General Chat

I will say, the staff who set up my initial claim were brilliant..they were friendly and helpful and really nice.

It is the staff at the actual signing on office...it costs nothing to call out MR Smith or MRS Jones, or MS Bloggs..

Nor does it cost anythingto smile now and then.

I asked if theres any courses I could do, was told theyd get back to me. 4 months on, Im still waiting lol. Worst thing was, when I went in to ask, I had our baby in a pushchair, I couldnt open the heavy doors without struggling, the staff sat at their desks glaring at me. Then made a show of not knowing how to pronounce my first name (normal name, Hebrew spelling), ok its slightly unusual but easy to work out. In a loud voice, one worker said 'Whats that? Are you foreign? What a bizarre name!' If I was foreign I'd be offended, but I just smiled and said 'Its not bizarre, its Hebrew. Do you not like Jews?' She shut up.

My husband was made redundant not so long ago so he has to sign on at the min. He went for 2 driving jobs last month, but they were given to Polish workers, he's got an interview in 2 weeks tho for something else. He hates going to sign on, as you say Teresa the place is full of yobs, drunks, and people who want an argument. He doesnt think he's better than anyone else, but he feels embarrassed having to stand with that lot. One of the Job Centre workers has a right attitude, which doesnt help.

While I sympathise with you all about being unable to find a job and the treatment you receive from some of the jobcentre staff
May I give you another point of view
My daughter has worked at a jobcentre ever since she left school and she tells some people she doesn't make the rules she is just following the guidlines laid down by the government, but she gets a lot of flack about it
The office she works in has now banned some of the louts from bringing their mates in and they have to arrive on time or else they don't get benefit
To the ones who use the f word etc she tells them if they speak to her in a proper manner she will deal with them if not she won't proceesss their claim
I have often heard being called the dark haired bitch by some of the unemployables whilst at the bus stop

She does however go out of her way to help genuine claimants and tries to find suitable employment for them

Bren

like thy said hun ya paid ya taxes so you rentitled to it babes

luv n hugs
stray
xxx

Teresa - I have been there. When I was ill I had to sign on, I saw some sights, druggies discussing where their next score was coming from amongst other things.

I think they know the difference between someone genuine and the dossers they have to deal with. Look at it this way, you have paid your dues so hopefully soon a job will come your way hun and you will be out of that situation.

Lynda xxx

Awww well done dodger! Good for you, hope it all goes well.

I have heard from the agency, hopefully might have an interview on weds, they said my CV is almost word for word what this company are looking for..

i know what you mean,i havent been on dole for 24 years,out of work on monday ,phoned jobcenter to see what you have to do ,told i had to go to jobcenter office on friday,didnt know where it was so decided to have a drive down to where it is,when i got there lots of people milling around out side 1 was drinking beer,it didnt look nice,n e way got interveiw for job wed ,thought it went ok,by time i got home the had been on phone to offer me job twice,they must be desperate,started this morning.think i will forego the 3 days benifit i might have been able to claim,

Aaaaaargh my favourite subject - scroungers!!

Hello TW

Shove the scroungers out the way, demand the curtesy of being address by your title and surname, and don't accept the excuse that they don't know if you would be insulted if they used it!

You paid towards their bl**dy wages after all - they work for you.

I am lucky cos I knew them all at our little local office and when I took redundancy 7 years ago they were brilliant. No pressure to apply for anything which was low paid or unsuitable. I was lucky I had insurance but for those that don't and are genuine my blood boils!! What they pay is a pittance you would think they were paying you the average UK wage each week instead of a few quid.

The problem is they will target the genuine ones who don't play the system.

I really feel for you with this.

Love

Sue xx

AWWW Well I wish you well in your search and you just remeber to keep your held held high!

Maddie, I have joined a couple of agencies, but I dont want to do temping this time, too much messing about. Besides the agencies round here don't exactly keep you informed of jobs, you have to almost stage a sit-in to get one.

My last job was through an agency here, I was with them for 6 months and they didnt offer me one single temp or perm job. I found my last job throuth the jobcentre, and it was put there by...guess who? The agency I had joined 6 months before. Turns out the company had been using them for over a year for temp staff.

They are a lot different from the agencies I have used in Essex when I lived there..if you signed up with them on Friday, you were working within the week.

Teresa keep your held held high and keep applying - as everyone else has said you have earned the right to be there - but I suspect you would rather being doing a 9 - 5 than have to go through that and thats what makes a difference! Dont let go of that thought.

Have you thought about temping at all or joining a recruitment agency?

They are just as bad and have to interview you several times over to make sure you are who / what you say and think they are above you even if you are more skilled and qualified than they ever will be!

I am lucky not have had to sign on but I got close to it once - when I left a job of my own accord and moved hundreds of miles away. I had saved enough to get a job within two months - but it wansnt so easy. I ended up temping and almost three years on am still there but as an employee and in a far more senior role (the one I am qualified for) rather than the one I took to tide me over.

Thank you AH

well said not so posh
catherine
xx

Wow CC that was a brave decision, what on earth did you live on?

well you said it you daft mere..........tsk....

Do you look like a dosser ? Nope

Do you look like a drunk ? Nope

Do you look like a druggie ? Nope


They was wondering who you are maybe there new boss or something .....or shocked your there..

Shurrup Hayley LOL

Catherine, I'm not ashamed, it just feels a bit intimidating when the staff on fag breaks look you up and down as you walk past, and then you have to push your way through dossers and drunks outside the entrance...I've been down there before when a drunk was causing fights all over the place, and throwing up everywhere...not something you want to deal with at 10.00am.

TW , OH was there a couple of months ago . Just remember next time you visit.... your taxes paid for the building , the staff and your benefits ... in fact you are their employer !!! Good luck Hun xxx Kim x

nothing to be ashamed or worried about TW
we all done it in our time me included-
good luck with the job hunting an intelligent and sassy woman like you will have no probs.
infact it's their loss
catherine
xx

I know you would think they would cut down on benifits somewhere so they could bulid them a shelter or something...lol