Missed first appointment at the job center

mandyboops1973

I started a new claim for JSA last week, i had my first appointment booked for today, When i got to where i thought the job center was there was a sign on the door saying

"This job center is now closed we have now moved to... and then it had the new addressee underneath"

I immediately tried to phone the job center to explain i had arrived at what appears to be the old job center ( i received no letters with an addressee the appointment was made over the phone a few days beforehand) I realized there is no direct number for each individual job center and i was put through to the standard JSA line who simply repeated to me the addressee on the door and said they would make a note on the system and to just try and get to the new addressee ASAP. At this point i am now already 15 mins late.

I put the new addressee into my sat nav and it takes me to a pay and display car park on the out skirts of the city center with no job center in sight. i decided to try and drive around the surrounding roads to see if i could spot it with no luck, i have just arrived home and had a look on google maps and located it in the city center not far from the car park my sat nav had taken me to, Its not visible from the car park its self.

I am going to have to ring them again in the morning and explain what happend after my last call, but now i am really worried they are going to stop my claim before its even started.

Comms69

You didn't at anypoint stop, get out and ask someone "excuse me, do you know where the job centre is?".


I think they probably will. It doesn't exactly come across well that you basically just gave up looking.

mandyboops1973

Comms69 wrote: »

You didn't at anypoint stop, get out and ask someone "excuse me, do you know where the job centre is?".


I think they probably will. It doesn't exactly come across well that you basically just gave up looking.

There is no stopping anywhere in the city center its all pay and display car parks, I had already payed at a previous car park near the old location, I didn't want to have to pay again in a another car park with no idea if the job center is even in this location to get out and ask somebody. The car parks also have cameras on the entrance and exists so i was in and out as quickly as possible hoping i don't get a parking fine to boot, I am also claiming JSA awaiting a manual reconsideration for ESA because i can't walk very far.

Hopefully the people at the job center are far more understanding and compassionate than you are.

w06

To be fair, our (small town/big village) job centre closed a few years ago and many of the DWP pages still direct to the now dance studio. So much so I drove to the next town when I first needed to go (without an appt) because there didn't appear to be a job centre in the village. It has over thhe past 6 months become better badged as such (it's now within another centre) online and in person.

For future things (job interviews as well as the job centre) it's always worth planning your journey and investigating the location and parking using online resources before leaving home. I guess as someone who can't walk or push far it becomes second nature to check location and access etc but it's something everyone can readily do these days

Alice_Holt

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/jobseekers-allowance-jsa/jsa-appeals/if-your-jsa-has-stopped-or-been-reduced/

donnajunkie

I would seek advice from cab as above but i wouldnt get your hopes up. The jobcentre is well known to be unforgiving and brutal.
Having said that as the claim hasnt started yet it may be a case of just making a new appointment. The bad news maybe that the claim will be started from a later date but losing money for a short period could be better than getting a sanction for a longer period.
Cab will be able to advise you better.

pmduk

mandyboops1973 wrote: »

Hopefully the people at the job center are far more understanding and compassionate than you are.

You've not come over as someone who made many efforts other than a belated phone-call, rather than check the location in the first place.

donnajunkie

pmduk wrote: »

You've not come over as someone who made many efforts other than a belated phone-call, rather than check the location in the first place.

People can make bad decisions but thats no reason to not give the best advice that you can.

pmduk

w06 wrote: »

For future things (job interviews as well as the job centre) it's always worth planning your journey and investigating the location and parking using online resources before leaving home. I guess as someone who can't walk or push far it becomes second nature to check location and access etc but it's something everyone can readily do these days

With the advent of things like Google Street View it's easier than ever to plan journeys to unfamiliar places. I don't know how I'd have managed before it now my mobility is reduced.

Even with new developments not yet reflected on streetview, it gives you an idea of the area you're visiting.