DWP rules - sanctions

Marko73_2

Hello all. I had an interview scheduled yesterday which needed several pieces of documentation, amongst which was my birth certificate. I had put it in a folder for safekeeping but inexplicably discovered that it was nonetheless lost with only a few hours to go. The email from the employer had specifically said I would be turned away without this documentation. The emails from the employer also lacked any contact details whatsoever (application was via a website, which again, sadly, had no way to contact the recruitment team). I spent several hours being run around in circles phoning different depts, and eventually being told they couldn't be contacted by phone. I then realised I would miss the interview. I'd been supposed to be signing on at a different time from usual yesterday due to the interview but I called the DWP and told them I'd be signing on as normal due to the situation with the documents. When I got there they informed me that they were going to take action against me for missing the job interview, but didn't say what it would be. As I found the vacancy and applied for it myself, and tried all reasonable methods to contact the employer, can the DWP do this? I need help from someone who knows the rules here. Thanks.

Sues48

They won't be able to sanction you for missing the interview unless it was a job which they found for you.

oldmotherreilly

Sues48 is correct but why didn't you just go to the interview and explain the situation to the employer? They may well have been sympathetic and allowed you to bring in the birth certificate at a later date. Of course, they may also have said no but nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Marko73_2

My client advisor did mention the job to me, but it was after I'd already applied for it myself. In addition, I'd known in advance the job was coming up and in fact, I'd mentioned it to her in a previous meeting. I believe she's marked it on the system that they found the job for me (do they have some quota to fill on this? or do they get a bonus?), although I found it myself, and she's trying to cover her tracks by sanctioning me now, but I have emails between me and the employer going much further back than that. In addition, I did the same job for the same employer last year and the client advisor hadn't even met me back then. As to why I didn't go anyway, the emails I'd received from the employer specifically stated that I would be turned away without the birth certificate, and that my application would be cancelled. I was trying all morning to get in touch with them and by the time I got the final confirmation that they had no phone number, it was too late to get everything ready.

Marko73_2

On a related note, does anyone know if I have the right to demand a different advisor from now on?

dmg24

You do not have the right to demand anything. If you feel that you have good reason, you could request to see somebody else.