Ingeus

[33crazydude]

The point is that you can't have debtors unless you also have creditors. But in effect, we owe most of this money to ourselves.

 

It just doesn't sound quite so scary when put that way so, of course, no-one ever does put it that way.

 

Roughly 97% of the money supply is created by commercial banks and our government should stop borrowing from private banks.

Our government is perfectly capable of creating its own debt free money to stimulate our economy.

Furthermore, maybe we could implement a land tax and remove other non progressive taxes like income tax.

 

 

[jasta11]

I would still attend the appointment - even though it sounds like the letter they sent you was not a valid 'mandatory activity' letter as you say it didn't contain anything about losing benefits if you failed to attend - and the DWP clearly state that bit must be included.

 

The problem is, even if you raised a legitimate query about it, the WP tell the JC you failed to attend and in their usual uncaring way, the JC immediately stop your money while it gets sorted out. Even if you're proved right and your money is re-instated you'll still be without it for a few weeks. Better to just bite your lip and go in - we've all had to do that.

 

You can tell them that all communications must in future be by letter. In any event, they can't make you attend by texting you or telephoning you - they have to send a supporting letter, written correctly and giving you 2 days notice of the appointment. Again, this is DWP rules. They can text or phone to remind you of an existing appointment, but not to make the actual appointment itself.

 

The entire WP has proven to be a total waste of time; an exercise in box-ticking, money-making, exploitation and being seen to be helping people. It's all pure image with little substance. We know it and they know it. The fact they subsequently created a 'Post Work Programme' clearly shows how much of a failure it is and how many are still unemployed.

[Charlotte_Henderson]

Does anyone actually REALLY think any adviser at JCP or a WP actually wants to help you? Sorry, they do not. In 1 year and 2 months I have had NO HELP at all with ANYTHING aoart from following tick box exercises so they can note what has been done

 

All they care about is their bonus at the end of the month, they don't give two hoots about you!

[Charlotte_Henderson]

I have an appointment with them tomorrow and I'm not attending.

 

 

Never not attend an Ingeus appointment, its not worth the hassle you'll get from not attending.

[Chester6]

Bet you're glad. Wasn't it all worthwhile and has made you a better, more skilled person? No need to answer that

 

Now you can look forward to 6 months on the Post Work Program - which isn't too bad as long as you show them you're doing loads to find work and hopefully get a half-decent advisor. They'll probably 'up' your JS Agreement a bit too. If they think you're doing well they'll only want to see you once a month so make sure you give them plenty of printouts and rubbish they can look at. I've found that the customers who are - or appear to be - playing the game get left alone more.

 

New stuff supposed to be happening in April but nobody at the JC knows what. The advisor I saw on Thursday hadn't a clue what was going to happen so I'm still on the PWP even though technically my 6 months was up a while ago. I just hope we don't have to go back to the WP.

 

PWP is worst then Ingeus in my opinion as the staff Iv met are petty vindictive bullies who aren't interested in listening

[joeski]

life is hard enough without the likes of ingeus making things worse. this government are treating people who are sick disabled and unemployed as if they have committed a criminal offense

[Chester6]

life is hard enough without the likes of ingeus making things worse. this government are treating people who are sick disabled and unemployed as if they have committed a criminal offense

plus some try to make the unemployed think its their fault for being unemployed

[joeski]

plus some try to make the unemployed think its their fault for being unemployed

 

yes i've found that to, also papers such as the daily mail and daily express are portraying the unemployed in a bad light.

[JustInterested]

New stuff supposed to be happening in April but nobody at the JC knows what. The advisor I saw on Thursday hadn't a clue what was going to happen so I'm still on the PWP even though technically my 6 months was up a while ago. I just hope we don't have to go back to the WP.

 

The 'new stuff' will be happening in April. It'll either be MIR or continuation of it if you're already on it or six months of Community Work Placements (CWP) or daily signing. Those are the options. However, they don't have the resources to do this for everyone so keep your head below the parapet and try not to make yourself a candidate for selection (easier said than done!).

 

There's no hint of being returned to the WP but they still have their grubby mitts in the pot because they'll be the providers for the CWP.

[33crazydude]

plus some try to make the unemployed think its their fault for being unemployed

 

As time passes, unemployment is only going to get worse because of technology

 

[Charlotte_Henderson]

plus some try to make the unemployed think its their fault for being unemployed

 

Oh this is so true

[BomBomBom]

Well I went to my appointment today. I ended up being 10 minutes late because some crazy woman on the bus refused to pay the appropriate fare and held the bus up for ages. I then started getting phonecalls from Ingeus and an email saying "Care to explain why you are running late?". I then got moaned at when I entered Ingeus and my new advisor basically said I was doing everything correctly in regards to looking for a job but that I'll be down every week to make adjustments to my C.V and go over basic job searching techniques anyway (he showed me a piece of paper with instructions. No joke, one instruction on the list was "Make sure to spell the job search website correctly into Google to get the exact result".

 

She then gave me the fantastic advice - "Just keep applying and you'll find something". Great. An hour on the bus and an hour back just for THAT! And I'm back down next week at 9am!

[essexmat]

INWell I have an up to date CV and CL that I tailor for every job I apply for and I used to coach people on interview technique so need no help with that and I can bet my life I am far more qualified and professional than the berks sitting behind a desk at INGEUS. So, I will await my next appointment on Thursday at 2.30pm to see what is coming next as I simply do not need to go on any pointless courses or need help with anything - in the last 2 week period I have done tailored CVs and CLs for 18 jobs so there is NOTHING I need to be there for as I can do everything (and I do) at home without their 'help'

 

INGEUS: "So why do you think you are not getting replies or interviews?"

 

ME: "Because there are no real jobs. I want a permanant position not zero contract or part time and a large % of the jobs are agency fakes. It is the climate that is preventing me getting a gainful position not my applications as there are 100+ people applying for some of the jobs so I refuse to take blame for being unemployed through redundancy"

[essexmat]

Well it is INGEUS day tomorrow for me, 17 applications, all perfectly noted on a WORD document, all email replies kept, CV and CL updated and happy enough on my own doing what I need to do - let's see what they have to say tomorrow - I know what, get me back next week to go through, erm, nothing, as there is nothing to do as I am well equipped at home to do searches and applications and need NO SUPPORT!

Edited March 5, 2014 by honeybee13
Pejorative word.

[jasta11]

Sickening isn't it? An all too familar tale. They're not calling you in for your benefit but to satisfy their own 'box ticking' requirements so they can say to their DWP masters 'We've been engaging with the customer regularly so we're doing a grand job'.

 

Naturally they fail to also mention that you could have done all this perfectly well at home. It's all done for image - and to imply that if you're still unemployed after the 2 years then it has to be your fault as they've 'done lots' for you.

 

The government are utterly to blame for instigating this waste of money, time and resources.

 

Stick with it. remember one day you'll be done with them forever.

[essexmat]

En route to Ingeus shortly to waste my time and talk utter garbage. Hopefully it will be 2 weeks before I have to go again. If they try the one week appointment spiel I am going to ask what benefit it will be as I can do EVERYTHING I need to with my own resources. Actually feel sick at having to go and be patronised

[Mr.P]

Actually feel sick at having to go and be patronised

 

Insist that staff address you as Sir - It re-enforces the point that they are there to help you and that you are the client.

[ismael urzaiz]

as previously posted i'm finished with them,my last advisor told me he had 200 'clients'on his list, had to book 13 appointments a day,so quick maths he saw everyone once a month.

[Bakatcha]

as previously posted i'm finished with them,my last advisor told me he had 200 'clients'on his list, had to book 13 appointments a day,so quick maths he saw everyone once a month.

That figures. If I remember rightly (and I usually do) the minimum promise given by the bidders for the WP contracts was to see people once a month (at least). No doubt this has been ignored by many with no comeback in terms of penalties.

[jasta11]

At least the WP's greed has worked to our advantage as they've taken on so many clients that they can't possibly see them too often - especially the clients who are guidance-wise and won't take any nonsense. I found even going in there once every 6 weeks too annoying, God forbid every single week.

[ismael urzaiz]

That figures. If I remember rightly (and I usually do) the minimum promise given by the bidders for the WP contracts was to see people once a month (at least). No doubt this has been ignored by many with no comeback in terms of penalties.

 

 

my 4th advisor would just ring up every month for 2 minutes and ask if i was working which no doubt he marked down as a 30 minute office visit,therefore allowing him to .'see' more people and hit his targets

[essexmat]

Well I am back and in one piece!

 

It wasn't too bad, adviser was nice as pie today and was impressed with my organisation and documents and didn't even bother to check what I had applied for so obviously she knows who she can trust and who needs checking up on. My CV is now spot on and my CL language is also spot on so she says and she can't understand why I am not getting interviews. I said it wasn't because I cannot do the job it is simply because there are too many applicants and a lot of the jobs are fake to get you signed up to agencies!

 

She said I was 'job ready' so only needs to see me every 2 weeks on my signing on day so that is a relief and I asked again about workfare and courses I do not need and she said all, if anything, I would need to go to is mock interview stuff to keep confidence up which is a few hours but no 2 week courses or anything I do not need. I really don't think they know what to do with me!

 

Objectives for next 2 weeks were "carry on with what you are doing" i.e. translated to "we really can't do anything with you and you are more than capable of getting on with stuff yourself"

 

Ho-Hum!

[gil_jnr]

I've read their automated text message reminder and their appointment letter and there's nothing that says I'll be sanctioned if I don't go to this appointment. Should I take the risk and not attend or should I just suck it up and get it over with? I fear if I may go I could be quite rude to them and probably get myself in trouble for their behaviour when I was working.

 

I signed-off in Sept' 2012 without declaring any reason on the returned JSA book (I'd started a job) and didn't attend the arranged appointment with Ingeus as there was no point. I didn't hear anything from them until Jan 2013 when I received an appointment by text with details of a new advisor.

 

I rang the number in the message and politely told them that I was no longer a JSA claimant, and that if I ever received another letter, phonecall, text message or otherwise from them, I would happily attend their office to smash their face in with a brick.

 

I've not heard a squeak from them ever since

[antone]

Can't advocate threats of violence here. You know how it is.

[gil_jnr]

Can't advocate threats of violence here. You know how it is.

 

I'm not advocating violence, rather sharing a person experience.

 

After being subject to attempted fraud and threats of sanctions on National Insurance contributions by the previous advisor (all recorded and submitted as evidence to Jobcentre & Ingeus regional management) it was the last straw, and to be perfectly honest, very cathartic to be able to finally utter such words directly to them without any fear