Useless, inflexible JobCentrePlus

Blobby8_2

Tankrizzo wrote: »

Sounds to me like signing off would be the best thing, you clearly can't be bothered so why waste their time and your own?

2 yr old & 6 month old to look after, doesnt sound like a jobseeker does it ?

persa

You never know what life will throw at you - if you can get your stamp paid now, you may as well take it.

OP, I don't think you were in the right, but I can understand why you reacted the way you did, given that your DD had been poorly and you were probably still fretting about her. Glad to hear she's better now, though.

Have a little patience next time and good luck finding work soon.

allen35

persa wrote: »

You never know what life will throw at you - if you can get your stamp paid now, you may as well take it.

OP, I don't think you were in the right, but I can understand why you reacted the way you did, given that your DD had been poorly and you were probably still fretting about her. Glad to hear she's better now, though.

Have a little patience next time and good luck finding work soon.

My thoughts exactly and jobcentres aren't always the most welcoming of places to sit around in with a 2 yr old for any length of time....

karenx

So was that person not to have a lunch break that day as you were coming in at some point?? Were they to miss their lunch just incase when you turned up and they were meant to be on their break????
You missed your time which meant you kept them waiting wondering if you were coming or not. When they could of been doing something else. Then you show up and just expect to be seen straight away????

MrsManda

Could you not have given the JCP more notice so they could fit you in at a specific time slot? Unless it was an emergency appointment with a consultant you usually get some notice of the appointment date and time.

They seem to have been willing to accommodate you even though you didn't call them until after your sign on time which is good of them and shows they are flexible. However by refusing to wait 20 minutes because someone was having a lunch break surely shows it's you who is inflexible?

They can sanction your JSA (so presumably including N.I. credits though I'm not certain) for upto 26 weeks for non-attendance. You are welcome to give up JSA as you obviously don't find it useful. Plus as a parent of a child under 12 yrs old you are entitled to Class 3 credits anyway.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/NationalInsurance/IntroductiontoNationalInsurance/DG_190059

Arg

nannytone wrote: »

i'm sorry to hear about your little girl, but regarding the JCP...
THAT ISN@T THEIR PROBLEM!!!

isn't the person you sign on with entitled to a lunch break.....after all they DO work!

i find your attitude really bad, considering a lot of the people on here that give advice to people like you. actually work for JCP.

If most people working in the jobcentre were actually useful, people wouldn't need to ask on forums for advice although theres just as many bellends in this thread as there are at the jobcentre.

WhiteHorse

sickofusernames wrote: »

I got back home about 20 mins after my sign on time so I called the JCP helpline who put me through to my local JCP and I explained my circumstance and the woman said I could come to the office to sign on as long as it was before 16:30.

That's reasonable.

I handed my booklet to a member of staff, after about 5 mins I was told I couldn't sign on just yet as the person I sign on with was at lunch (NOT MY PROBLEM!) and that i'd have to loiter around for 20 mins before I could sign on with that person.

Now that is stupid.

I told the woman I wasn't waiting around as I was only signing on for my stamp(credits) and told her to forget it considering what I was told before I turned up at the place - considering it takes an adviser about 2 mins to bring my details up, call me over and for me to sign my name, what's the big issue?

It would have been better to wait. After all, it was only 20 minutes.

I'm thinking of signing off anyway, what's the point if i'm not getting any financial assistance?

You would have done, if you hadn't thrown a wobbly!

ekkygirl

sickofusernames wrote: »

We had to take our 6 month old girl to hospital today which coincided with my sign on time, she's fine but needs to see a consultant now for further checks.

Anyway, I got back home about 20 mins after my sign on time so I called the JCP helpline who put me through to my local JCP and I explained my circumstance and the woman said I could come to the office to sign on as long as it was before 16:30. I took my other daughter who is 2 with me to the job centre and I handed my booklet to a member of staff, after about 5 mins I was told I couldn't sign on just yet as the person I sign on with was at lunch (NOT MY PROBLEM!) and that i'd have to loiter around for 20 mins before I could sign on with that person.

Yeah Right! I told the woman I wasn't waiting around as I was only signing on for my stamp(credits) and told her to forget it considering what I was told before I turned up at the place - considering it takes an adviser about 2 mins to bring my details up, call me over and for me to sign my name, what's the big issue?

I'm thinking of signing off anyway, what's the point if i'm not getting any financial assistance?

I dont think you would have had to wait 20 minutes, you could have left then and called back later before 4.30.

If you are the main carer for your children I think you would be able to claim stamp for the time you were at home with them. You would not need to sign on to get the stamp/credit.
I could be wrong so don't shout at me

shellsuit

What was the big problem hanging on for 20 minutes?

At least they were willing to allow you to sign on late.

They were neither useless nor inflexible in this case.

melbi_uk

I have had to wait longer than 20 mins to see my doctor and I did have an appointment.

Agreed, you were probably still very worried and stressed over the morning events.

Perhaps an apology is in order the next time you go to sign on.