The Work Programme New Thread

looby75

surely the best thing to do is phone them on the 2nd to make sure that he is actually going to be there or if they have arranged for you to see someone else.

donnajunkie

looby75 wrote: »

surely the best thing to do is phone them on the 2nd to make sure that he is actually going to be there or if they have arranged for you to see someone else.

i would just turn up and if hes not there just get my fares off them and then go home. make sure you sign in and out as well. if no other appointments have been confirmed i would also ask when i was next due to be in.

AP007

looby75 wrote: »

surely the best thing to do is phone them on the 2nd to make sure that he is actually going to be there or if they have arranged for you to see someone else.

They barely have enough people to see the ones that have appts so I doubt they will have a person ready to see anyone he was meant to see.

I just can not believe how stupid they are.

On the 20th he was there telling me the 3rd and in two days he has managed to book off holidays till the 7th! Amazing

Kirri

AP007 wrote: »

There is no one closer - they are the only one in the 'area'

It takes over an hour to get there and I could get to Oxford Street quicker lol

They ONLY pay the cheapest travel so bus is the cheapest.

I only used to go once a month now every two weeks (since this new idiot adviser took over my file 4 weeks ago) and you have to claim each time of they say they have no ££££

Plus you can only claim between 11-12am so if you are in at 9am you have to stay to get your £

They rang me to book in my appt today and I asked about reimbursing travel and was told they did reimburse train travel - not sure whether to believe them!! Though at first they booked me an appt meaning I would have to travel at peak rate costs which seems silly but that is now changed. They didn't mention the Oyster bus discount but I won't use it as can't prove useage on the day. Surely to save money it would make sense to book more local people into the earlier appts. Told I can claim by either paper ticket or Oyster journey history (obviously not on the day). I will go by train as it takes forever on the bus, see what happens...

AP007

Kirri wrote: »

They rang me to book in my appt today and I asked about reimbursing travel and was told they did reimburse train travel - not sure whether to believe them!! Though at first they booked me an appt meaning I would have to travel at peak rate costs which seems silly but that is now changed. They didn't mention the Oyster bus discount but I won't use it as can't prove useage on the day. Surely to save money it would make sense to book more local people into the earlier appts. Told I can claim by either paper ticket or Oyster journey history (obviously not on the day). I will go by train as it takes forever on the bus, see what happens...

If its the dearest travel option I will be very surprised if they do give it to you as everyone gets told you can only claim the cheapest.

Kirri

AP007 wrote: »

If its the dearest travel option I will be very surprised if they do give it to you as everyone gets told you can only claim the cheapest.

Yep that's what I am assuming but as they haven't given me any guidelines yet I will see what they say when I turn up..

I'm not even sure what a full price bus fare costs these days vs the train, it may not be much if any difference but it means 10 mins by train vs an hour in rush hour on the bus!

AP007

Kirri wrote: »

Yep that's what I am assuming but as they haven't given me any guidelines yet I will see what they say when I turn up..

I'm not even sure what a full price bus fare costs these days vs the train, it may not be much if any difference but it means 10 mins by train vs an hour in rush hour on the bus!

I am in zone 4 and the WP for me is in zone 6 so a train and I mean two over ground rail trains costs me £2.40 each way and takes 30 mins and the bus costs 1.35 (soon to be 1.40) eaach way and takes an hour or more - once took me 90 mins!

Anyway, good luck when you go

Kirri

AP007 wrote: »

I am in zone 4 and the WP for me is in zone 6 so a train and I mean two over ground rail trains costs me £2.40 each way and takes 30 mins and the bus costs 1.35 (soon to be 1.40) eaach way and takes an hour or more - once took me 90 mins!

Anyway, good luck when you go

They are sending you a long way! I had 2 choices of centre.

Thanks, will need it, she sounded like she had an attitude over the phone even..

Just checked and train fare is £2 each way paper ticket on train or using the train on my Oyster is £1.40 each way offpeak (which would be the same as the bus then) or £1.60 peak - albeit I can't prove on the day I've used it!! Wish they could just use common sense and realise that one way or another I've had to travel from my home to the centre on public transport as either way it's too far to walk!

AP007

Kirri wrote: »

They are sending you a long way! I had 2 choices of centre.

Thanks, will need it, she sounded like she had an attitude over the phone even..

Just checked and train fare is £2 each way paper ticket on train or using the train on my Oyster is £1.40 each way offpeak (which would be the same as the bus then) or £1.60 peak - albeit I can't prove on the day I've used it!! Wish they could just use common sense and realise that one way or another I've had to travel from my home to the centre on public transport as either way it's too far to walk!

they think someone may have dropped you in a car and then they wont pay for that

Its near on 8 miles to my WP. Qucker to get to Oxford Circus than to them from here! haha

There is another centre nearer but that takes 4 buses (2 there and 2 back) and I do not have the £ in advance to pay for that.

In the rush however however it will take over an hour to get to the nearer one due to the traffic and the fact the bus dont go direct to anywhere.

Kirri

On New Deal at A4e they used to pay a mileage rate to those who came by car! Cutbacks eh.

I think my provider is 5-6 miles ish but lucky I can get to this one direct, the second alternative would have been either train or bus then a tube or second bus and as you know, in London rush hour that takes forever.

The JC told me that my provider did have an office in my own town but the provider didn't mention that or offer it as an alternative, they just gave me the 'nearest' two..