Be Reasonable JSA!

yellowduck_2

the most hilarious thing that happended to me when I was signing on about 4 years ago involved travelling to interview costs. I had an interview in another town and it was going to cost me about £10 in train fares to get there and back. So I went to JCP to ask if I was entitled to any help with the cost of the fare as £10 was a big chunk of my dole. Nobody seemed to know there was some discussion about reasonable travellling distances etc and then I was given a number to phone. Called the number and spoke to a woman, there seemed to be a strange echo on the line. I turned around to see that I was speaking to a worker only a few feet behind me!!! Why I was not allowed to just go up to her desk and ask my question was never made clear. Oh and by the way the 2 hours there and back journey and the train fare were both deemed "reasonable" and I was told I was not entitled to any help. I sold my watch to pay the fare and sadly did not get the job. Did get one a couple of weeks later. Personally my experiences at JCP has been like being in a parallel universe, nothing makes any kind of sense even tho they use words I understand. Oh and by the way the jobs i applied for were all found by me, never had any help at all from the staff. Some were lovely and ohers were on a real power trip, hey ho such is the world.

Sunshine12

Kaleidoscope27 wrote: »

I'm gonna start asking if I'm being referred when they print me off jobs from now on. I honestly never knew such a system existed. No-one (in the JCP) has ever mentioned it to me.

Chances are half of their employees dont know it exists either!! :rotfl::rotfl:

Prinzessilein

I am sure that there are well-informed, helpful, pleasant JC+ staff........unfortunately I have never yet met one!

When I was signing on (I am now on IB and DLA) I was told I should do my Level 1 in Maths. I asked the advisor to check my list of qualifications...'oh. it says you have a degree in maths....is that better than a GCSE?'...and when she checked my last job it showed I had been teaching Level 1 and Level 2!

Also, shortly before I went over to IB, I had a serious panic attack and started sobbing in the JC+ building . My advisor told me to 'grow up' and said the security staff would escort me off the premises and if I didn't leave the police would be called and arrest me! .....really helpful attitude!

Sunshine12

Prinzessilein wrote: »

I am sure that there are well-informed, helpful, pleasant JC+ staff........unfortunately I have never yet met one!

When I was signing on (I am now on IB and DLA) I was told I should do my Level 1 in Maths. I asked the advisor to check my list of qualifications...'oh. it says you have a degree in maths....is that better than a GCSE?'...and when she checked my last job it showed I had been teaching Level 1 and Level 2!

Also, shortly before I went over to IB, I had a serious panic attack and started sobbing in the JC+ building . My advisor told me to 'grow up' and said the security staff would escort me off the premises and if I didn't leave the police would be called and arrest me! .....really helpful attitude!

How awful!! :eek:

There is only one person that Ive come across that is of any use and she is an advisor that I see every 4 weeks. The rest of them are useless and seem a little bit thick.

Kaleidoscope27

Prinzessilein wrote: »

I asked the advisor to check my list of qualifications...'oh. it says you have a degree in maths....is that better than a GCSE?'

I would like to say "you're kidding?!" but I can't feign that level of surprise

Prinzessilein wrote: »

Also, shortly before I went over to IB, I had a serious panic attack and started sobbing in the JC+ building . My advisor told me to 'grow up' and said the security staff would escort me off the premises and if I didn't leave the police would be called and arrest me! .....really helpful attitude!

Now I really am shocked! That's awful! Really bad. How robotic are these people?

yellowduck_2

I recall a really horrible patronising one who instructed those who signed on at his desk to "step forward now" and would only let them sit down with his permission. He told me that I was a "highly motivated job seeker" and he would note my efforts on the computer!!! I do think they have a horrible job especially in this current economic climate and of course they must deal with difficult people.

IronMaidenFan

yellowduck wrote: »

Nobody seemed to know there was some discussion about reasonable travellling distances etc and then I was given a number to phone. Called the number and spoke to a woman, there seemed to be a strange echo on the line. I turned around to see that I was speaking to a worker only a few feet behind me!!! Why I was not allowed to just go up to her desk and ask my question was never made clear.

Hahaha, that's about the mentality of JCP. I know they must have a difficult job right now but that is ridiculous. Talk about wasting tax payers money on the phone call, lol.

donnajunkie

Kaleidoscope27 wrote: »

I'm gonna start asking if I'm being referred when they print me off jobs from now on. I honestly never knew such a system existed. No-one (in the JCP) has ever mentioned it to me.

to be fair in my experience they have never refered me for a job that i havent agreed to. although regarding the jobs they bring up that i dont get refered for, it is usually coz i have a valid reason. i suspect if people didnt have a valid reason they may get stroppy and say you can do this so i am refering you for it whether you agree or not.
edit.
the jobcentre may not have refered me for a job without my agreement but my personal career coach on flexible new deal refered me to a job without my agreement when i saw her last. i said i wont be able to get there for the start time as i rely on public transport. she then proceeded to say well i get here from *%&$" on public transport. how come these people always say they have to travel a long distance to work now or did so in the past when you tell them you cant get somewhere? its everytime, guaranteed.

sharski

Hmm........... so I suppose none of you have ever asked advice on this forum....... advice from one of the many JC staff who willingly give part of their spare time to actually assist people on this forum?????

No... obviously not...

donnajunkie

sharski wrote: »

Hmm........... so I suppose none of you have ever asked advice on this forum....... advice from one of the many JC staff who willingly give part of their spare time to actually assist people on this forum?????

No... obviously not...

i asked one a question last week and they ignored it.