Human rights act article 8

[trebormoinet]

Specifically relating to personal correspondence.

 

Work program provider wants me to bring a list of agencies I am registered with along with phone numbers and ring them while they listen and or record the conversation.

 

Am I right that without my permission that is an unreasonable request and I can tell them to do one ?

[Mr.P]

If you do not consent to them listening in or recording private conversations, it is not just an invasion of privacy, but a breach of a number of pieces of legislation. HR-Article 8 aside, there would be breaches of various telecommunication acts, Regulation of Investigative Powers Act, Data Protection Act, and more.

 

If they insist, pass the telephone over to the "adviser" and instruct him/her to call their legal department and then the Third Party Contracts manager at the DWP. If he/she refuses, inform them that you will be raising the issue of a breach of client confidentiality with the DWP.

 

It goes without saying that as they have indicated a willingness to record telephone conversations, it would be unwise to use their phones for any personal calls (e.g.: Cold calling potential employers or following up on vacancies) as you can not be sure that calls might be recorded with or without your consent.

[trebormoinet]

Thank you for putting my mind at ease, would those powers cover even disclosing what if any agencies I am registered with.

 

If I did disclose what agencies I am registered with could they contact/obtain information from them without my permission, I assume the agency has to protect my data and would refuse to disclose anything ?

[Mr.P]

You don't have to disclose which agencies you are registered with and the agencies should certainly not be disclosing any personal information without your consent.

 

You could take advantage of the situation and use the telephones at Ingeus to call each agency and tell instruct them not to provide any information to Ingeus. If nothing else, it would save you the cost of a phone call.

[trebormoinet]

Voiced my concerns regarding listening in and said I would use my own equipment to phone agencies but they were having non of it, I managed to get a private room at least so I do not have to disclose my personal information to all and sundry in the open plan office, but as you say how can I be sure they are not recording, again it seems I have rights but not allowed to exercise them without a doubt being raised and all the problems that would entail.

 

The concern they have is me evidencing that I have completed the activity so listening in is they way they solve this, I suggested a call log but no apparently its not good enough.

[Mr.P]

[...] it seems I have rights but not allowed to exercise them without a doubt being raised and all the problems that would entail.

 

At some point I can envisage this turning unpleasant. If you haven't done so already, start keeping records. Insist on copies of all meeting reports, record all conversations (you do not need any consent), and ask pointed questions where needed.

 

There are other ways of "upping the anti", but it runs the risk of leading to a sanction. I had set an A4e "adviser" up and went in to a meeting intending to press all the wrong buttons. For my efforts, I got a full blown hissy fit (on tape) and two benefit doubts raised. Not that it did any good as I had closed my claim for JSA that very day.

[trebormoinet]

At some point I can envisage this turning unpleasant. If you haven't done so already, start keeping records. Insist on copies of all meeting reports, record all conversations (you do not need any consent), and ask pointed questions where needed.

 

There are other ways of "upping the anti", but it runs the risk of leading to a sanction. I had set an A4e "adviser" up and went in to a meeting intending to press all the wrong buttons. For my efforts, I got a full blown hissy fit (on tape) and two benefit doubts raised. Not that it did any good as I had closed my claim for JSA that very day.

 

To be honest it is already ugly, the only way I can see me signing off JSA is either Pension,ESA,Death or a lottery win, I wonder if putting a pound on the lottery could be in my claimant commitment as a step each week to get off benefits.

 

I cant help but mention how the best advisor's took early voluntarily redundancy when Ingeus recently downsized because its business model is flawed, some on moral grounds the way they were expected to deal with clients leaving the dregs whose only role is force / con / trick the sick and vulnerable into unsuitable unsustainable work in order to achieve a target so they can live comfortably, its no excuse to say I am only doing my job, that's the same excuse guards at Auschwitz made to justify turning a blind eye.

 

 

Does not go down well at all but I have a freedom of expression and use it,often, if you read the contract DWP dont give two hoots about the safety of its employees on the work program only as a last resort should they escort clients out of the building and should expect abuse as part and parcel of the job after all they are dealing with drug addicts,alcoholics, ex offenders, people with mental health issues and me.

 

JCP offices entirely different, sneeze and your surrounded by security.