Would you say this crisis loan advisor was just being a pain?

Anubis_2

The internet is a huge asset for jobseeking, but a phone is definitely essential. This morning at 8 am my son got a call out of the blue to go for an interview. No phone, no interview. They would have rung someone else.

starchild1972

gettingready wrote: »

And why exactly not? THAT is what is wrong here that people who never ever bothered to look for/do some work get exactly the same as people who worked most of their adult lives.

Very, VERY wrong.

Oh here it is...I've paid more tax therefore I am entitled to more!


Just because you earned a high wage and paid higher tax doesn't always mean that the work was hard or that you deserve more than someone lower paid.

For example...
Someone who sits on their backsides in an office is not and should never be entitled to MORE social security than someone who works manually and vice versa! If they think they should then they need to look into private unemployment insurance!


It is possible to explain to companies that...due to being currently between jobs it is difficult to e-mail a full C.V.

The one and ONLY time I had a crisis loan was to put food on the table and nappies on my eldest's backside when DH lost his job due to dodgy boss going bankrupt years ago and the boss refused to send out final payslips meaning that DH dole money was delayed. At that time we had NOTHING. Paying the phone bill was the last thing on my mind, food, heating and a roof over our head was (2 month delay on HB/CTB back then too, this was before tax credits). I even went 2 weeks without feeding myself to ensure there was enough for the little one. Once everything was sorted we still managed to put aside £5 a week for emergencies!

You have been odd jobbing for 6 years and really need to get priorities sorted!


JSA is for food, basic clothing and heating. Not broadband!

NickyBat

In general she is within her rights to ask you the questions, but maybe her tone could have been better (not being there, can't really comment further)

You are getting an interest free loan though, so have to expect some scrutiny.

gettingready

starchild1972 wrote: »

Oh here it is...I've paid more tax therefore I am entitled to more!


Just because you earned a high wage and paid higher tax doesn't always mean that the work was hard or that you deserve more than someone lower paid.

For example...
Someone who sits on their backsides in an office is not and should never be entitled to MORE social security than someone who works manually and vice versa!

And where I said that? I mentioned people who never worked, not people who worked on lower pay.

And do not assume anyone "sitting on their backside" in an office does not work hard or sometimes harder than someone doing manual labour.

Besides, I never forced anyone into manual, low paid jobs - they have chosen to do those and it is not really a point here.

I was stressing the difference between working people who temporarily fall on hard times and claim JSA and people who's lifestyle is to be on JSA all their lives.

And - before anyone starts on that... I actually was a single parent all my life, came here 20 years ago with a 1 yo under my arm and limited knowledge of English. Fast forward - 43k per year job and a daughter finishing her Law degree. So it CAN be done and pls do not give me that "everyone is entiled, no difference" - there IS a difference. And there are choices - I made my choices and was fine till recently, will be fine again.

gettingready

OP - sorry , did not mean to hijack your tghread.. out of here now ...

starchild1972

gettingready wrote: »

And where I said that? I mentioned people who never worked, not people who worked on lower pay.

And do not assume anyone "sitting on their backside" in an office does not work hard or sometimes harder than someone doing manual labour.

Besides, I never forced anyone into manual, low paid jobs - they have chosen to do those and it is not really a point here.

I was stressing the difference between working people who temporarily fall on hard times and claim JSA and people who's lifestyle is to be on JSA all their lives.

And - before anyone starts on that... I actually was a single parent all my life, came here 20 years ago with a 1 yo under my arm and limited knowledge of English. Fast forward - 43k per year job and a daughter finishing her Law degree. So it CAN be done and pls do not give me that "everyone is entiled, no difference" - there IS a difference. And there are choices - I made my choices and was fine till recently, will be fine again.

No one noticed the For Example then?

People who have never worked? My cousin has never worked, he gets all the benefits most people could dream of.

Oh and he has severe brain damage.

No one is ENTITLED to benefits, some people are ELIGIBLE for benefits.

You CHOSE not to take a private unemployment benefit plan or make investments therefore you are only ELIGIBLE for what the state decrees.

Tax & N.I doesn't just pay for social security either. Hospitals, education, etc etc. And, like most insurance/saving schemes..you may not get back what you paid in, otherwise I might claim all the unemployment part of my father's N.I back as he was never on the dole in his life, left school at 14 and went down the mines and dropped dead before he drew pension!

dekaspace

marywooyeah wrote: »

I do think that broadband is essential these days in job hunting, and £25 is a bit high but like you say you have to pay line rental which I am assuming is around £12 (that really annoys me as it bumps up the cost of broadband quite a bit).
I can see why she asked about budgeting, but do think it was unreasonable to ask you to pay your rent late as this would put you in breach of your tenancy agreement.
I would ring and complain about her, it could get her to rethink the way she is speaking to people and avoid someone else being upset in the future.
good luck with the job hunt x

Yeah I never really use the phone either due to an ongoing fault that has lasted 5 months that means I cant make calls and only recieve them and use broadband, so its about £12 for broadband and £13 for phone line alone, even when I could make calls I only made job related that I couldnt do before 7pm since I have a mobile on 3 with free 3 to 3 calls which I use for personal use on PAYG

dseventy wrote: »

People don't like to hear the truth sometimes. Sorry but the amount of "crisis"loans you have needed does suggest you need some feedback on your money management skills.

D70

If you read the OP I said I had 2 this year after there was a problem with my claim and I had no money for 2 months, thats hardly money management skills since the other times I have been on benefits or low income I didnt need a crisis loan and I was able to budget a house move last year on benefits and hire a man with van and I dont drink or smoke and live on reduced foods etc.

I do go through phases of having a few hundred pounds in bank but that normally gets swallowed up following a house move and having a little luxury for a while.

dseventy

dekaspace wrote: »

If you read the OP I said I had 2 this year after there was a problem with my claim and I had no money for 2 months, thats hardly money management skills since the other times I have been on benefits or low income I didnt need a crisis loan and I was able to budget a house move last year on benefits and hire a man with van and I dont drink or smoke and live on reduced foods etc.

.

Your probably right, I don't know.

What I do know is that people who take "crisis" loans more than others require a level of scrutiny. Whilst this scrutiny should be delivered in a professional way, the scrutiny itself is needed.

I think I speak for lots of people when I say its glad its delivered.

D70

sangiar

gettingready wrote: »

I am sorry but in this day and age how on earth is broadband not considered essential for a job search to start with?

How do they expect us to look for jobs?

QUOTE]

errr do they not have newspapers in your neck of the woods?

I only started using a computer a few years ago. I've never applied for a job because of a computer.

All of mine came about with reading newspapers (free in the library), jobcentre and word of mouth.

Have we got to the position that if it isn't shown on a computer it doesn't exist?

AsknAnswer2

No, she wasn't being a pain, she was doing her job.

A crisis loan will only be issued as a last resort. So they have to perform an inquisitive role to establish if there is another means to help you cover the period of crisis and suggest ways in which you can avoid being in the same position in the future. They also have to robustly challenge any statements which give rise to a doubt.

Again though, I do agree that although the questions need to be asked and she would not be doing her job properly if she didn't ask, it depends on the phrasing and tone of the questions and whether the questions are appropriate. If you feel unhappy with her manner in handling of your claim you can provide feedback by writing to your local jobcentre. They will pass your comments or complaint on to the department that deals with comments/complaints for that particular office.