Removal of telephones in jcp's

[LongHairedLily]

Sometime ago I requested clarification regarding the removal of courtesy telephones for claimants within the JCP'S. My local MP addressed this question to IDS, now some months later I received a copy of the letter sent to my MP clarifying the situation.

 

This is the response below.

 

Dear John

 

Thank you for your letter of 11 November 2013 on behalf of one of your constituents regarding the withdrawal of Customer Access Phones from the Jobcentres. I apologise for the delay in replying.

 

There is an intention to commence the removal of the phones from the (my home town JCP) from April 2014. Research has shown that the main use for the phones is for benefit enquiries, usually concerning when a claimant is due to receive their payment.

 

The purpose of the Digital Jobcentre project is to introduce further Web Access Devices that claimants can use for both benefit enquiries and job searches.

 

In addition to this, there is also an assisted service available in all Jobcentres where vulnerable claimants who need to use a telephone can do so at a specific desk.

 

I hope my reply will reassure your constituent that when the Customer Phones are removed the replacement devices will ensure the service we provide our claimants is enhanced and not compromised.

 

 

The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP

 

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

 

This letter has been copied word for word from the letter, with my local JCP removed for privacy of my location.

[citizenB]

Hmm, so it looks like they might be removing the telephones, over which they presumably are not permitted to snoop and introducing web based communication - where they can !!

[osdset]

In addition to this, there is also an assisted service available in all Jobcentres where vulnerable claimants who need to use a telephone can do so at a specific desk.

The queues were horrendous at my JCP when they had six phones available. I can just imagine the chaos if there is just one desk with a phone available.

[Nystagmite]

I wasn't happy that I'd walked all the way down to the job centre this morning to find there was no telelphones there. 0845 numbers are expensive to call.

[**Margaret**]

:Jobcentre Phones:

 

Now you see them, then you don't.

 

CAG has a previous thread on this;

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?408754-Jobcentre-trying-to-get-rid-of-their-phones

 

And some more reading;

 

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/dwp-news.cfm/digital-jobcentres

 

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2014-02-10a.186287.h&s

 

Margaret.

[rebel11]

Depending on which home phone provider you use, some do an all in one package, you pay £6 a month, regardless of the number you call, but read the small print. Most include calls to 0845.

 

I wasn't happy that I'd walked all the way down to the job centre this morning to find there was no telelphones there. 0845 numbers are expensive to call.

[pcombo]

With new regulations coming in next year to make 0800 numbers free on mobiles, DWP should change all it's numbers ot 0800. It is a government department it shouldn't be out to make profit as if it were a private company.

 

That way they dont need to provide any telephones in JC's which will save the tax payer, simply use the revenue collected over the years to pay for the 0800 numbers, or the DWP may even get them for free.

[Mr.P]

That way they dont need to provide any telephones in JC's which will save the tax payer.

 

The telephones provided in the JCP are used for much more than just contacting DWP departments. A significant number of claimants do not have their own phones (either a land line or mobile) so need some way of contacting potential employers when the UJM adverts only give a phone number to call.

 

The claim to provide an assisted service available in all Jobcentres where vulnerable claimants who need to use a telephone pays lip service to the notion that a few people do not have a phone of their own.