DWP dirty tactics

whodathunkit

epitome wrote: »

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. 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.

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..


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

The government doesn't have any money of its own - worth remembering when talking about saving it. As you say, it is MSE after all.;)

epitome

So the government isn't trying to "save money" these last 5 years by introducing cut backs, cutting spending, ?

mattcanary

whodathunkit wrote: »

Why would he risk missing such an important call when he was expecting it?

People don't have their phone on all the time for numerous reasons.


One very good reason: it gets turned off during a job interview.


It is rude to be in a meeting and to then you answer your mobile phone during this meeting.

mattcanary

whodathunkit wrote: »

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!

That's rubbish.
If you miss the call (for any one of numerous good reasons), then the caller leaves a message on your phone for you to call them back. You then call them back.


Oh, I forgot. DWP won't leave a message on your phone - for various ridiculous data protection reasons, even though they may have spoken to you previously on that same phone number!


(DWP don't have to say why they're calling - they don't even have to say who they are. They can just leave a message giving the phone number to call them back on and saying it is important for the claimant to return the call.


That is not breaking any spurious data protection legislation and at the same time it is being helpful. Why can they (and any other organisation) not do this?






Incidentally, I would say it is just as likely that organisations are breaking data protection laws by asking people to give them information about themselves (date of birth, National Insurance number, etc) over the telephone before proceeding with the call. (I mean, when the organisation has made the phone call).
How does the person taking the call know that the caller is really who they are saying they are. It could be a fraudster calling you up, for all you know,

mattcanary

Horseunderwater wrote: »

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.

I'm sure the caller would love to hear you !!!!!!!! in the background.....

mattcanary

epitome wrote: »

So the government isn't trying to "save money" these last 5 years by introducing cut backs, cutting spending, ?

Yes,, and at the same time are looking to increase expenses by introducing daily sign-ons for some claimants, paying private contractors wads of money when they find people jobs (even though claimant may have found the work through outside sources), allowing companies to get away with employing people on zero-hours contracts and then having to make up the shortfall to such employees through the benefits system when the employee doesn't get regular hours, etc, etc.....

mattcanary

whodathunkit wrote: »

The government doesn't have any money of its own - worth remembering when talking about saving it. As you say, it is MSE after all.;)

Of course, the government has money of its own.


Don't be so ridiculous.

lighting_up_the_chalice

mattcanary wrote: »

People don't have their phone on all the time for numerous reasons.


One very good reason: it gets turned off during a job interview.


It is rude to be in a meeting and to then you answer your mobile phone during this meeting.

On a bank holiday? Unlikely, to say the least.

mattcanary

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

On a bank holiday? Unlikely, to say the least.

Not that unlikely.


And the same thing could apply on any other day of the week - I am not talking about just this situation, am I?




Besides, if most employees don't work on a Bank Holiday, why should a job claimant be waiting around on the very unlikely off chance that the DWP may call you?


I don't have a mobile phone on me all day on a working day, let alone at the weekend.
I don't want to always be contacted and to be at someone's beck and call.
And I don't mean just by the DWP - I mean by family, friends, etc. I may be really busy, upset about something, etc and want to be allowed to get on with what I am doing, concentrate, calm down, etc

lighting_up_the_chalice

mattcanary wrote: »

Not that unlikely.


And the same thing could apply on any other day of the week - I am not talking about just this situation, am I?




Besides, if most employees don't work on a Bank Holiday, why should a job claimant be waiting around on the very unlikely off chance that the DWP may call you?


I don't have a mobile phone on me all day on a working day, let alone at the weekend.
I don't want to always be contacted and to be at someone's beck and call.
And I don't mean just by the DWP - I mean by family, friends, etc. I may be really busy, upset about something, etc and want to be allowed to get on with what I am doing, concentrate, calm down, etc

No-one is stopping you. But, as an adult, you must also take responsibility for the consequences of your own actions/choices.