An Open Letter to Job Centre Plus, DWP and Iain Duncan Smith

Dear Job Centre, Department for Work Pensions and Iain Duncan Smith,

Have you ever heard about something called a "Genuine Error"? I don't think you have, you see, on Friday 19th of November 2010, I forgot to pick my ES4 form up when I went to sign, once I noticed, it was a bit too late to run home and grab it. The desk monkey who saw me wasn't impressed, for she took me to see someone about it, now, the guy who saw me I have had dealings with before, and he is one of the most fair people I know who works for JSP, he went through the forms he had no choice but to fill in and send off. This is where it all started!

A suspension was placed on my claim, even though I said that I would take my job search evidence in, which I did the following Wednesday, to which the fair JSP person sent them off.

Now, jump forward to Monday, I had been assured that the suspension would be lifted because of the evidence I had taken in, and when I check my bank account, what's missing? That's right, no money. Looks like it hasn't been lifted.

I guess you all don't live in the real world, because at the time, the only 2 jobs that I could reasonably apply for, where 2 hours 32 minutes away on Public Transport, 1 Hour 2 Minutes longer than the 'travel to work area' and thats not all, they where also the only 2 results within 30 miles for Data Input (or data inputter on your website database, you should really fix that), oh and the list of results I gave you, the majority of them results needed something called Sage... I cant use Sage, I don't have the training in Sage, I can't afford the training in Sage

Long story short, there is no jobs for me in this area, and I'm limited until February until I can apply to places like Asda, Morrisons and Tesco because I applyed within 6 months.

As of typing this open letter, I haven't phoned to check if it a error on your part, although I have an idea of what is going to be said, I should phone now, I should check if its a Genuine Error on your part (see, you make them too, that's called life).

Its a shame this letter wont be seen by many, because there will be more than me in the same situation, and it might start to make you see sense, that's not asking for much, is it?

Yours Whateverly
Anthony "DancingBeaver" Jackson

I'll edit this with the results of the phone call
Update 1: Suspension still in place, can expect a phone call sometime after 3:30pm today [laughs]
Update 2: Just called me back, its 'with the decision makers now' should have results either tomorrow [Tuesday] or Wednesday
Update 3: Its Wednesday again, and still no money in the Bank, going to phone again shortly

CoH 24 Hour Charity Marathon: Update 4 - Movement

Just to let you know that I have moved all the info and updates over to Pure Boredom early.

Everything from here, except early updates, has been moved, so no more major updates on this blog.

=Here is the new link to the Info Page

CoH 24 Hour Charity Marathon: Update 3.5 - You Choose!

Over on the other side of this page (and every page) is a Poll for you to choose what Archetype my Real World Hero Charity Marathon Character will be, all 10 of the main types are there, most votes wins (of course)

---------------- Poll is over here ------------------------------->

Update Note: Poll will close on 1st Dec and moved with the rest of the info for the marathon - All votes will automaticly be added to the new poll (but you will have to vote again to see the results)

CoH 24 Hour Charity Task Force Marathon: Update 3 - Plan B

Welcome to Plan B of the City of Heroes Charity Marathon for Real World Hero.

Plan B is as simple as it can get, its just me, attempting to get as high as I can in 24 hours with a brand new character started just for the event. Everything else will stay the same, like it being streamed live and it raising money for Real World Hero.

It is more than likely that Plan B will happen over the Task Force Marathon, but we hope to make it more entertaining on the live stream.

I should have another update on Wednesday when I decided what is happening. Info will be posted on Twitter first.

Fuck You Job Centre - Fuck You!

Well, I was planning a nice blog post about getting my D&D Red Box, but iv had a bad day and what could be a bad month because of this.

Went to sign on today, they asked for my ES4 Form, basically a log of your job search activity, I forgot to pick it up, it was behind my book and I just plain forgot to pick it up. For 1 simple mistake, there deciding to pass it higher up... Of course there was people before me who also forgot theirs and they got away scott free, but me, oh no, because my memory is shit and I couldn't remember the names of the places I applied for and forgot the form its going higher. Best of all, there is actually 0 jobs within 30 miles of me that I'm trained for (Data Input), ok, there is 2, in a area that I cant get to without 4 or 5 bus changes.

There is also another factor stopping me from certain jobs, you can only apply once within 6 months, so that puts all the supermarkets out till at least February, not that they would employ me anyway, the amount of times I have tried them and all knock me back without reason, I don't even get a interview with them and agency's just suck, advertising jobs that done exist just to get you on their books.

Its like the Job Centre and Government don't understand real people, not everyone can remember things off the top of there head and that shit happens.

They can go fuck themselves, I'll take this all the way if I have to, but I'm not going down without a fight!

So Called Friends

I have a close circle of friends, 4 of us (6 if you include the brothers of 2), but recently, that circle has been drifting apart, and all because of 1 person.

That person has been an evil bastard and a perpetual liar, not only did he grass a friend up for having a part time job while still claiming JSA (which is all legal), he also told one of our weed dealers that I was a grass and not to serve me, and this person is not someone you want to get on the wrong side of! Luckily my cousin also knows this guy and straighten it all out, even though he didn't actually believe him in the first place - and that's just the first chapter!

Currys/PCWorld Tech Guys [Website]

I'm normally the first one to defend the internet when something bad happens, but I'm also the first to facepalm when something goes wrong, this... This I don't know what it is, a facepalm or dumb luck.

First, a tiny bit of background. Our washing machine basically blew up on Friday night, like, literately going to set on fire if I didn't pull it out and pull the plug - Fast! So my mum and aunt went and ordered a new one from Currys.

With the delivery, you can check online after 9pm the day before delivery, it was upto me to do this important thing, checked at 9.30pm and...... aspx runtime error, fun... checked at 10.30pm and... aspx runtime error, meh... okey, i'll wait till 12.30am ish... aspx runtime error, FFS! Right, one more go at 1.30am.. it works, yey! Your estimated delivery window is between 4.30pm and 8.30pm Sunday 14th November 2010.

Turn the page to 11am Sunday morning and guess what turns up, the new washing machine, my aunt said to the guy it was a pleasant surprise (it really was) and we weren't expecting them till after 4pm, the guy actually said to us that he didn't have that info and was doing our delivery because it was the closest, bonus!

So this begs the question, why show estimated delivery times on the website when the delivery team themselves don't actually get this info? I'm not complaining about the delivery itself, it was very efficient and the guys where friendly, I'm 'complaining' about the website and the back-end staff - Share info guys, your delivery team and customers will like you better for it.

I'll shut up now, gotta go plumb the thing in =P

Government Sanctioned Slavery

First off, if your not in the UK, you will have no idea what im on about, so here is a handy link for you to read :)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11706545

That's right lady's and gentleman, the British Government have decided that if your unemployed, you will have to do unpaid work for 4 weeks, just to get your Job Seekers Allowance (aka Dole), working 9am to 5pm, 5 days a week for about £2 a hour, litter picking, cleaning graffiti and gardening... THAT'S SOMETHING CRIMINALS SHOULD FUCKING DO!!!

CoH 24 Hour Charity Task Force Marathon: Update 2

Things are slightly up in the air with the Marathon right now, but for good reason. Everyone's schedule is different, Golden Girl can do Monday/Tuesday, Psygon and Gonk can do a Thursday/Friday before the 18th of December (there going on holiday I think they said) and Eddy [the NPC of the group] works dodgy shifts (even though its part time).

Without Psy, Gonk and GG, I really cant see this happening - I know for a fact they can stay the course, I know there play styles and... I know them, they are epicly good people! There are a couple of other people I know on CoH and who I have met in real life who I want to take part, but not seen them online when I manage to get online.

Now then, those who are good at picking things up will notice that is only 6 people, and your right, but its 7 if your include Phoenix, who has offered her services as a Reserve Member, so, in theory I only need to ask 1 more person and swap some TFs around to when Phoenix will be on - I have a idea who that could be, but I don't know them very well.

Well, to end on a light note - Real World Hero is interested, so will most likely be raising money for there chosen charity and teaming up with them (not in game, there on the US server, unfortunately).

Just need to find a date to accommodate everyone, cant be too hard? Can it?

Epic DVDs Gets

Got the Kickassia and Best of That Guy with the Glasses DVDs today, all the way from the US, Just over £20 ($32.99) including Postage if your interested :P

Worth it just for the extra features hehe