Today I had to attend the Personal development Resources Centre in Croydon (my 12 monthly course - I left the 6 monthly one last year as it was crap).
Arrived and signed in at 9:30.
Given form (from Jobcentre) to sign.
I queried the fact the "getting the Job Seekers Allowance" box was ticked. The 2 people on the reception desk did not know what to do when I said I got no benefits so I would not sign the form.
Result - PANIC.
A more senior person is called, but he saus he cannot change the contents of the form as it was filled out by the Jobcentre.
An even more senior person was called with the same result.
I was then told to go and sit in the room opposite and the manager would see me when he was free (he was having a very heated discussion with the person who arrived in front of me and who was adamant that they should not be there).
I went into the other room and found that it was full of people who were on their 3rd of 4th week. A man came in and said we all should have our CVs and speculative letters and everyone would me matched up with a job by the time they left. A male and 2 females then started having a row with him as the centre had "lost" their CVs and they seemd to have disappeared from the "system". These people did not have computers and so were reliant on the centre for this kind of support. They also did not have any copies of their habd-written CVs because the centre had them for transcribing. They were not happy bunnies. Man then goes off to see if he can find anything.
By now I am fairly pissed off and decide to go back to reception again. 40 minutes have gone by!
Reception call another senior person after apologising for the fact that no-one had seen me.
I then go and see somemanager who calls the Jobcentre, but my "advisor" (Dot) is not there today. I end up speaking to some woman who tells me that even though I don't get any JSA or any other benefits the NI credits count as part of my JSA and so I am technically getting benefits!
OK says, I and signs the form after amending to read that it is NI credits only.
I then have a lengthy discussion with this man about how the place stresses me and makes me depressed and that I get nothing from it - I can do all the same stuff from home, without all the hassle and in a much conducive environment.
He casually remarks that the course is not mandatory. Mistake.
Alright says I, if that's the case I will leave and call Dot tomorrow explaining my position and pointing out that this not doing me any good, either job-wise or health-wise.
I left.
I strolled across the road and popped into Allders to have a coffee with Mrs Tel (she works there). She was somewhat surprised to see me - questions like, "who did you shout at, abuse etc" were coming thick and fast.
I explained that I was perfectly calm in my dealings with the centre - I think she believed me.
I then went home, feeling completely down and frustrated - I don't fit their system and I don't respond to their approach - my welfare is not their concern, they have targets to achieve, only getting results to please their paymasters.
Still, at least the Youngs is only 2 quid a pint tonight.
An that's gotta be my longest post.
