<Before I start my rant I would just like to say that all the people I dealt with where lovely and polite, its the system I am complaining about. spelling mistakes left in to entertain the trolls>

Yet again the Dole office has failed to support me when I needed them the most.

Due to an illness I was not working for a while but as I felt better I signed on and actively looked for work

As long as you can prove that you are actively looking for work then they will "pay" you.

My problem is that I was lucky enough to find a job.

My signing on time is Tuesday morning.

I was offered the job late Monday afternoon and after accepting it was confirmed early Tuesday morning

the job was in Europe, for which a flight was provided from Manchester

So Tuesday morning was spent packing, getting money and arranging a coach from Liverpool

I do not have a car, so I rang the dole office to let them know the good news and sign off.

I was told that since my job started on the Wednesday and my signing on day was the Tuesday then I had to attend else my claim would be stopped.

I did try explaining about the fact I had to travel and offered to email proof but to no avail

The signing book was filled in and posted on the Tuesday, but they claim not to have received it

Yesterday, Friday, due payment, but none made.

rang up to ask way, - payment stopped because I failed to sign on.

Was asked to bring to the dole office proof as to why I could not sign on, then they would relook at my claim!

totally useless

They should have been delighted you found work and accepted your email (in writing after all) given the situation. From their reaction it would seem they would rather you just kept signing on.

Someone should have taken the case to the manager who, hopefully, had some extra brain cells and would be capable of thinking outside the box.

I offered them a copy of the contract, copies of coach and plane ticket. but it is a simply a case of no sign on - no payment.

I have complained and I will get the money, in a few weeks time.

not much use for when you are starting a job

Mate of mine got a letter from them this week arranging an interview for 26th August - usual stuff: "MUST attend or sanctions". He rang them up to say he wouldn't be going and when asked why he pointed out that they wouldn't be open because it was a bank holiday. They agreed to rearrange the appointment.....Total incompetence.

That character in Little Britain had it right with the regularly quoted: "Computer says no." Jobsworths are everywhere.

they make you laugh sometimes, and should have accepted your proof of a job offer and explanation of why you can't attend

My start date for work was Wednesday, and my signing day was Tuesday, I had to travel on the Tuesday to get there. Hence I failed to sign on, thus no payment. they are not really interested in proof, as far as they are concerned I failed to sign on - not interested in reason.

When they have a problem I have to accept it.

Nomad

What a miraculous recovery!!!!! It was only less than 2 weeks ago that you stated 'my health is going downhill fast' and you had been diagnosed with a serious chronic problem, complaing about the NHS how your the next appointment available is in 4 weeks time blah blah blah. Yet there you are boarding a plane 11 weeks later, flying to Southern Europe to work.

Did you expect the doctor to cancel all arranged appointments to fit YOU in? It's quite obvious from your miraculous recovery time that the problem you had was not that serious.

You was also going to sue for loss of earnings, if you wasn't fit to work and the NHS did not cause your illness, then I'm not sure who you could've sued, certainly not the NHS. Unless the illness was caused at work, mind you, you have already said you're self employed, so maybe you could've sued yourself.

I'm assuming your benefit was also back dated prior to 8th July. Not sure how the system works, but if it wasn't back dated and your benefit started on 8th July, then surely you are not 'owed' anything.

11 days, not 11 weeks.

Yes I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, I have not recovered but at the moment I feel fine and so would rather be working rather than just sitting down feeling sorry for myself.

With the waiting lists it will be five to six weeks at least until I can see a specialist, and it is very frustrating having to wait. sure I would love to get an early appointment but that's not going to happen.