that from my ex-employer not the JOB centre:rotfl:.What a load of rubbish. So how do i complain...where do i get the leaflet,which ask for my feedback. Thanks for listening

GotToChange

Hi - I didn't think that it was you who works for the DWP, rather "busymom" who I was quoting as she had picked up on my comments about complaining by email.

Anyway - that aisde - the leaflet is available in the Jobcentre, you shouldn't have to ask for it, there will be some in leaflet holders around the place. The leaflet details the stages to making a formal complaint and the timescales by which they will attend to it.

Or, you can simply write a letter anyway and hand it in to them (see my note above about email); personally, I would want the name of the Manager to address it to or the chances are that the Security Guard may have to deal with it (joke).

Good luck with it.

PS - Be careful when/if closing down your claim; there will be NI credits implications. You should ask the question re. next year's claims of your Benefit Delivery Centre who should either answer or signpost you to a source of reliable information.

sammyjammy

To be fair I don't think you have a valid complaint.

Firstly you are asking Jobcentre staff who are not benefit experts, you are also kind of asking how to "play" the system (IMHO), if I still worked in a Jobcentre I would not answer your question at all however I would tell you that the tax years looked at for JSA C change on the first Sunday in January each year. There are so many differentials in between for your circumstances that I'm only surprised anyone answered your question at all.

Sam

xxlaurissaxx

Wouldn't it be more easier to ask Inland Revenue? Surely they would be better at advising. xx

GotToChange

sammyjammy wrote: »

To be fair I don't think you have a valid complaint.

Firstly you are asking Jobcentre staff who are not benefit experts, you are also kind of asking how to "play" the system (IMHO), if I still worked in a Jobcentre I would not answer your question at all however I would tell you that the tax years looked at for JSA C change on the first Sunday in January each year. There are so many differentials in between for your circumstances that I'm only surprised anyone answered your question at all.

Sam

Do you not think though that it isn't always possible to know who to ask what for the best (although, again, Mr Security Guard can be quite useful)?

For all that the "Jobcentre" sees the great unwashed on a fortnightly basis for signing - and the other periodic reviews, a person can be forgiven for thinking that they may be able to answer other questions about the nightmare that they have found themselves. Instead, "go away and ask the BDC on an 0845 number" - and where I am, if it's a question about JSA - Any key followed by Option 2, you can NOT get through at all on a Monday. Should a person sit in that hell-hole on a JC phone trying (and failing) to get through all day?

Especially those who only have a mobile, no landline and the calls to 0845 numbers charged at full mobile rate... (Not me, I have 0845 included on talktalk - just thought I would mention). Oh, and try to get through to the JC itself between 12 and 1. Nah, engaged. A business line - engaged????
Try at 13:01 - rings out. Hmmm, funny that.

And I would still like to know what all those other people do? They aren't conducting reviews; there's another bunch upstairs who do that.