A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

shelley_crow

*Chattie* wrote: »

what a shocking post and I would really, really hope that anyone looking for help no matter what sort of help from buying a book to having to apply for benefit help, ever come up against you in a face to face job

pity help you if you end up in the JC and someone gives you The Look !

Agreed! The first time my partner had to try and claim benefits was when he was made redundant back in 2009. I was on a full time university course and we had a 4 year old child. We managed absolutely fine until the business my OH worked at folded.

Our allocated benefit officer (or whatever they call themselves), jesus christ! She spoke to us like we were something she had just stepped in. She accused us of all sorts! First she had the gall to suggest that OH had left his job voluntarily (even though he had proof he didn't), then I was fabricating being at university, even though she had spoke to them herself. We were open and honest and got accused of trying to "play the system". She got a tongue lashing from me at the end of it and I got an apology from her manager.

Having to claim is hard enough without coming across staff with a superiority complex. It's nice to see that claiming benefits seems to lump you in the category of "Benefit World". Lovely isn't it! If I ever up being in the position of having to claim again, it seems I should have to practice doffing my cap and perfecting my curtsey.

mardatha

As I always say, be careful whose head you tramp on on the way up the ladder, cos sure as hell you'll meet them again on the way down. That's my mantra.
That and a wee spot of voodoo. LOL!

scrabbles_2

My response to the post in question was initially more strongly worded but I edited it.

I worked for JCP briefly. There were some wonderful, hard-working, compassionate people there - lots of them. But they were sadly outnumbered by the cynical, the bigoted and the lazy. I heard advisors openly express views about individuals and about whole sections of society that I found appalling, yet nobody questioned their ability to do their jobs - when I complained to a manager I was told that we don't rock the boat around here. It's the only job I've ever walked out on - I left one lunchtime and never went back. At the time I thought it was spur-of-the-moment but in hindsight I had cleared my desk without even realising it...

tryingtodobetter

Hello everyone, I have not posted for a while as I have been busy with... well life in general I suppose. Things are getting rather political here and while I do hold opinions on the subjects discussed I don't want to get started on them or I might not be able to stop Grrrrr to the Goverment is all I will say

I can't believe my baby is going to be 1 tomorrow, that year has gone way too fast. He has a few pressies from us but only two of them are new and these are lovely books that I got in the sale. The rest have come from the charity shop or the loft (old toys of my older boys) So I have spent the grand total of £5.30 :j

DS 10 has a hospital appt tomorrow so baby will be going back to the hospital he was born in for his birthday.

I really need to make some extra money, even just £10 a month would be welcome, what survey, mystery shopping etc does anybody do?

Hope everyone is having a good day

TTDB

Bobbykins

Like a few others, I have avoided posting recently because it has all got a bit "political" for me. Not that I have any problem at all with people discussing politics on the thread, it just makes me a bit "twitchy" when things start to get potentially controversial (witness the last few posts) and I get worried we might lose the thread once again if it starts to get argumentative. I must say, though, that Debtfreenow's posting style does seem a bit familiar and wonder if she/he used to post on the older threads under a different name?

Life is plodding along for us in its usual OS style. We were invited out, last minute, for tea yesterday so today we are going to have the roast dinner I had planned for Sunday. I have lots of veggies lurking in the bottom of the fridge so it will be a "meat and 7 veg" type dinner I think!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

I send hugs and love to all who feel in need. Am off to try and find a couple of bargain toys for our middle grandson who is fast growing out of our little stock of toys when he comes to visit us.

Take care all.
xxxx

HariboJunkie

Bobbykins wrote: »

Am off to try and find a couple of bargain toys for our middle grandson who is fast growing out of our little stock of toys when he comes to visit us.

Take care all.
xxxx

Charity shops are great for extra toys. My MIL kept a great stock of them for my girls.

I'm batch cooking and baking today. I am a REALLY tidy cook but my baking is a different story altogether. OH's face when he came into the kitchen just now was a picture as he surveyed the scene of destruction. :rotfl: It got worse when I explained that none of it was for us and I'm taking it all to my friend who's just suffered a bereavement.

I shall be kind though and let him lick the bowl.

modern_millie_2

Hi everyone. catching up after being offline for a few days. I am so impressed by opinions voiced here over workfare and benefit cuts, think D. Cameron thought he was in for an easy ride over this, but if we are anything to go by, the GBP know an injustice when they see one! Surely must be significant opposition if the Daily Wail is objecting.

At the moment I am have second thoughts about trying to move house this year - where we are has enough space for DD - and a partner - should she wish/need to live at home after Uni. I can't see the employment situation being much improved in the next few years. We also have a good sized garden for veg, a woodburner and an extra chimney, so could install another which would cut heating costs long term. Downside is poor public transport and no local shops. Next door have 3 grown up children, all 'boomeranging' home and away. Think I have just about talked myself into staying put - OH is happy to stay too.

My heart goes out to all with health problems at the moment. It is just so wrong to have to be constantly worried about your income.

More positively - DD17 is at last showing an interest in budgetting, cooking etc. - has finally dawned on her that she will be doing it all herself soon. Made a veg biryani lat night which wasn't half bad -hope for her yet!

kidcat

Bobbykins that explains it, I knew something sounded familiar but couldn't work out why, I did wonder whether I knew them in RL. Strangely I couldn't find any previous posts to look at, am using my phone so not the easiest thing to negotiate.

Well have dd5 off school ill today, and i feel so dizzy I struggle to stand up, luckily OH is off today so was able to handle the school runs and the fourth round of sky engineer trying to fix the original problem. It's taken four visits four new boxes, my crying down phone to call centre and today they have finally replaced the box again and actually fixed the original problem by replacing the dish and wiring which was leaking water in. Dread to think how.much its cost sky all in to replace this much - but if they sent someone who actually listened when told it was wiring causing issues they would have saved a fortune. Friend of ours works for sky and reckons its because he wouldn't like idea that I could diagnose problem without any equipment or training.

Bobbykins

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Charity shops are great for extra toys. My MIL kept a great stock of them for my girls.

Thanks for that, it might be worth a look next time I go into town.


...............I shall be kind though and let him lick the bowl.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: - generous to a fault then!.

rachbc

Bobbkins I can't help but agree - such a "distinctive" posting style and "forthright" opinions.....

CS are great for toys - my MIL keeps a little stash for her grand kids and can recycle them once they grow out of them.

HJ - i spent an afternoon baking yesterday - AFTER OH had cleaned the ktichen. Opps. I just about managed to get it ship shape before he came home or no amount of macaroons, lasagne, chocolate mousse or banana bread would have got me off the hook!!