How does Work Programme get it's money?

AP007

Elvisia wrote: »

I also can't work out what I signed, I was given a leaflet to sign which the man just wafted under our noses (there were only two of us as every one else was sensible enough not to attend). He said it was just to confirm we'd attended and we got the line about our benefits being sanctioned if not.

Was the consent form in a leaflet? It had various people gurning on the front of it, obviously terribly happy that they were now under the power of SEETEC.

No it should have been a letter and either way is makes no difference

Withdraw consent with a letter to your advisor on email, one to the head office and one REGISTERED post to the head office. Copying your MP in to all emails and the local paper if you have to and channel 4 news!!

Elvisia

How bizarre - in which case I don't think I even signed a consent form. I wonder if my advisor was supposed to have given one to me to sign.

AP007

Elvisia wrote: »

How bizarre - in which case I don't think I even signed a consent form. I wonder if my advisor was supposed to have given one to me to sign.

Then with no consent form signed (possibly) ask them WHY they are contacting you and ask for a copy of the form you (may have) signed. IF they can not produce one, that's your answer and tell them to !!!! off!

Morlock

Elvisia wrote: »

I had written to them and withdrawn my consent, this has been an ongoing problem with the WP, and why I did my nut when the JCP rang me up to say SEETEC want to know whether I am in work.

If they have ignored the fact that you officially withdrew consent, it is a data protection issue. SEETEC will have an internal complaints system for data protection breaches which you should pursue. If that fails, the Information Commissioner's Office is your next step.

donnajunkie

Elvisia wrote: »

I have an ongoing saga, I signed off JSA last February, having been on the Work Programme for 2 weeks. Since then SEETEC my WP provider have written and phoned me, asking me where I am and demanding I turn up for meetings. I have written, called, emailed, they say they will adjust their list to say I am not signing on but it makes no difference. My advisor who I have told several times I have signed off still emailed me asking why I wasn't attending her appointments. My MP is involved who spoke to the JCP, and I have written to them and my MP. I got some excellent advice on here and I have followed it up.

My last correspondence was another appointment letter from them which apparently was for me to tell them details of my work. They then called me when I didn't turn up (I didn't answer as I was working). Then the Job Centre left a message, saying I had to tell the Work Programme whether I was working and my details. When I signed off I just sent back the green JSA form thingy and didn't say I was in work.

I don't want SEETEC to know I am working: firstly I have clients as I am freelance and there is no way I am letting them ring them up to check I am working as I will lose them as clients if they find they're being hassled; and secondly I do not wish SEETEC to earn any money for doing nothing. My query is, do they get money if I say I am in employment? I was advised to tell them I was in work to shut them up. Nearly a year later I am now being hassled by the Work Programme and the Job Centre and I don't want them to benefit financially.

I can't believe a government scheme can cause so much hassle. I now can't answer my phone in case it's SEETEC or the JCP again and even though neither of them can actually do anything it's hugely irritating.

they cant make you give them the info they want. just ignore them. if you dont like them contacting you then maybe you will have to change your number.

Elvisia

I would change my number but I can't, my clients have it and it's my contact number for everything to do with work and I know it's been passed on to people who I've been recommended to, so it would be a nightmare to change. At this rate I'll end up losing clients because of the rotten WP. I guess I have to keep not answering it unless I know who it is. Unfortunately the number seems to change, sometimes it's a local number sometimes it's 0845.

I just can't believe that despite doing everything recommended it's such a saga. It's good to know though that the local MP is building up a case against the WP and JCP.

dandelionclock30

I think you can easily change your number, all you have to do is get a new number and give this to your clients. Whats the difficulty with this? Most people do appreciate that numbers do change for a variety of reasons and its not too hard for someone to put a new number in their phone. If a client has recommended you with the old number then they can pass on the new number cant they?. If someone is interested then they will make the necessary steps to contact you.

It wouldnt be a nightmare at all to change!. I think if you want the problem to stop then you have to be proactive and take action. Its not a saga at all, it can easily be dealt with.

AP007

Elvisia wrote: »

I would change my number but I can't, my clients have it and it's my contact number for everything to do with work and I know it's been passed on to people who I've been recommended to, so it would be a nightmare to change. At this rate I'll end up losing clients because of the rotten WP. I guess I have to keep not answering it unless I know who it is. Unfortunately the number seems to change, sometimes it's a local number sometimes it's 0845.

I just can't believe that despite doing everything recommended it's such a saga. It's good to know though that the local MP is building up a case against the WP and JCP.

Seriously just get in touch with the head of operations at their head office in Hockley and say you want this sorted or you will take it further. He will get the message.

out_of_cash

This is a great site for anyone requiring information what they can and cant do to you on the workprogramme http://consent.me.uk/#thirdparty Dont let them greedy sods give you the run around.As they cant supply jobs,like current success rate of 3% they are now farming more and more people off to dead end courses and getting a fee paid to them per head on course.Its totally mental and a total waste of the tax payers money all 7.4 billion of it.I could be a few billion out

Elvisia

I would recommend that site too, I spoke to them at length last year and they were very helpful. The WP farmed me off to a course, which I was told I would have to pay for myself. They threatened to sanction me which just seemed bizarre, this was the final straw and I signed off. I appreciate I am extremely fortunate to have enough savings that I could support myself for a while (although this meant I was using up my safety net) and I was fortunate that when I signed off (beginning of the year) there were a lot of parents panicking about their children's education and upcoming exams so I got some tutoring pretty quickly which at least covered my JSA.

I hope this thread can help other people on the WP having issues, and if there is anyway you can avoid the WP I would really recommend it!