JSA enquiry-Interviews

Legacy_user

Ok hopefully this might not sound too long winded, and I can obtain an understanding of what to expect.
I have from bristol, anbd relocated to london within the past two months for job seeking. I currently rent a small relatively cheap flat with my girlfriend who is a full time student. I have worked since september 2009, however my contract ended in august.
Following a few successive weeks of applying for jobs and getting nowhere, I decided that I would need to sign on at the local job centre to get some help with my ever dwindling funds. I filled out an online form for income-based job seekers allowance, and the next day recieved a call to arrange an interview.
In the interview the advisor advised that as my girlfriend was not applying for jsa as well, i should fill out a paper contributions based form, which i duly did. An appointment was made to turn up on wednesday in a fortnights time (today was friday). Apart from a few irrelevant job notices, i was given no further advice.
I turned up to the second interview, despite having recieved no payment. The (quite frankly rude) advisor gave no further information, just a form to sign, and looked at my book of the applications i had made. She didnt provide a further appointment date.
A few days later my parents advised that at my previous address in bristol, they had had two letters advising that two claims had been declined or cancelled. (the income based one i'm assuming was cancelled in place of the contributions by the original assistant). I return to the job centre to ask them of the situation and was advised to fill out an income based one as my NI contributions were not sufficient (They take into account the two tax years preceding the previous january, so thats in fact 32 moths ago, where as chance would have it i was finishing my study. Had they taken the last two tax years into acount 2009-2010, 2010-2011 it would have been fine.) ok, thats four weeks no cash, but, i applied again with full info detailing my situation.
I returned to bristol to see a previous boss to see if they can advise of potential roles, or give me a foot in the door (i work in media). I looked at my documentation and realised that an appointment would need tro take place every two weks. Today being two weeks from the second meeting, i rang them up, they advised that there was one booked for this afternoon. I advised that i was never told of any of these arrangements, and was unsure whether i still had a valid claim. I also advised that this trip was for job seeking purposes. The advisor said that he could not confirm any times for rescehduling appointsments, and that i should ring up each day, however sanctions might be enforced.
So i'm stunned that despite not recieving my claim because of an error made by them, and not provinding any details of appointments, i should be aware of when i'm due to attend, or even when i've yet to recieve a confirmation of my claim.
So my questions are-
Do i have any comeback to complain to the DWP?
Should I expect that sanctions will be enforced, despite this trip being for job seeking purposes?
If so, what sanctinos should be expected?

Any help you could give me would be great.

HappyMJ

It is long winded...What were you doing between April 09 and Sep 09? That is the beginning of the last 2 tax years.

What does your girlfriend do?

You need to ask lots of questions of the advisers. That's what they are there for. If you are unsure when you need to return then you should have been asking them.

I don't think you'll be sanctioned for being confused.

System

hehe long winded seems to be what i do best.. or worst... depends on how you look at it..

-between april 09 and sept 09 i was in full time education,

-my gf is currently in full time education recieving student loan

-I think that will be my method in future...

-i hope not, but i've heard about sanctions being imposed for less so am understandably fearful.