Work coach (universal credit) recruitment agencies

justmyluck2

My young  son is claiming universal credit and is activly seeking work. he searches for jobs every single day and has applied to many (all different types) unfortunately without success, his work coach seems to be forcing him to sign up to many different  recriutment angencies and has but one of the agencies is asking for a lot of personal data in the forms that my son is not happy about ,he explained this to his work coach but has been told he will get sanctioned if he doesn't. I could understand it  if my son wasn't trying so hard to find work but his work coach is constantly on his back about it ,he has wanted to change his work coach from the begining but knows that won't get him anywhere but I just want to know if work coaches are allowed to force you to sign up to recruitment agencies. thanks

swingaloo

What are they asking for that is different to the other agencies?

justmyluck2

a photo copy of his debit card

DullGreyGuy

justmyluck2 said:

a photo copy of his debit card

That is certainly an odd one... has he asked why? I can understand possibly wanting proof the current account is yours but that can be achieved with a copy of a bank statement rather than debit card.

justmyluck2

yeh he told his work coach but all he said was  that he will be sanctioned if he doesn't agree to sign up and send of all the documents . Someone my son knows claims U.C and their work coach isn't making them sign up to recruitment agencies just the normal work search.

huckster

I would not sign up to any agency that wanted a photo of my Bank card.  That sounds legally dodgy in regard to GDPR.

The Work Coach cannot sanction. If your Son was not applying for jobs or showing any evidence of work search  then the Work Coach can collect any evidence available and after checking with Work Coach Team Leader refer to a Decision Maker to consider a sanction. But this would appear unlikely if your Son had signed up to one agency and had proof of job search.

The Work Coach is not allowed in a Claimant Commitment to ask claimants to sign up to particular recruitment agencies by naming the agencies in the Commitment.

Using local trusted recruitment agencies is an important part of the job search process.  Your Son should arrange to visit the agencies to prove identity as part of sign up process.

Newcad

TBH this isn't his WC being personaly vindictive - it's the UC system and you won't find much that is less detached.

The WC gets a list of sites to "suggest" (on threat of sanction) that a jobseeker uses.

The WC has never visited those sites themselves and doesn't know what may be on them or not, they just get the list and have no say in what is on it - that's above their grade.

Asking for a photo of a debit card is unusual. Was it for an optional proof of ID?

You should note that you would need inafes of both sides of the card to be able to use it fraudulently. (That's why the CSV is printed on the back not the front).

If he was asked for images of both sides of the card then that would be big alarm bells. Just one side is unusual for a jobsearch site but not too alarming.

If you/he want to complain about that the WC is the wrong place to start, I'd suggest that a complaint to your MP about it would be much better for raising what could be a security issue.

If you are going to complain to your MP about this then be sure to use the words "Security Issue" prominently. That should grab attention.

born_again

Newcad said:

TBH this isn't his WC being personaly vindictive - it's the UC system and you won't find much that is less detached.

The WC gets a list of sites to "suggest" (on threat of sanction) that a jobseeker uses.

The WC has never visited those sites themselves and doesn't know what may be on them or not, they just get the list and have no say in what is on it - that's above their grade.

Asking for a photo of a debit card is unusual. Was it for an optional proof of ID?

You should note that you would need inafes of both sides of the card to be able to use it fraudulently. (That's why the CSV is printed on the back not the front).

If he was asked for images of both sides of the card then that would be big alarm bells. Just one side is unusual for a jobsearch site but not too alarming.

If you/he want to complain about that the WC is the wrong place to start, I'd suggest that a complaint to your MP about it would be much better for raising what could be a security issue.

If you are going to complain to your MP about this then be sure to use the words "Security Issue" prominently. That should grab attention.

Are you aware that a lot of cards have nothing on the front other than bank name & Visa/Mastercard logo & all Account details/Card number/CVV are on the back. 👍

justmyluck2

thank you  all for your advice i will show my son later  much apprecieated

Newcad

born_again said:

Are you aware that a lot of cards have nothing on the front other than bank name & Visa/Mastercard logo & all Account details/Card number/CVV are on the back. 👍

No debit, or credit, cards that I know of from any bank are like that.

Although I  can see how NFC cards with no confirmation code might be.

As might Pre-Paid cards.

Name the bank that issues such 'one sided' debit/credit cards?

If it is a thing then it seems insecure and I'd like to know more.

dr_adidas01

Newcad said:

born_again said:

Are you aware that a lot of cards have nothing on the front other than bank name & Visa/Mastercard logo & all Account details/Card number/CVV are on the back. 👍

No debit, or credit, cards that I know of from any bank are like that.

Although I  can see how NFC cards with no confirmation code might be.

As might Pre-Paid cards.

Name the bank that issues such 'one sided' debit/credit cards?

If it is a thing then it seems insecure and I'd like to know more.

There are quite a few banks that have no card details on the front for example. Barclays, Lloyds, TSB, Halifax, bank of Scot, RBS, NatWest. Nationwide HSBC, First Direct, Santander, Monzo, Revolut, Chase… but to name a few. 

Here’s a pic of a few of my cards that have no details on the front of them!!