It does pay to complain

Well, well, well, having become sick to death of ringing call centres and being unable to understand what my options are for 1, 2, 3 etc. and after pressing * not understanding, yet again, what my options are, I have begun to complain directly via Email, to the MP in charge of each service that I find impossible to deal with.  First it was the DBS (which took 12 weeks to process) then the DWP Minister got emails asking why deaf people are not given the option of communicating with Government Services by email.  I sent my email to every person attached to the Ministry of Work and Pensions.  

I must say I was very disappointed when Damian Green MP, the Minister for DWP replied just to ask for my post code, nothing else just that.  What a bummer.   However, three weeks later I am very happy indeed, I am receiving correspondence from Job Centre Plus and the DWP via Email, yes Email, halleluiah.  Sadly, I cannot reply to said emails as I am informed, the system is not set up yet for that kind of correspondence, so I am just getting emails giving me instructions to follow and I am to respond to said emails via my local JCP until two way correspondence is active.

Oh well, it's a start and it's a lot less stressful for me, so Onwards and Upwards I say.   Watch this space!

DWP take the biscuit

Having finished the Tribunal case, my employment ceased at the company so in August 2016, I found myself making a claim for Job Seekers Allowance.  Having spent almost 30 minutes on the telephone registering my claim, I was very impressed with the woman I spoke to, she actually rang my local job centre to book an induction loop for my appointment, then called me back to confirm that indeed, there would be an induction loop set up for me when I arrived.

When I arrived for my appointment I saw the "ear" sign on the front desk, this indicated that indeed an induction loop was installed, super smashing great, NOT, ha ha bloody ha, yes you guessed correctly, that's all it was, a picture of an ear.  When I switched my hearing aids on to the loop nothing happened and in response to my inquiry about said loop, I was informed that there wasn't one.  So I asked "Why not?" I knew for a fact that one had been requested for me.  No acceptable response was given so I made a complaint in writing.

I received a reply to my complaint with the excuse that most of the staff were new and were not familiar with the induction loop system. I was not at all impressed and said as much.  I let it be known that every time I sign on for some benefits I am confirming something, as deaf person, I will be prosecuted if I sign and am found guilty of lying about my circumstances.  The induction loop is meant to help me to hear more clearly and eliminate some of the misunderstanding.

I then complained to DWP and received an email saying that in future there would be an induction loop provided for me at all my appointments and thanking me for drawing attention to the need for equipment for people with all kinds of disabilities.  The chap who sent the email assured me that he wanted everybody to have all their needs met.

Well, I started my new job three months later in November and still the induction loop had failed to materialise.  Why am I not surprised?  Now we hear that DWP are closing a whole load of job centres down, and people are going to have to travel further afield to sign on.... So it strikes me it is no wonder my induction loop didn't materialise because it looks like redundancies are looming for the DWP staff and I hope to goodness they suffer from being treated like lazy bastards that can't be arsed to get up and find a job - poetic justice is what I say!

Black Female Authors: Mixed Up Maxie Being Me!

Black Female Authors: Mixed Up Maxie Being Me!: About the Author Maxine Ann Bailey I am very happily married we have a son. My husband and I enjoy travelling and holidays abroad, ...