Thanks for the advice. I'm using non-mandatory activity, a lack of a letter, a lack of explanation of sanctions for failing to attend in the letter I got for the different activity (issued at the same appointment) and non-relevance of the activities in regard to the work I am actually looking for. I will have to get it in filled in and sent off pretty soon because the time allotted is a joke. I can imagine for most people it being a stressful ordeal. There's no guidance or help offered within the letter, and if they haven't heard from me after the 11th of this month, then they assume I am making no defence. It's obvious they just want to sanction as many people as possible.

I received a letter this morning from the DWP saying that a doubt has been raised because it appears I failed to undertake an activity Ingeus told me to do. I keep all my letters from Ingeus, and on looking where I keep them all, I don't have a letter in regards to the activity. What I do have is a letter from the week later for a similar activity, and there is no mention of it being a mandatory appointment, and there is no list of possible sanctions on the letter. On the doubt letter (or Good Reason Letter) it asks me why I failed to attend, if I contacted Ingeus (no I never), what they said if I did contact them (I never contacted them), and if I never contacted Ingeus, why not? Of course my real reason for not attending is that I find these "awareness" workshops to be a complete of waste, but that's hardly going to stand up. But like I said earlier, I was booked onto the activity, but was never given a letter. The only letter I did get was printed on the same day (for a similar activity the week later), and it was not a mandatory appointment. Can anybody give any advice on how I should fill in the "Good Reason" form please?

I dunno, my adviser has been okay with me up to now. I haven't received any letter from the DWP stating a doubt has been raised, so I have to take their word for it. Having no desire to step foot in an Ingeus is one thing, but having to do so to avoid sanctions is another. Anyway, thanks to Mr. P, I managed to contact my adviser and cite the relevant telephone regulations in objection to cold-calling. It worked. My cold-calling sessions have now been changed to lone job search sessions. Mr. P (and me) 1-0 my adviser.

As ever, great advice Mr.P. I have another 4 weeks of "cold-calling" sessions, but I will tomorrow be emailing a request to cancel all such sessions based on these guidelines. I will also highlight the fact that many employers will simply bin CVs following any follow up calls.

I've not been on here for a while, so Ill give an update. Usual rubbish. I missed a pre-screen last week because I have no faith in their selection policy (remember the happy and cheery requirement I told you about). I missed an appointment on Monday because it was an hour session of "cold-calling" potential employers who I have already sent spec letters and a CV to. A total waste of time and as far as I'm aware, most employers dislike follow-up calls as it wastes their time. And I also hate taking cold-calls at home, so practising it would make me something of a hypocrite. My adviser left a message saying how concerned they were about my non-attendance, so the next day I made some BS excuse that I was ill. All is fine. I'm also expected to do a "CV walk" in the few weeks. I've already sent 70 out in the last 3 weeks. Starting to irritate me now. I have no absolutely no desire to step foot in another Ingeus office. The thing which annoys me most (and I've had this conversation) is that my adviser pretends there are loads of jobs out here. Er, hello, unemployment only fell 4,000 in the last figures, and how many of those are "real" jobs, and not just people on zero-hour contracts or being placed on voluntary/exploitative schemes?!?

Best of luck getting your business up and running. Hope it works out for you. I think you need a minimum of 10 posts before you can add attachments. It was 10 anyway to post a URL.

I had the pre-screen interview on Monday, which I thought I breezed through, no problem. All relevant skills and experience etc. Was told I would be phoned on Tuesday to tell me the outcome. Sat by my phone all day (missed out enjoying the good weather!) and no bugger called. The interviews were on Wednesday so I knew I hadn't been forwarded. I had an adviser appointment on Wednesday and apparently the reason I wasn't put forward for an interview was because I wasn't happy and cheery enough in my pre-screen. What a total farce! To be fair to him, the EST chap did look as though he was only just out of nappies. I have another pre-screen tomorrow, at a different centre with a different chap. Hoping common sense and experience wins the day over fake, cheesy happiness. In other news, got myself an interview next week (the one I thought would be this week).

That's what I said. They work FOR Ingeus on behalf of outside employers. They are probably just glorified advisers who have been raised into a position of minor power.

It's with a member of the "Employer Services Team", who work for Ingeus on behalf of outside employers. I see your point. There's plenty enough information on CVs and application forms to determine the suitability of a candidate. Seems like a kind of vetting process to only send the absolute best candidates, so Ingeus stand more chance of claiming their taxpayer-funded award. It's only 15 minutes, so I don't really care as long as I get an interview at the end of it.

My signing on day with JCP is tomorrow, so I'll see if they say anything. I saw my Ingeus adviser today and they never even mentioned my withdrawal. To you and Mr. P, thank you! I think that one interview will soon become two. Another vacancy I applied for have invited me for a "pre-screen" process next week. Should hopefully then secure an interview.

I was a bit stressed/annoyed/worried when I posted that. Calmed down now. From what I understand, the vacancy was real but I was only scheduled to attend a pre-screen interview, which I withdrew from. Adviser said they would pass on my reason for non-attendance to JCP but I haven't heard anything yet. I'm just going to play dumb over it saying I didn't realise I had to attend etc and that I felt unduly pressured into applying in the first place. I'll just see what happens. I think I have a job interview next week anyway for something I want, so if that goes well then hopefully I can say goodbye to Ingeus & JCP!

I made the stupid mistake of allowing myself to be subbed for a job on Friday. It was one I didn't really want but I felt under pressure from two advisers to put my name forward. Anyway, later on Friday I got invited for a "pre-screen" today (Monday), but after consideration and talking to family and friends, I contacted my adviser this morning asking to withdraw my application. They said okay, but informed that details of my withdrawal would have to be passed onto the job centre. Sounds like I should be expecting a sanction sometime soon. The joy! My adviser has been trying to throw me at any kind of job vaguely resembling what I'm looking for and then pressurising me. I'm getting fed up with it, so if I am sanctioned, I will simply close my JSA claim and sever all ties with Ingeus. I could last without the money for a couple of months while I found some decent work, free from JCP/Ingeus interference.

If you have an email address for your adviser, try doing it that way. If not, just use the number for your local centre and say you are not well enough to attend. You don't need to go into detail. They should (hopefully anyway) just book you on the workshop on a different day.

This is what is starting to bother me, especially after my adviser has started subbing me for jobs I don't want. Is there a way I can withdraw my consent of use of my CV? I only consented at first because I thought it may help, but now the more I read and the more things go on, it seems like I'll end up being forced into a job I don't want, and obviously if I refuse, then I will be sanctioned. I know your advice is generally very good, so thanks in advance.

Is your first appointment an induction-type group session? They will give you a form to sign saying you have given them permission to pass your details on to prospective employers, should the opportunity arise. I think they purposely ask you to sign it in a group session because if everybody else signs it without question, then you are more likely to sign it, regardless of any reservations you may have. A bit of unnecessary "peer pressure". The adviser you are assigned to will ask for a copy of your CV. You can say that you are perfectly happy with it (and even bend the truth that you've designed it with the help of an adviser from a local careers service, or such like). They'll probably moan and say it will damage your job prospects, but if you can stomach that, then don't share it with them. I personally think that recording is unnecessary, but that's only from personal experience. I still have reservations about Ingeus, but so far, things have been pretty decent with them. However, for every me, I'm sure there are plenty other people with negative experiences. As for the workshops, it depends on the coordinator. I went on one recently which was about interview questions and techniques. It was supposed to last six hours, but the coordinator had taken out the mock interviews and other irrelevant material, so it only lasted 90 minutes. The one last week was how to fill in an application form. Again, it was supposed to be 3 hours (I think!) but lasted for about 80 minutes. It is tedious but you can survive! Generally, it's one a week at my centre, but some weeks I haven't been sent on any. They will also try to tempt you into voluntary sessions. They offer a range from dealing with stress and anxiety, to general health and pilates and relaxation etc. No idea on the quality of service, but I would steer well clear! As an anxiety sufferer myself (and I've got it under control now, touch wood), if I needed further help, I would go see my GP for a referral to either a professional or a charity which specialises in such mental health issues.

Just make sure you attend all the mandated appointments and workshops, otherwise you will more than likely be sanctioned. If something is optional, then it's completely up to you. I find the workshops to be a tedious affair and I've recently been moaning about being told I should be sending out at least 40 speculative letters a week. I find that wholly unreasonable and it suggests that Ingeus don't give a damn about what job you get, as long as you get one. Just one bit of advice, I'd recommend you don't give them consent to forward your CV to prospective employers. I made the mistake of doing so (thinking it may help my job prospects) and now my adviser has tried to sub me for a few job roles I have little interest in, and then goes mad when I ignore their texts/calls.

Unfortunately, you will find that some JCP staff aren't very helpful and will attempt to pressure/misguide you. The 90 minutes is their standard expected journey time. To be honest, most of the staff I've come across in JCP find it unreasonable and usually stick to jobs within a 10-15 mile radius. They won't chase you up over the cold calling, so don't bother with it. They are satisfied with just online job searching. If you do use the Universal Jobmatch, just make sure you record everything you do, as they expect a minimum of ten "activities" per week. Some of their conditions can be rather strict. For example, I stated I won't work nights, but was told if I refused to take a job which involved shift patterns and included night shifts, I would be sanctioned. Mr P gives some sound advice. Just make sure you stay one step ahead of the game so they don't catch you out. Good luck with your next appointment. Hope it goes better for you.

To make matters worse, Ingeus even have advisors who admit that a large number of CVs and application forms are simply binned if they don't reach whatever requirements. Chasing up a binned CV is a totally pointless exercise. I'm not sure what they hope you achieve by doing so.

Certainly. If any employers were interested after receiving a speculative letter, then I'm sure they would contact you for further information. Chasing up the result of sending such a letter may be seen as an act of desperation or even "harassment". Like I've pointed out, I hate being at home and receiving 3, 4 maybe even 5 "cold calls" a day. It's irritating and I'm certainly not going to behave like a hypocrite by pestering employers about speculative letters I've been made to send.

I find the 40 to be excessive anyway. Living in a post-industrial town, you can either work for Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, Asda, B & M, McDonald's, Burger King... (you get the idea!) It's not exactly a hotbed of good, well-paid employment. Well, the number of cold calls the house gets per day drives me crazy. I would imagine employers being in the same boat. I have no intention of pestering potential employers with "follow up" phone calls for that reason, and your reason.

It was that "refer to boost" appointment. It wasn't mandated but I turned up anyway to stop any hassle from them or the job centre. Never bothered filling in a job search record because I do that for JCP. Anyway, now I am in "boost", I'm expected to send out at least 40 speculative letters per week and then chase them up with phone calls. No chance. I also get to experience the fun of doing a weekly job search with my advisor. This is to offer me "help" with filling in an application form online. I'm more than capable of doing that task myself!

You should be able to contact your local JCP and ask them to inform you when your two years is up. It's worth doing so you can get this Ingeus runt off your back, hopefully sooner rather than later. I was asked to keep a diary of my job search this week. It's like being back at school, only more patronising. I've only been on this damn programme for 4 or 5 weeks now, but I'm getting fed up of being mandated to attend pointless courses or my adviser trying to sub me for jobs I'm not interested in. I noticed something today though. For my appointment tomorrow, I haven't been mandated to attend. Ah, the temptation not to turn up...

Could hardly contain my excitement reading through that. Sounds like more of the same rubbish, only more often and more painful. It does seem like a patronising and demeaning exercise, especially when you consider the state of the current labour market. I can also imagine it meaning making people apply for a load of irrelevant and unsuitable jobs (with the threat of sanctions), just so they increase their chances of claiming their taxpayer-funded reward if you get lucky (or unlucky) enough to land one. Even one of their advisers admitted that the national average for applicants per vacancy was over 200.

Yeah, you still have to attend the Job Centre fortnightly and any mandated appointments or activities/workshops with Ingeus. You do have the right to appeal against your sanction if you think it was given unfairly. All that information should be in the sanction letter. Hmm, as I expected, the "interview skills" workshop was a waste of time. The only worthwhile part was the handout which gave possible interview questions and answers. I don't see why my adviser just couldn't have given me one to go through myself and save me the pain of a dull two hour session. The mock interview "feedback" session was even worse. I'd already been through it all, no problems, with a professional careers adviser. I have a "refer to boost" appointment next week, whatever that means.

I got my activities mixed up. Today is "interview skills" and not job application rubbish. I would rather I was given my mock interview feedback before I was mandated to waste two hours of my life. Decided against the pub in case I fall asleep and get assigned to some "well-being" course.