The computer they use to take the claims won't allow it, as you're technically employed on the friday if that's the last day at work and the claim starts from the first day of unemployment. The computer won't accept a future date.

It's probably not even worth backdating the claim too far on the Rapid Reclaim either when he does that, it'll end up getting turned down for the same reasons, and just delay payments and the processing of the claim. Best bet is to get the Rapid Reclaim running asap, and take it as a lesson in life unfortunately. I mean, without meaning to sound harsh, in reality it was his fault. Had he been working and failed to turn up he would have been sacked, or at least disciplined in the same way.

He phoned them after and also lied to them. An appeal won't get very far in reality. You need a good reason to miss signing on like the post above says, and being "away" doesn't count, it's generally just interviews, childcare or hospital and you need to prove you did those things most of the time.

It's not a great system, but when it's a choice between yourself as the employee or the customers, it's only going one way - only one of those 2 pays the household bills. As well as the targets, there's the departmental division - so each employee is only encouraged to deal with their specific job and even if they could potentially help are told no to, to keep their departments stats nice.

It depends on the type of JSA (Conts or Conts/IB). Can't remember which way round, but one of them is done by the week, and the other by the day, so the actual days, including saturdays (not sundays) is relevant. You wouldn't be able to make the claim over the phone on the last day you worked, as the computer won't allow it, but you can start it the very next day, including saturdays on the internet.

It's how you're guided by the management in there. Everyone starts nice, they care, they want to help. Reviews come and you're not hitting targets and you get the choice ... Yourself OR the customers You either hit targets and keep your job safe, or you help people and facing constant moaning etc. about missed targets and doing work you technically could pass the customer on to someone else to do. It's exceptionally hard to do both, and like you said, a lot of the staff who've been there a while just drift into the easy, scripted, vague approach instead of actually listening and caring.

First off, are you sure the overpayment was IS, or social fund/crisis loan? I'm not sure if I misread, but it sounded as if you may have confused the 2. Also, when you sign the initial agreement for IS you agree that any overpayments can be recovered as long as they tell you beforehand so in theory they do have the right ot recover the money as long as they believe it was an overpayment. Having said that, if you have bank statements or CSA documents to show you weren't receiving any CM during that period it may be that you can contact them and have them recalculate that period. There wasn't anything else that changed that you didn't tell them about straight away or anything was there? Any part time work or anything like that, because a lot of that is taken into account when processing IS. Same with a change of address, if you don't let them know straight away, it causes all sorts of problems. Hope some of that helped.

Hi, This is the first time I've ever been in this situation regarding bailiffs and I really don't have any idea what to do so I'm asking for help. Basically I recieved a letter today from Dukes bailiffs regarding unpaid council tax in Stoke On Trent. The outstanding balance is £670.37 which is for a few previous months aswell as up until April I think. Now, I've recently been made unemployed and made redundant and I am now claiming Job Seekers allowance while I look for work. I have claimed for support with council tax and rent from the job centre and that claim is ongoing. The bailiffs have asked for the full amount of be paid within 14 days which I cannot afford. There is then a form to arrange a payment plan. It asks a few things such as job, income, outgoings, e-mail address and date of birth. I've read around the internet that I should perhaps try to get the debt passed back to the council some way and that I should not fill in this form, sign it and acknowledge the debt to the bailiffs. Can anyone clear this up for me? I really don't know what to do next - I've spoke to the job centre and they've suggested that once my council tax claim has gone through then everything after 1st December should be payable by the benefits system and not me, which would bring down the total owed dramatically. However, that might take longer than 14 days particularly over christmas, and I don't want to cause any avoidable trouble with the bailiffs if I don't respond to them ASAP Any advice would very much be appreciated, I've seen a few other topics where people have been very helpful in resolving problems that people have had. Thanks in advance, James If you need any more info, just ask