Sanctions.

[robpage]

I have just gone through my Eldest's ATOS forms , and despite my intolerant attitudes , she like many others is a genuine case , which I believe the majority are , the minority of scroungers and scoundrels get the rest a bad name . The lowest paid job have so many drawbacks no-one wants then , I have heard Farming Today on Radio 4 cite Farmers who cannot get fruit pickers at the minimum wages , Fruit picking is very hard work , back breaking , I would not want to do that at minimum rates , the Industry I worked in ran seven days , we had trouble getting unskilled guys because of the fact that they wanted to have the weekends off with their mates . We ran on 10% foreign temps on minimum wage and paid the agency £ssss over the top for them . These Job Centre people that I have come across in the last forty five years are mostly quite aggressive , I found them rude and deliberately unhelpful , as though each claim was an insult to their intelligence . I think they go out of their way to be unhelpful , The last time I rang , I encountered an ignorant Oaf at the Cosham ( Portsmouth ) office who should have been retrained . asked a question and he said he was not there to answer phone questions , i should get my self down there and sign on , like I am supposed to do . I would get no money or expenses , but I should do it anyway , I used to wonder why they were behind polycarbonate screens , but that encounter in 2009 , told me that they needed to be .

[Captain Kong]

That is what I said before , Rob, your biggest enemy is the lout behind the Counter who thinks he is superior to you.
That`s why you should go to the very top,.
Brian.

[robpage]

I could not be bothered , I rang Gateshead Work and Pensions , spoke to a very polite lady , did not even need an interpreter , had the answer in seconds . I just do not get winding up a potential client , calm will soothe even a savage beast , so I do think they get what they ask for sometimes

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, Hi cappy and Rob page, A.T.O.S. have a government mandate to get the numbers of people claiming sickness down, its not about whats wrong with you or anything else !!! 50 charitys have sent a letter to I.D.S. the work and pension sec, to protest about the way A.T.O.S. treat sick/disable people as whipping boys. but everyone must appeal they reason to kick them off the sick, if you appeal and fight you will win your case 4 out of 10 win cost the government more money in long run as all benifit thats cut must be pay back E.U. law over 1,800 people who were told fit for work by A.T.O.S. have died in the last 4 years .Keith wilman is the U,K, boss on £626,000 pay last year + new government contract £3oomillon over three years

[John Pruden]

well lads i to have got a letter for a medical i don't know what else they need? they have xrays scans reports from the stroke clinic doctors reports consultant surgeons reports so i am asking them to come to me and i am waiting for results i will get this thursday from hospital .jp

[Captain Kong]

Tell them you cannot attend cos you are ill.
Cheers
Brian

[Jim Brady]

I wonder how many of these characters that knock around in pyjamas in our Mill Towns get sent on work experience to charity shops and get sanctioned for not going.They most probably don't get asked in the first place as it would be against their human rights.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[John Pruden]

funny you never see a woman in a burkha going in the dole office????jp

[Jim Brady]

funny you never see a woman in a burkha going in the dole office????jp

John,I think parts of London they are on the other side of the desk!!!!
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Anthony Costello]

I have just joined this site , I thought it was for ex MN staff not a political soapbox.
Take it up with your MP this is not the place to complain about jobs for the young however hard it is for them.