How does Work Programme get it's money?

out_of_cash

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.

you can withdraw your consent at anytime. Go to this site for a template letter http://consent.me.uk/#thirdparty which covers all you need to send to the work programme provider.Once you have spelled this out to them in writing, they are stuffed with contacting people on your behalf etc.Its your right and is not breaking your jsa agreement.

Apologies to all if i have repeated myself.

out_of_cash

Elvisia wrote: »

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!

Hi,

Dont let them do this its exactly what they and the dwp want"sanctions" if you feel you were coerced forced or fooled into this position officially complain and take them to a tribunal.

Have a look here as to what could be in store for them if they choose to play games with the wrong person. They hope people will just back down and crumble and go away,dont let them.

http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/improving-public-service/reports-and-consultations/reports/parliamentary/putting-things-right/8




Mr X;

• paid X £9,023.38 (plus £1,682.13 interest) to compensate X for his lost benefits;
• credited Mr X with the National Insurance credits he would have received; and
• paid X £600 compensation for the worry, distress and inconvenience caused.

out_of_cash

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. "

You can tell them you only want to be contacted via letter to save any discrepancies that may occur as they are experts at that. If they lie and say we sent a letter for your appointment but apparently didn't! you then send them a SAR request http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/subject_access_requests.aspx and then their in deep crap if they lie with that .

Hope this helps anyone currently being bullied by the greedy sharks on the work programme.

Elvisia

Wow. I should have gone down that route when the JCP stuffed up my claim the year before last, I went in to declare extra savings (through family gifts for my birthday and my aunt dying who left me a small amount) and was told they never bothered with that sort of thing; then about 7 months later I was called in for a compliance meeting and they went through my savings accounts and said I had an overpayment. Even though I said I had been mis-advised they said there was no evidence as no one wrote it down. The good news is the advisor who originally told me not to bother declaring it was sacked. He had also told me not to declare any cash income as he said he did work in the evenings and didn't tell HMRC!!

Elvisia

Thanks everyone for the advice, I have to teach on today as I am teaching a new class this evening but when I get back home I will take into consideration all the forms, letters and comments and write a whoop-!!! letter telling them what's what.

out_of_cash

Go for it Elvisia, they deserve it.

God luck and keep us posted.

out_of_cash

Anyone know how Elvisia has got on with the WP sharks.?

Elvisia

Yes! I can't remember how far I had got with this saga...they agreed I had signed off (the JCP got involved) and it was all fine. They then bombarded me with phone calls saying I just needed to tell them I was in work...so I ignored them. They then rang up my parents - whose number they didn't have - told my mum my benefits history in detail and said it would help my case to tell them them that I was in work and they could sign my case off. I was furious, my mum thought I was about to be arrested, and as of Friday my MP wrote SEETEC a letter hopefully telling them to s*d off.

I am sure this will still not be the end!! I have visions now of them turning up to my parents' house and taking them hostage until they agree I am working!

AP007

Elvisia, have you not got a reply from the operations director at Seetec?

You need to get thsi stopped and make a call to their head office as well as write again and say you are going to the the newspapers if they continue and again withdraw consent

Elvisia

I didn't get any reply originally - I just got a call from someone at SEETEC saying it was all cleared up, I couldn't work out who they were, and one from the Job Centre saying they had spoken to SEETEC and it was all cleared up. The woman who rang up my mum said she was responding because of complaints - I had forgotten that bit I was so angry at her blabbing my personal details - then she makes the whole thing miles worse by breaking the Data Protection Act. I have never had any letters, only phone calls and phone messages. The only letters they have sent in the past have been requests for me to attend more bl**dy interviews.

I've sent a list of exactly what I want from SEETEC which has been sent to my MP and he's written it up in a letter.