That "very brief call" just made them £400. So if you withdrew consent before your advisor called them, then they have broken the data protection law.. and you could take action.

I was thinking more a pushy door to door salesman/women, would suit them!

They tried to get me to do a course in retail, even though that wasn't my first choice of work agreed by the JC. If they MANDATE you to any course offered and you don't attend, the pimps won't hesitate to recommend a sanction. And if you're being offered a fork lift course, why must you do a course in retail first? I don't see how they're related, sounds like a quick expense claim to me. As far as I'm aware, ingeus claim back the expenses of the course from DWP. It's clever how they do it, as far as DWP are concerned these 4 week courses will help us back in to work. But we really know that's not the case.

I read elsewhere a review on what it's like to work for ingeus. They said something about having to get through 30 clients a day and do all the paperwork involved.

Allowing these pimps to authorise sanctions on clients was the worst thing you could possibly do. "We are all in this together" - David Scameron

Cool story bro. Nah but seriously don't sign your life away to them enjoy what freedom you have left.

Depends, when I took a contract with vodafone the number they gave me was some bodies old number. Hence why I got phone calls from debt collecting companies etc..

On one appointment, I heard someone talking to his advisor saying I don't need to do any of these college courses as they aren't relevant. To which the advisor says "Either way I'll find a course for you to do there's no getting out of it!".

Is that valid of today? I know they changed some stuff around on the 22nd oct along with the longer benefit sanctions.

Don't let it stress you out. Just send off the letters like you say, stick at your job and put in the effort, act interested even if the job isn't brilliant. Remember this, you found yourself a job. You can now support yourself without their help!

Lets say someone wants to withdraw consent. Do you hand your advisor or their manager the letter to sign? and if they read it, does that mean you are withdrawn regardless and if they don't comply it's breaking the Data Protect Act 1998? Also would you send a copy to your local job centre or head office? was just curious.

Funny you should mention that. They signed me up to some dodgy course that was over an hour+ travelling time that I didn't bother attending. They left me alone for about 4 months, then I received a letter saying I have been referred back to Ingeus on the personal route ways program. Basically if you get referred to personal route ways they will make your life hell.

I'm trying to find something on the net about the cost of the work programme. I think it totals to £3.8 billion but can't find it, I'll keep looking!

Well yeah, sign a new one to cover their backs haha. They are so corrupt and the government looks right past it. Looking at how much they can earn from "finding" one person a job is up to £13,700, now I'm not sure what the total costs of running the work programme scheme + wages + payments for finding a client a job. But I'm positive it's cheaper just to leave them signing on until they find a job themselves? crazy.

Well that is committing fraud. They go on about how we are all scroungers begging for £55 a week of the state. I mean you would need proof but it should be easy in seeing if it's your signature or not!

Revised version as of 2012; The Ingeus Customer Pledge • Harassment in to finding a job • Make you attend premises for pointless job search • Sanction you for not bending over and letting us rape you • Treat you like a slave • Disrespect at all times If you would like to make a complaint about the service you receive, please speak to your advisor or ask for a copy of our complaints procedure. What we will do for you: • Keep in regular contact by harassing your email/phone/mobile • Ensure you can easily contact us even if you don't own a phone or computer • Give you access to our dirty computers • Not encourage you to make complaints* • Distribute your personal information world wide • Fine you for using the car park

In this current climate even with experience it's hard to find a job. Your advisor is lucky they have a job that pays £24k+ a year that any of us could do.. some of my advisors can barely use a computer lol. I find below something very ammusing. Taken from http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/provider-minimum-service-delivery.pdf "The Ingeus Customer Pledge • A flexible service that is convenient and accessible • A personalised package of support that is tailored to your needs • A professional Careers Academy and support to help you develop and progress in work • Priority access to exclusive job vacancies and job market information • Respect at all times and support to set your own goals If you would like to make a complaint about the service you receive, please speak to your advisor or ask for a copy of our complaints procedure. What we will do for you: • Keep in regular contact with you • Ensure you can easily contact us • Give you access to the tools and information you need • Encourage and act on your feedback or complaints* • Protect your personal information • Provide you with equality of opportunity • Focus on your safety and welfare"

I believe Ingeus get paid that, then they will pass on a percentage to the advisor who "helped" you find a job. If you withdraw consest I wouldn't think they'd be able to contact the employer on your behalf? Nimitz would probably know more about this.

Yes. And they get paid for every year you're in work, up to 5 years I believe.

Nope mine didn't really talk to me. Apart from "you alright, know what you're in for?" .. let me guess I made my way to Ingeus to get a free cup of coffee and chat with all the advisors! And did you ever get made to do a mandatory workshop at Ingeus itself? It was so stupid, the person was asking us stuff like "What are your barriers to getting a job?" then talking about all the hidden jobs blah blah it lasted 2 hours couldn't believe it. There's one advisor she must in her 60's, but I heard her refer to her clients as a bunch of "toerags". But to be fair the word is probably as old as her.

Not sure, doesn't seem that way here. I'd assume as they are your personal advisor who wants to generate leads, they'd follow up any employment.

The Ingeus staff don't deserve the title of employment advisor IMO. They should be called 'Finding Employment Sales Assistant', as they do work to targets and try get their hands on all the money the DWP pays them for outcomes. I heard an advisor the other month ringing up one of her clients employers. Since it's an open office and that. Basically she called up as she is XXX's employment worker who helped XXX find a job and was wondering if XXX was still there, thinking deep down she is just thinking of the £££ makes you sick.

Exactly may as well add @ingeus to my block list.

Anyone give their advisors your email address? I gave them mine, and they constantly send me links to jobs like pests. Now I don't mind the odd email daily, but one day last week I was sent a total of 18 emails in the space of 5 hours (no exaggeration) now it's annoying since emails come straight to my phone and alert me. The thing with the jobs too, they aren't tailored for our needs it's pointless jobs you need an FLT licence, or a CSCS card, or an NVQ level 2 in cleaning... pointless when I have non. Rant over.

I was going through that site, I noticed this part. "Your organisation needs to make it clear to customers that giving consent is voluntary and that refusal to give consent or withdrawal of an existing consent will not affect any benefit they may be entitled to.” Now I wasn't told about this? I was under the impression that if we didn't sign the forms we would loose our benefit basically. If I was told that before signing, I would have got up and walked out the door then and there.