Texting

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:49 pm

There's many things I can do In life... I can get the smallest of fur knots out of a Persian cat for example. I've even been known to assemble flat pack furnature... but... I can not text and refuse to even attempt It In future.

What Is the point of It ??

People have E mail. You can even chat live on Facebook, but no, I'm supposed to converse with someone who thinks he's Tupac and I don't even know what he's saying.

Text speak... for months I believed LOL was ' Lots of Love'... that caused an upset when I text someone ' So sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad LOL'

I just can't do It. My husbands mate texts all the time and can rattle off reams In a minute. I'm still struggling with predictive text and that's also been a failure.

My husband can do It on a larger smart phone but I still have one of those tiny phones and I have nails.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:54 pm

My main problem is the single letter at a time, trying to work out where they all are & on a tiny number pad, constantly having to switch to a different section if I want to use punctuation (which I always do) or numbers. I far prefer a proper keyboard.

To this end, if I have to send someone a text, particularly if a reply is not required, then I use this Free SMS site:

Free SMS Text Messaging and Business Bulk SMS Solutions from CardBoardFish

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:01 pm

FourPart;1459577 wrote: My main problem is the single letter at a time, trying to work out where they all are & on a tiny number pad, constantly having to switch to a different section if I want to use punctuation (which I always do) or numbers. I far prefer a proper keyboard.

To this end, if I have to send someone a text, particularly if a reply is not required, then I use this Free SMS site:

Free SMS Text Messaging and Business Bulk SMS Solutions from CardBoardFish Thanks for the link but I've decided that I managed without texting for decades before mobile phones and I can do without It now.15 minutes to type out ' OK see you tomorrow'..

I can't even find the punctuation function.

Snooz · Post by **Snooz** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:02 pm

I text my co-workers if I'm stopping for breakfast to see if they want something but that's about it. I text with one finger and it takes forever.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:04 pm

Oscar Namechange;1459580 wrote:

I can't even find the punctuation function. It takes me 1
I don't know if it's the same to all Mobiles, but on mine it's holding down the # key that takes you into the Charmap menu.

Post by **Betty Boop** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:29 pm

I reckon texting on the touch screen takes longer than it used to take on an ordinary phone.

Yes, I text, quite a bit I suppose. Myself and another secretary text all important information so it's written down. She's not got a computer, so I have no other choice to ensure important information is passed between us quickly. I make quite a few bookings via text, most are techno-phobes but can manage texting which for me means there is evidence of bookings that can be double checked.

Also text my brother and sister quite a lot, checking out what they are up to and if all is well etc. If I happen to go out without my daughter she texts a lot wanting to know where I am, what I am doing and who I am with - drives me nuts :wah:

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:34 pm

What amazes me is when you get kids sitting next to each other, sending each other texts.

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:38 pm

I don't text - and have no idea how - and don't want to know.

My Nephew said - No one calls anymore. My Nephew & his wife are 40 ish and they'll be in the same room texting each other & giggle.

Not my thing I guess

Patsy

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:37 am

I'm with Patsy on this one.

I also sometimes have to organise groups of people together and confirm bookings but always, always use E Mail. If I have to, I can either message one of the group on Facebook.

If anyone starts reading a text mid conversation with me, I'll walk away.

I think texting may even become obsolete.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:23 am

I remember watching the series "Jamie's Dream School", with Jamie Oliver, on TV a couple of years ago, where he had a load of celebrity experts in their individual fields taking the classes to try & make something out of a bunch of kids that had been given up on at school as lost causes. While the others continued to have problems keeping them in order, the first thing Jamie would do in his cookery class was to bring out a big stainless steel mixing bowl & make everyone put their mobiles in it, which they wouldn't get back until the end of the class. If they refused, they would be out of the class & off the programme.

As it happened, the kids did very well from the course & even ended up with a few GCSEs to their names, which I think goes to show how much of a disrupting influence they can have.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:20 am

FourPart;1459599 wrote: I remember watching the series "Jamie's Dream School", with Jamie Oliver, on TV a couple of years ago, where he had a load of celebrity experts in their individual fields taking the classes to try & make something out of a bunch of kids that had been given up on at school as lost causes. While the others continued to have problems keeping them in order, the first thing Jamie would do in his cookery class was to bring out a big stainless steel mixing bowl & make everyone put their mobiles in it, which they wouldn't get back until the end of the class. If they refused, they would be out of the class & off the programme.

As it happened, the kids did very well from the course & even ended up with a few GCSEs to their names, which I think goes to show how much of a disrupting influence they can have. I loathe Jamie Olivier with all my being. I also loathe Gordon Ramsey and David Dickinson with all my being. I think they should all be herded up by a rabid pack of wolves and put Into Isolation so they never appear on my tv ever again.

Oh and add anyone from The Ross family to that ie Johnathon Ross... and you can add Clarkson also.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:48 am

Texting is on it's way out, it is Instant Messaging now, same thing but via the internet.

Only 140 billion texts this year, but 300 billion instant messages..........I think it's amazing, images and message virtually free from anywhere in the world.

Linky

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:54 am

Bruv;1459604 wrote: Texting is on it's way out, it is Instant Messaging now, same thing but via the internet.

Only 140 billion texts this year, but 300 billion instant messages..........I think it's amazing, images and message virtually free from anywhere in the world.

Linky

Thanks Linky

I can also Instantly E Mail. I think texting Is on the decline. TBH I'd be pretty dubious about any company I dealt with texting me. That's what phones are for... ringing to speak to the client.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:57 am

Oscar Namechange;1459605 wrote: Thanks Linky

I can also Instantly E Mail. I think texting Is on the decline. TBH I'd be pretty dubious about any company I dealt with texting me. That's what phones are for... ringing to speak to the client.
I get texted by my Bank, Mobile and get reminders of hospital appointments, it is simply a tool.......more suitable for certain tasks than the telephone

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:43 am

Bruv;1459606 wrote: I get texted by my Bank, Mobile and get reminders of hospital appointments, it is simply a tool.......more suitable for certain tasks than the telephone
I don't agree with that. It's on the assumption that everyone In the world has a mobile phone and the assumption they can work one.

The elderly lady we have just moved for eg...She was advised to get a mobile phone and to cut a long story short, she just couldn't get the hang of It. I found 43 unread messages yesterday because no matter how simply we explain It, she just can't get the hang of It...I've now got BT going out to her to put a land line In.

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:53 pm

I find with nearly every one with a phone - they're texting.

My Niece wakes up in the morning phone in hand & a cup of coffee - it's all day long.

it's rude actually.

I pick her up at the airport - she's texting at baggage pick-up? I suppose it's a habit and fun for now.

No - not my thing

Patsy

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 2:10 pm

Oscar Namechange;1459610 wrote: I don't agree with that. It's on the assumption that everyone In the world has a mobile phone and the assumption they can work one.

The elderly lady we have just moved for eg...She was advised to get a mobile phone and to cut a long story short, she just couldn't get the hang of It. I found 43 unread messages yesterday because no matter how simply we explain It, she just can't get the hang of It...I've now got BT going out to her to put a land line In.

The billions of instant messages each day seems to say...........it doesn't matter if you agree or not.

To get texted by my Bank, my mobile provider, and the hospital.........they have to be given my number (apart from the mobile company of course)

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:03 pm

Oscar Namechange;1459610 wrote: I don't agree with that. It's on the assumption that everyone In the world has a mobile phone and the assumption they can work one.

The elderly lady we have just moved for eg...She was advised to get a mobile phone and to cut a long story short, she just couldn't get the hang of It. I found 43 unread messages yesterday because no matter how simply we explain It, she just can't get the hang of It...I've now got BT going out to her to put a land line In.
I agree.

Did you know that in order to qualify to receive Job Seekers Allowance you HAVE to have a Mobile Phone Number & an eMail Address? Without either you will be ruled as not doing enough to find work & summarily have your benefits stopped.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:30 pm

FourPart;1459629 wrote: I agree.

Did you know that in order to qualify to receive Job Seekers Allowance you HAVE to have a Mobile Phone Number & an eMail Address? Without either you will be ruled as not doing enough to find work & summarily have your benefits stopped. I know and It's ridiculous. They are quick enough to complain the unemployed squander their money and then bear them more expense by Insisting they have broadband and mobile phone.

Sorry, but If someone wants my custom then they can phone me at a polite time on my land line.

The only reason these companies and banks are texting Is because of cost. It's a cop out.

Wandrin · Post by **Wandrin** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:59 pm

It's just another form of communication. I find it handy for notifications that a prescription is ready or a reminder from my doctor's office.

That fact that some people obsess over it and abuse it is a societal issue. It's not the fault of the technology.

Post by **Betty Boop** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 3:03 am

FourPart;1459629 wrote: I agree.

Did you know that in order to qualify to receive Job Seekers Allowance you HAVE to have a Mobile Phone Number & an eMail Address? Without either you will be ruled as not doing enough to find work & summarily have your benefits stopped.

I don't believe that? Where is there such a claim, such items are not listed anywhere I have looked as a 'must have' Checklist when applying for Jobseeker's Allowance

No doubt it would be beneficial but I don't believe you HAVE to, there are going to be people that don't have computers or the internet. I do know people are sent to learn about computers etc on free courses to widen their skills. I know they encourage people to have both and I note on the claim form it asks for an agreement by the mobile phone number for them to send information and reminders to your mobile number. If it were the case you HAD to then they wouldn't have a separate tick box for agreement, just filling in the form would be the agreement.

I'm pretty sure there is probably some jobsworth at every benefit office that makes such claims but I could find nothing in black and white on the governments websites.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 3:33 am

Betty Boop;1459650 wrote: I don't believe that? Where is there such a claim, such items are not listed anywhere I have looked as a 'must have' Sorry but you're wrong.

What you need to claim

You’ll need the following when you make a claim:

National Insurance number

medical certificate

GP’s address and phone number

home and mobile telephone numbers

mortgage or landlord details

council tax bill

employer’s address and telephone number and dates of employment or last day worked

bank account details

details of any other money you are getting, eg benefits or sick pay

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-a ... w-to-claim

To prepare for their first interview with a Jobcentre Plus adviser, jobseekers will be asked to do things like preparing a CV, setting up an email address and registering for the government’s new jobs website. This change will mean people start their JSA claim ready to look for work and will show they are serious about finding a job as quickly as possible.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jobs ... -find-work

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 3:53 am

Oscar appears to be talking about ESA, while Betty is talking about Jobseekers?

Why would a requirement be a Medical Certificate (Number 2 on list) for JSA?

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 4:31 am

Bruv;1459656 wrote: Oscar appears to be talking about ESA, while Betty is talking about Jobseekers?

Why would a requirement be a Medical Certificate (Number 2 on list) for JSA?

Did you miss the heading of my link ? ' Jobseekers to do more' ?

Regardless, to claim Job Seekers allowance, you must actively look for work and prove you have applied for jobs or It's stopped. For some time, Job centre's have encouraged unemployed to have a mobile phone and broad band because so many jobs have to be applied for on line..

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:03 am

Oscar Namechange;1459662 wrote: Did you miss the heading of my link ? ' Jobseekers to do more' ?

Regardless, to claim Job Seekers allowance, you must actively look for work and prove you have applied for jobs or It's stopped. For some time, Job centre's have encouraged unemployed to have a mobile phone and broad band because so many jobs have to be applied for on line..

The heading of the 'Other' link? No I saw that........pretty much the same as when I was last unemployed.......30 odd years ago.

Plus Minister double talk blah de blah ........."With the economy growing, unemployment falling and record numbers of people in work, now is the time to start expecting more of people if they want to claim benefits"......Want to claim benefits? Daily Mail talk? Not very subtle

theia · Post by **theia** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:28 am

Betty Boop;1459650 wrote: I don't believe that? Where is there such a claim, such items are not listed anywhere I have looked as a 'must have' Checklist when applying for Jobseeker's Allowance

No doubt it would be beneficial but I don't believe you HAVE to, there are going to be people that don't have computers or the internet. I do know people are sent to learn about computers etc on free courses to widen their skills. I know they encourage people to have both and I note on the claim form it asks for an agreement by the mobile phone number for them to send information and reminders to your mobile number. If it were the case you HAD to then they wouldn't have a separate tick box for agreement, just filling in the form would be the agreement.

I'm pretty sure there is probably some jobsworth at every benefit office that makes such

claims but I could find nothing in black and white on the governments websites.

If it's not true, it's the last thing a "jobsworth" would claim

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:13 am

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jobs ... l-jobmatch

Post by **Betty Boop** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:01 am

FourPart;1459670 wrote: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jobs ... l-jobmatch

from that link

Until now its use has been entirely voluntary, but it has now been made possible for advisers to require Jobseekers Allowance claimants to use it where appropriate. Advisers will take into account the jobseekers’ circumstances and whether they have access to the internet. If a jobseeker refuses to use it without good reason, the adviser will be able to recommend they lose their benefits.

Where possible, those who do not have internet access in their own homes will be able to access Universal Jobmatch in their Jobcentre.

So there is the crux of it, it's down to the advisor. There is nothing that states it HAS to be done to get jobseekers. It's down to individual circumstances.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:14 am

That is all part & parcel of the whole scandal of it ever since it was introduced.

While the letter of the ruling specifies that it 'may' lead to benefit sanctions a the discretion of the advisor, in practice different departments impose the ruling as a standard policy, otherwise what one advisor might consider worthy of sanctions, another in the same office may not.

Ever since the ruling was imposed, it has been met with much protest as the whole system was unbelievably remiss in its planning with contradictions all over the place.

If you don't have access to the Internet you can access the network using the Public Access ones at the Job Centre - assuming they're working, which more often than not they aren't, and if you don't use it (whether it be your own fault or not) they can impose sanctions & stop your benefits. Sure, you can appeal, but the procedure can take about 6 weeks - without any income. At the end of which, assuming your appeal is successful (which, more often than not it is), you get it paid back in arrears, but that doesn't help for that 6 weeks having to go without.

As with anything in life, you can't be expected to stay within the rules if the rules aren't specific & when the rules seem to get changed on a daily basis depending on how those who impose the rules feel on the day in question. The whole business is a farce.

Post by **Betty Boop** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:25 am

theia;1459668 wrote: If it's not true, it's the last thing a "jobsworth" would claim

Yes, you are right. I was thinking along the lines that staff have to sign people up to emails etc, its part of their push, so if you do have access to the internet they will be pushing it hard. Even if that is just access via the local library or internet cafe they will insist but most staff would understand if it's not something you could check daily if you live somewhere very rural with no computer/no internet connection ( which applies to chunks of Cornwall).

Post by **Betty Boop** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:41 am

FourPart;1459680 wrote: That is all part & parcel of the whole scandal of it ever since it was introduced.

While the letter of the ruling specifies that it 'may' lead to benefit sanctions a the discretion of the advisor, in practice different departments impose the ruling as a standard policy, otherwise what one advisor might consider worthy of sanctions, another in the same office may not.

Ever since the ruling was imposed, it has been met with much protest as the whole system was unbelievably remiss in its planning with contradictions all over the place.

If you don't have access to the Internet you can access the network using the Public Access ones at the Job Centre - assuming they're working, which more often than not they aren't, and if you don't use it (whether it be your own fault or not) they can impose sanctions & stop your benefits. Sure, you can appeal, but the procedure can take about 6 weeks - without any income. At the end of which, assuming your appeal is successful (which, more often than not it is), you get it paid back in arrears, but that doesn't help for that 6 weeks having to go without.

As with anything in life, you can't be expected to stay within the rules if the rules aren't specific & when the rules seem to get changed on a daily basis depending on how those who impose the rules feel on the day in question. The whole business is a farce.

That's why I mentioned jobsworth's :wah: seems the whole idea throughout any of the benefits system since the recent government took over is to make the whole process so difficult so that people will just give up due to the unfairness of it all.

theia · Post by **theia** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 8:58 am

Betty Boop;1459685 wrote: That's why I mentioned jobsworth's :wah: seems the whole idea throughout any of the benefits system since the recent government took over is to make the whole process so difficult so that people will just give up due to the unfairness of it all.

My daughter has worked for the Benefits Agency for most of her working life, as you know, Betty. Hence I'm somewhat defensive about generalised criticism of BA staff. It's a given that there are some staff who don't do their jobs well, as is the case in all organisations. But, the other side is that a lot of the staff work very hard to ensure that claimants receive the very best service they can offer.

It has to be a complex system to prevent a small minority claiming what is not due to them. So genuine claimants, the majority, have to endure a difficult process. That, to me, is the unfairness.

Post by **Betty Boop** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:19 am

theia;1459688 wrote: My daughter has worked for the Benefits Agency for most of her working life, as you know, Betty. Hence I'm somewhat defensive about generalised criticism of BA staff. It's a given that there are some staff who don't do their jobs well, as is the case in all organisations. But, the other side is that a lot of the staff work very hard to ensure that claimants receive the very best service they can offer.

It has to be a complex system to prevent a small minority claiming what is not due to them. So genuine claimants, the majority, have to endure a difficult process. That, to me, is the unfairness.

I do know that, and my advisor is actually a really nice down to earth woman with a wicked sense of humour and she always remembers me as we both have sons with Autism. The last time I went she messed up her appointments and kept me waiting nigh on an hour, she felt awful as my sister rang in the middle of it as I was meant to meet up with her and because of the appointment running so late I missed the meeting and my advisor felt awful about it.

It dismays me that there are so many security staff in the offices nowadays and I have witnessed people kicking off and felt embarrassed to see such behaviour, it's not a job I'd relish doing.

The whole point is fourpart made a claim that you cannot get benefit without certain criteria being met. I say that is not actually true for all. Most people with internet access will reasonably provide email addresses and mobile numbers but there is going to be a minority who will not have either and there will be a way around it.

I can only assume that fourpart meant he was told such a thing by someone at the benefits office and at this point he was either mis-informed or he interpreted the detail wrongly. I used the word jobsworth to portray someone who is told a rule and won't move from it from the fact I made a guess fourpart will say he was told such a rule applies to everyone by someone at the benefits office.

I didn't mean to, and wouldn't imply that every person working at the Benefits Agency is a jobsworth and if you think I did then I am sorry.

theia · Post by **theia** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:27 pm

Betty Boop;1459692 wrote: I do know that, and my advisor is actually a really nice down to earth woman with a wicked sense of humour and she always remembers me as we both have sons with Autism. The last time I went she messed up her appointments and kept me waiting nigh on an hour, she felt awful as my sister rang in the middle of it as I was meant to meet up with her and because of the appointment running so late I missed the meeting and my advisor felt awful about it.

It dismays me that there are so many security staff in the offices nowadays and I have witnessed people kicking off and felt embarrassed to see such behaviour, it's not a job I'd relish doing.

The whole point is fourpart made a claim that you cannot get benefit without certain criteria being met. I say that is not actually true for all. Most people with internet access will reasonably provide email addresses and mobile numbers but there is going to be a minority who will not have either and there will be a way around it.

I can only assume that fourpart meant he was told such a thing by someone at the benefits office and at this point he was either mis-informed or he interpreted the detail wrongly. I used the word jobsworth to portray someone who is told a rule and won't move from it from the fact I made a guess fourpart will say he was told such a rule applies to everyone by someone at the benefits office.

I didn't mean to, and wouldn't imply that every person working at the Benefits Agency is a jobsworth and if you think I did then I am sorry.

I was in 100 per cent defensive mode and interpreted your post from that stance...in hindsight, I didn't really think you were saying that, but there was no stopping me...

I'm sorry.

Saint_ · Post by **Saint_** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:45 pm

Oscar Namechange;1459580 wrote: Thanks for the link but I've decided that I managed without texting for decades before mobile phones and I can do without It now.15 minutes to type out ' OK see you tomorrow'..

I can't even find the punctuation function.

I'm with Oscar, texting is tough on me and I prefer speaking to the person anyway. There is an option, however, on your phone Oscar called "Insert Quick Text." You can quickly say, "Call Me" or "I'll meet you there" or a number of other useful phrases. What even more people don't know is that you can save custom messages yourself that apply to unique situation you have. For example, I have "I'm still at school," and "Don't call me at 1:00 am when you're drunk!' for a couple of my friends.

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 3:28 pm

theia;1459688 wrote: My daughter has worked for the Benefits Agency for most of her working life, as you know, Betty. Hence I'm somewhat defensive about generalised criticism of BA staff. It's a given that there are some staff who don't do their jobs well, as is the case in all organisations. But, the other side is that a lot of the staff work very hard to ensure that claimants receive the very best service they can offer.
I'm in no way belittling the BA staff. Far from it. I used to work there myself & am fully aware of the how overworked they can be & the stress it can cause from being the front line for frustrated claimants to vent over being faced with regulations over which the staff have no control.

I find it even more ridiculous that, as I think I mentioned last week, despite the ever increasing number of unemployed / claimants / DWP workload, what do they do but make 26 members of staff in a single office redundant, obviously increasing the workload & stress levels for everyone else.

I was not mistaken when I said about the requirements to have a mobile & email address, as these were written as requirements on my Work Plan. As Oscar has also cited, the rules are clearly made to this end on the ESA terms, and that is often (although by no means limited to) supplemental to claimants of JSA also. I.m not certain, but I believe that ESA is also what has taken over from the previous Incapacity Benefit, so being available for work would not be an issue in such an event (although, knowing this Government....).

I may also have mentioned a certain so & so there who seems to relish in threatening claimants with having their benefits withdrawn, and that if I got any more from her I would get her name & make a formal complaint. Well, it looks as if someone beat me to it. I was called out by her to handle my case this afternoon, and I went up with a sense of foreboding, thinking, right, this is it, but for the first time ever, she was really nice - almost as if her twin sister were standing in for her. I think she may have been given a talking to by her superiors. However, regardless of how it came about, I must say, it certainly made a big difference for the better.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:34 pm

FourPart;1459701 wrote:

I was not mistaken when I said about the requirements to have a mobile & email address, as these were written as requirements on my Work Plan. As Oscar has also cited,

.

No you're not mistaken.

Two friends our mine have just lost jobs recently and have just applied for Jobseekers allowance. I knew one had definatly been told he must have E Mail and mobile phone and he also has them listed on his work plan but I wasn't sure about the other so I waited until she logged on to Facebook and asked her. She too, has them on her paperwork.

theia · Post by **theia** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:29 pm

FourPart;1459701 wrote: I'm in no way belittling the BA staff. Far from it. I used to work there myself & am fully aware of the how overworked they can be & the stress it can cause from being the front line for frustrated claimants to vent over being faced with regulations over which the staff have no control.

I find it even more ridiculous that, as I think I mentioned last week, despite the ever increasing number of unemployed / claimants / DWP workload, what do they do but make 26 members of staff in a single office redundant, obviously increasing the workload & stress levels for everyone else.

I was not mistaken when I said about the requirements to have a mobile & email address, as these were written as requirements on my Work Plan. As Oscar has also cited, the rules are clearly made to this end on the ESA terms, and that is often (although by no means limited to) supplemental to claimants of JSA also. I.m not certain, but I believe that ESA is also what has taken over from the previous Incapacity Benefit, so being available for work would not be an issue in such an event (although, knowing this Government....).

I may also have mentioned a certain so & so there who seems to relish in threatening claimants with having their benefits withdrawn, and that if I got any more from her I would get her name & make a formal complaint. Well, it looks as if someone beat me to it. I was called out by her to handle my case this afternoon, and I went up with a sense of foreboding, thinking, right, this is it, but for the first time ever, she was really nice - almost as if her twin sister were standing in for her. I think she may have been given a talking to by her superiors. However, regardless of how it came about, I must say, it certainly made a big difference for the better.

As I said to Betty, FourPart, I was in defensive mode when I reacted to her post and I interpreted it in light of this.

I don't envy you working there. My daughter is no longer front line but her job is no less stressful. Staff changes and cuts add to this stress, as you've pointed out.

I agree that bad attitudes from staff should be reported. Their behaviour is unfair to claimants and to co workers whose reputation suffers.

I used to work for the NHS and I was bemused that the few staff who were chronically lazy, always late and had a lousy attitude to work were rarely brought to task. Instead they were highly praised by management when, on the rare occasion, they performed a task well or showed some interest in what they were doing. So unfair when the rest of the team "carried" them.

Post by **Chloe_88** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:22 pm

Any job in customer service is hard work.. Although working at a cable company you'd think it would be easier... it's not.. When the network or appliances turn out to be malfunctioning, people get real angry, some of them because they have to do everything via the net to keep their benefits..

They have taken down the benefit offices here in a lot of places, and you are required to do all of it online.. What the ****... On benefits you can't afford a mobile and internet!

One woman said to my OH: I don't care if you can't pay for a place to live, live in a cardboardbox for all I care, as long as you have internet... ?????????!!!!!!

Texting? I do text, I don't do the one letter jobs though.. I spell everything fully..

I was annoyed today as it was nice and sunny, my colleagues and I went outside for a little sun and they all stood there in a little circle checking their phones!!

I felt like chucking their phones down the loo!