DWP dirty tactics

pmlindyloo

I think the moral of this thread is not so much 'they are employing dirty tactics' as 'make sure you question and know the rules when dealing with any organisation'.

The Job Centre Plus' employees are like all employees. Some know their job, some don't.

Because there is a political aspect to benefits people are going to assume that every mistake made is because 'they are out to get you'.

Mostly it is pure incompetence.

whodathunkit

epitome wrote: »

Are you really saying that having made your claim online, you should not go to the toilet or the shower, or go out shopping, that you should religously sit by your telephone for 48 - 72 hours or more?

If your phone is not by your computer, you could miss the call because you are looking for jobs on the internet.

You're rather assuming a land line rather than a mobile, aren't you? You even seem to be assuming a corded rather than a cordless phone!

Either way, if you're waiting for an important call (a callback from a repairer, results of job interview) you make darn sure you don't miss it, whatever it takes, you certainly don't sit and count the rings then refuse to answer it!

whodathunkit

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I think the moral of this thread is not so much 'they are employing dirty tactics' as 'make sure you question and know the rules when dealing with any organisation'.

The Job Centre Plus' employees are like all employees. Some know their job, some don't.

Because there is a political aspect to benefits people are going to assume that every mistake made is because 'they are out to get you'.

Mostly it is pure incompetence.

I agree, although often the incompetence is on the claimant's side.:D

seasideme

why couldn't they have left a message?

Horseunderwater

DWP do not leave messages IME as it is classed as a confidential call. It is the same with my GP, their no: is also witheld & they will not leave that kind of info on an answering machine/voicemail as anyone could pick up on it. I always take my carry phone with me to loo if I'm expecting a call, just in case. I am not too mobile at present, so I pop it in my pocket to make sure I do not miss it.

epitome

But are you all ok with the idea that missing a single phonecall can result in your claim for JSA starting a week later than it ought to have?

whodathunkit, your mobile could be out of signal aswell......and yes, I have a corded landline, this is MSE afterall.

And remember a lot of DWP outbound calls they only let the phone ring 10 - 15 seconds.

The reason I'm asking this is because ISTM 90% of respondents to this thread seem to think it ok that the OP would have lost a weeks JSA, and I'm asking you to put yourself into that position. You may have missed it for a different reason (but not answering withheld numbers is perfectly valid IMHO and remember it was a bank holiday -not that that makes any real difference, some people are afraid to answer witheld numbers) the point is, your claim is delayed by a week because you missed a single call which may or may not have actually caused your phone to ring..... and you would be ok with that? I don't think you would be.

And remember that:
delaying JSA by a week could impact on your HB claim.
Many DWP letters arrive a week or more from the date on the letter.

dippy3103

I agree it's harsh..

However I don't think it's a "dirty tactic" to deprive people of money.

Horseunderwater

And what will claimants do when/if the waiting days go up to 7 & there is a missed call!

NYM

If the OP signed-on, on a Saturday and there are 3 waiting days, would that make it the Tuesday or Wednesday ?

Personally, I think the DWP were very quick sending him that letter considering the Monday was a Bank Holiday and he got the letter on the Wednesday.

I don't see any 'dirty tactics' ...:)

epitome

I have no problem with classifying it as a "dirty tactic"

The whole DWP policy is the dirty tactic, not this one example.

The DWP press people into claiming JSA online by telling them that is how they can claim, they don't advertise very strongly that you can also claim over the phone. And if you do claim on the phone they barrage you with recorded mesaages to claim JSA online, while you wait. They don't tell you the diffent consequences of choosing one method over another.

As we have seen here, if you claim online and happen to miss their single phonecall, they will then try to change the date of your claim.

A lot of people would not bother or dare to dispute this or even notice it because they don't understand the letter. There could also be a knock on consequence for Housing Benefit and CTB. And of those who do question it not many would take it to appeal.

When you consider this collectively accross the whole year it probably saves the government quite a bit of money, by essentially taking it from the claimants..

NYM wrote: »

If the OP signed-on, on a Saturday and there are 3 waiting days, would that make it the Tuesday or Wednesday ?

SAT, SUN & MON would be the waiting days, payment would start from the Tuesday. Assuming the claim was submitted before midnight on the Saturday.