Bureaucrats: Kill them with fire (also Chavs)

[erastes]

So – another morning at the Job Centre and another session of being treated like a fucking CRIMINAL.

Today it was another new (probably contract) worker who I’d never seen before. I clearly have written on my jobseekers job book “I am unable to look for work as I’m now transferring to Carer’s Allowance as I’m looking after my father for 35 hours a week -  and they will be paying me from 1st April 2010.”  However Shona says “And what have you done to look for work?”

Me: Nothing - *points to helpful explanatory note*

Shona: *puts on voice probably reserved for the very very very dim.*  Yes, but you see – to be eligible for Job Seeker’s Allowance, you need to be seeking work.

Me: Yes. I know. However.. *explains again*

Shona: *basically repeats what she just said because obviously I didn’t hear her the first time.*

Me: Yes I know.  I could have made up a job search, but I thought it was best to be honest!  Silly me!

Shona: Did you bring this letter in from the Carer’s department?

Me: No, I didn’t.

Shona: Why not?

Me: Because it didn’t tell me that I’d NEED to, plus it clearly stated that THEY HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

Shona: We need to see a copy of that letter.

Me: Can’t you get them to send you one?

Shona: No.

Me: OK – i’ll bring it in next time.

Shona: We need to see it before that. come back with a copy.

Me: NO. I live miles away, and I commute to Dad’s which is 30 miles from HERE. I’ll post a copy.

Shona: All right. And you’ll need to keep applying for jobs until the Carer’s Allowance kicks in.

Me: How stupid. I won’t apply – but I’ll pretend I have – all right?

Shona: Yes, that’s fine.

ARGH!!!!

then I went to the library, and there were no parking spots left so I waited until one freed up, and when someone backed their car out, this car with two chavs just drove in and pinched it! 

So  - STELLAR day.  All in all!

 

  - -

Comments

[lexin.livejournal.com]

Never tell them you are unable to look for work, not until you're starting a job/something else the next day. Seriously. 'Not able to look for work' is a bad news phrase to anyone working in JC+ as it means forms out the wazoo.

I know it shouldn't be like that, but it is.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It's bloody MAD. I told them two weeks ago what I was doing, and two weeks ago they were fine with it, but of course you never see the same person twice - and despite the previous person putting the whole thing up on the screen, this idiot didn't even LOOK at it. I should have just invented a huge list of jobs I'd applied for - I will for next time, as I don't officially transfer for another month.

I've also got to go to some "outsourced job finder" next week for a 2 hour "help you get back to work" interview - what a waste of bloody time and money.

[paddynmoon.livejournal.com]

Argh, tell me about it. I don't even need to look for work at the moment, which is handy as I'm basically unemployable, but they still always ask.

I find it best to just seem incredibly enthusiastic about finding work and accept printouts for any and all vacancies that are offered. It's a lot less hassle.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh yes - i've been unemployed for two years, and I've always had scads of printouts and copy letters and I always apply for at least ten jobs a week - stupid me for thinking that it would make sense to be HONEST, this week eh?

[paddynmoon.livejournal.com]

I know it's bollocks, but frankly if it keeps them off my back then I'll say whatever they want to hear.

Knowing that the system is geared towards wanting everyone back in work, it makes sense not to make life harder for myself with people who have no concept of what I'm going through.

I've been out of work for over a year, I'm divorced, qualified for nothing and I've got a child with a chronic illness who will need a kidney transplant in a few years, I mean, I'm hardly prime recruitment material, but whatever if it shuts them up and stops them looking at me like a criminal then I will do it.

Just have to hope they finally award my son Disability Living Allowance, seeing as he's eight and has virtually no bladder or bowel control to speak of, and the school gets funding, but so far I don't even get help covering the cost of running back and forth to hospital. But, yeah, until then, life sucks too much to make it suck more.

[mysid.livejournal.com]

As one mom of kid-who-will-need-transplant to another: HUGS YOU!

[paddynmoon.livejournal.com]

Thank you ***hugs you back***

I'm not normally this overwrought about things, just a bit frustrated at the moment!

[beckyblack]

I used to work at a Job Centere, but I was just a general office dogsbody doing menial stuff. About the only client interaction I did was making appointments for people to make new claims. But some of the staff who did deal with clients were absolute gits for sure. Mind you, so were some of the clients! Put one each of those together and watch the sparks fly.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I think this woman - to be honest - thought I was going to another lazy scrounger or something - i'm fat and pretty scruffy - but when the old accent came out, and the oratory skillz she was begging my pardon by the end, and apologising. HAH. i WIN.

[beckyblack]

The job can make a person cynical for sure. But even on the limited amount of client interaction I had showed me that every one who came through the door had a different story and needed to be treated as an individual. We used to get everyone from laid off university professors to people who'd just been released from prison that morning. And it was also hard to tell who was going to be the worst to deal with!

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

Because if they were nice and helpful then people would quit their jobs in droves and the whole economy would sink, don't you see that, you silly girl? =)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

True! Doh!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Chavs are the spawn of Satan. And some Job Centre staff are his toenail clippings. Not all - I've known a few who quietly advised me what to do to get round the worst idiocies and joined me in head desking. But some - gah.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I've not had ONE decent one in two years. And I've never seen the same one twice, either. It's lunacy.

[mysid.livejournal.com]

Stupid American question of the day: What are chavs?

[rwday.livejournal.com]

Oh, ugh. Your first mistake was being honest - always tell the bureaucrats what they want to hear.

I find it very annoying when I'm dealing with a customer service rep or bureaucrat who has my file in front of them and they can't be bothered to read it.