text:
Reports Slams Rising Financial Difficulties for Universal Credit Claimants.
This story has appeared in a number of news outlets.
Almost half of Universal Credit claimants 'behind on bills' before pandemic struck
Cambridgeshire Live.
Around 46 per cent of people receiving the six-in-one benefit were not up to date with bills by last November, according to analysis by a think tank.
According to a new report by think tank Bright Blue released this week, 46 per cent of Universal Credit claimants were struggling to pay household bills and were still not to up-to-date by November.
As the name suggests this is a Tory think tank, " the independent think tank for liberal conservatism "a party run by chancers and people who with a less trusted reputation than Trotter Enterprises,
🚨 NEW: Our analysis reveals the troubling extent of the financial difficulties faced by #UniversalCredit claimants relative to the rest of the public during the first year of the #COVID19 pandemic.
Our findings 🧵👇
Read the full report: https://t.co/iV6riUI4nR
— Bright Blue (@WeAreBrightBlue) June 14, 2021
Bright Blue: Almost half of long-term Universal Credit claimants had fallen behind on household bills during the Covid-19 pandemic
The main findings from this analysis are:
A significant minority of both existing UC and new UC households reported not being up to date with household bill payments throughout the pandemic. Among existing UC claimants, this rose from 25% in 2018-19 to up to 38% in March 2021, peaking at 46% in November 2020. Similarly, 32% of new UC claimants reported not being up to date with at least some household bills near the start of the pandemic in May 2020, before declining to a low of 17% in March 2021, indicating that new UC claimants were less likely to face this specific financial challenge as the pandemic continued. These compare to just 5% of non-UC respondents in 2018-19, 6% in May 2020 and 4% in March 2021.The difference between existing UC claimants and non-UC respondents reporting not being up to date with at least some household bill payment rose by 14 percentage points between before the pandemic (2018-19) and March 2021.
A significant minority of both existing UC and new UC households also reported not being up to date on housing payments, such as rent or mortgage payments, during the pandemic. For existing UC claimants, between 26% reported facing this financial challenge in November 2020, before falling to 18% in March 2021. Similarly, 16% of new UC claimants in May 2020 and 23% in July 2020 report not being up to date with housing payments, falling to 11% in March 2021. In contrast, only 7% of non-UC respondents in 2018-19 reported falling behind on housing payments, with no increase beyond that during the pandemic.
Existing UC claimants were more likely to face a worsening than an improving level of personal debt in the initial part of the pandemic. 30% of existing UC claimants reported increasing the size of their debts compared to 13% decreasing it in July 2020. However, this fell to 12% by March 2021, by which time 21% reported decreasing their debt. Both non-UC respondents and new UC claimants were more likely to be decreasing the size of their debt than increasing it at different points of the pandemic. Aside from this, among all population groups and during all time periods, the majority of people's debt levels have stayed the same.
A significant minority of UC claimants reported finding it 'quite' or 'very' difficult to manage financially during the pandemic. 34% of existing UC claimants reported this in 2018-19 which declined to 22% in July 2020, before rising back to 34% in November 2020, and falling down to 19% in March 2021. Similarly, 35% of new UC claimants reported this in May 2020, but this largely fell to 18% in July 2020, 19% in November 2020 and 15% in March 2021. Overall, the difference between existing UC claimants and non-UC respondents actually declined by 11 percentage points between 2018-19 and March 2021.
Both existing and new UC claimants are much more likely than the rest of the population to think there is a major chance they will have difficulty paying for bills and expenses in the next three months, despite a decline in such fears since the start of the pandemic. There was a decline from 54% to 32% among existing UC claimants worried about their financial future between May 2020 and March 2021 and a decline from 51% to 22% among new UC claimants in the same time period. The difference between the number of existing UC claimants and non-UC respondents reporting this financial anxiety actually declined by 14 percentage points between May 2020 and March 2021 and the difference between new UC claimants and non-UC respondents declined by 21 percentage points in the same period.
Reported life satisfaction of non-UC respondents has remained significantly above that of existing UC claimants throughout the pandemic. The reported gap was biggest between non-UC and new UC claimants at the start of the pandemic in May 2020, with a 30 percentage point difference. The reported gap was biggest between non-UC and existing UC claimants in November 2020, with a 35 percentage point difference. While new UC claimants reported lower life satisfaction than existing UC claimants in May 2020, this reversed by November 2020, before the two largely aligned by March 2021. By the later stage of the pandemic in March 2021, 46% of existing and 48% of new UC claimants reported being satisfied with their life, compared to 67% of the rest of the population.
Anvar Sarygulov, Senior Research Fellow at Bright Blue and analysis author, commented:
"Even with the Government increasing financial support provided through Universal Credit in March 2020, many claimants have continued to face significant financial difficulties as the pandemic progressed. However, the financial situation for existing and new UC claimants has shifted throughout the pandemic, with some evidence for improvement as the pandemic progressed, especially by March 2021.
Fully withdrawing the Universal Credit uplift in September 2021 will put an even greater number of claimants at risk of financial problems at a point when the economic recovery is only gathering pace."
Our recent analysis revealed troubling extent of the financial difficulties faced by Universal Credit claimants during the pandemic. Withdrawing the uplift in September 2021 will put an even greater number of claimants at risk of financial problems. https://t.co/c2DTQDbcDX
Even the hard right Spectator agrees:
'If the government pulls away this economic ladder, it will drop millions of families into a worse financial position near the end of the year — i.e. in the run-up to Christmas.'
✍ Stephen Daisleyhttps://t.co/ESo7BdyBB3
— The Spectator (@spectator) June 17, 2021
Posted in DWP, Uncategorized, Universal Credit
« Benefit Sanction Changes.
As One Britain One Nation Day Approaches Nearly Half Universal Credit Claimants Have Benefits Reduced. »
It's seven years ago that the Council of Europe described UK Benefits as "manifestly inadequate", things have only got worse since. Tory policies are to blame.
trev
"Iain Duncan Smith says it is 'lunacy' for Strasbourg to suggest welfare payments need to rise"
And he would know! The biggest lunatic in British Politics.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/29/uk-benefits-inadequate-council-of-europe
Universal Credit is very obviously a disaster and should be scrapped asap. It's really no surprise that a dysfunctional Social Security system will result in increased mass poverty.
The end of the eviction ban
By Liz Davies
Are we going to see a "tsunami" of people made homeless shortly? The government's ban on bailiffs carrying out residential evictions in England came to an end on 31st May 2021. In stark contrast, the equivalent ban on bailiffs carrying out evictions of commercial leases was extended on 16th June 2021 to March 2022. Businesses which cannot afford to pay rent have a respite; people do not.
"As we emerge from lockdown, the figures of people applying to councils for help as homeless are already beginning to rise. At least 130,000 households were made homeless between April 2020 and March 2021, roughly the same amount as in the previous year, despite the significant reduction in evictions over that period. So these figures represent people who were asked to leave by family or friends, or were leaving abusive relationships, rather than tenants evicted. As tenants start to be evicted, the figures are expected to rise."
https://labourhub.org.uk/2021/06/17/the-end-of-the-eviction-ban/?fbclid=IwAR3YXTjkOvApC_9NhOfZcNslW3HEykLxSeZzhfIQhHkDCd_agnWmP5RxOG8
Andrew Coates
The Labour party will inherit the mess the Tories have left behind.
An all in one solution was never going to work but as we all know, UC is more about making governments life easier rather than the purported public's.
Its a jack of all trades, master of none that has proven when fully tested as it has been over covid that with even all the sticky tape holding it together, its split at the seams and hemorrhaging poverty as fulltime nat min workers compress the problem.
The tories promised way back a significant rise in min wage that even to this day they keep pushing out further with every manifesto. With no extra taxes comes no extra welfare and why the poverty problem compresses and persists.
Covid dealt a blow to many industries already suffering from a break from Europe and lead not just to a lowering of staff through unemployment but also the cutting back of peoples hours. The Cameron mantra of live within your means is somewhat hard when what you need to live bare min out scales it.
Without fixing workers on less than generous hourly rates and hours economical lives in a way not plagued with credit/loan solutions, there can be no resolve towards welfare that looks on deliberately blindly at the task at hand.
Why not lower the hours of the working week and employ more people? The State could subsidise the shortfall in wages until things eventually adjust. Instead of one worker doing 40 – 60 hours a week, hire two workers doing 20 – 30 hours a week. Public transport would also have to be subsidised or Nationalized so that people could afford to commute.
Employers are lowering hours but they are also raising whats expected from the employee.
People like amazon, ups and so forth have for ages now offered the under 20 hours gig so as to double the workforce list but all your doing there is hiding the real problem by splitting it among two people and saying the problem aint that bad (typical tory attitude to hide the decline).
Sadly more from less is the attitude of business while welfare isnt going to get rid of the zero work allowance that sees 63p in every pound earned reduced from benefit.
Now the Middle Classes are being effected by Universal Credit they make a big song & dance about it because they are special people with special snotty snot. They did not want to know before, it is only when it effects them they are interested as hypocrites that they are more important than poorer people.
Stepping Razor Sound Plate System
The real hypocrites are the Working Class Tories who voted for these blaggards.
Who else could they have voted for? Corbyn and McDonnell? Surely not? I sometimes wonder what state the country would be in now if those two had got in 😀 It would have been a right laff 😀
@ Fred
Corbyn was proved right. The Tories turned to Socialist solutions; increased public spending, Workers furloughs, increased Universal Credit, and they are partially Nationalizing the trains! Of course people should have voted Labour. We're not all Class Traitor knts like you.
The Working Class think Boris is left wing & so do all the Tory Party. They would prefer to have Covid than vote Labour which they think is so left left wing.
I knew you were going to say that, trev, you are as predictable as the movement of the planets 😀 I am no psychologist, trev but just from pure observation I have found that humans as a species are remarkably good at deceiving themselves that what is in their own personal and best interests must be for the good of all or 'for the greater good' as your Communist hero, Stalin would have put it. But the degrees of hypocrisy differ in proportion to the method of their achieving their personal objectives. And like your hero, Stalin, you are right off the scale. Why can't you be honest for once? You are like politicians – you always give a plausible reason, but it is never the real reason. We are not little kids any more that can be easily deceived by those who are always acting in their own interests. Take this 'covid vaccine' for example; the real reason you want everyone to be injected with this toxic concoction is because you are a yellow-bellied coward. You couldn't care less who gets killed by it – it is 'for the greater good' after all. You just laugh off deaths from this 'vaccine' but at the same time will bang ot columns if someone on benefits dies because they are 'fit to work' 😀 Like no-one on benefits ever dies 😀 The same goes for this 'equitable distribution of wealth' you are always banging on about – you want more money in your own pocket, for weed, a motorbike, whatever, as simple as that. You couldn't care less who has to pay the price just so long as you can scoot around as high as a kite.. You are such a laff, trev, you are more transparent than 'er indoors knickers 😀 And that is bleedin' well saying something 🙂
Can the Working Class Tory Voters stop calling Labour Communist . We know already that the Tories are failed dictators which all their voters are moaning about. The way the Tories treat disability is genocide.
Jeez Stepping, next thing you will be accusing me and the missus of voting for Breixt 😀
Reblogged this on Tory Britain! .
A6er
Unconditional Basic Income is the only way forward. Share the wealth or millions will die, homeless and in debt as we face a tsunami of unemployment and homelessness. Let the pandemic be the catalyst for positive change. Let the punitive vindictive psychopaths be banished from Politics and relegated to history. Lord Freud is long gone. Iain Duncan Smith is yesterday's man. Therese Coffey is heading for a early grave, a red-faced flushed and flustered pub-lunch heart attack just waiting to happen, and tired-out Boris is all washed up.
Surrey coronavirus: Live updates as surge testing announced for North Reigate and Banstead
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/reigate-banstead-live-surge-testing-20841680
Surge testing for new coronavirus (COVID-19) variants
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/surge-testing-for-new-coronavirus-covid-19-variants
more testing more cases more lock downs ready for the winter and justification to extend the covid act in September and as the vaccine roll out is not yet complete as another excuse so it will not end this year and said this months ago.
the new deadly variant is the tory party that are doing what they like with no accountability for there actions yet ppl still comply like good little sheep and do as there told via msm bull shit!
there going to milk this for as long as they can and the more you give in the longer it will continue until the corporations own the wold and use government as there puppets to control us all for profit!!
superted
Complete and utter paranoid nonsense. The entire world has been in the grip of a pandemic for the last 18 months and a couple of million people have died as a consequence so far. This is real. This is happening. This is not a Government hoax. This is not a sinister plot to control the human race. It is a virus! Get yourself vaccinated asap.
Will do, trev 🙂 Just as soon as the cows come home 🙂 The only thing is I don't have any cows to come home 😀
the vaccine does not stop you transmitting it getting or it killing you from it so does not meet the definition of the word vaccine as you can still spread it.
A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine
what is crystal clear is that they will extend toe covid 19 act until march 2022 based on cases not deaths and the vaccine roll out is not yet complete and on those grounds alone will get it passed again.
and the governments use nuclear weapons to control the world based on fear of them being used to control the human race and that is a fact or called M.A.D.
Yes ted, this is not a vaccine by any stretching or bending of the definition. And yet some people continue to deny this undeniable and irrefutable FACT! Either they are being wilfully ignorant or are just downright stupid. Which one is it? Or maybe it is both 😀
It's not the Covid restrictions, regulations, lockdowns you need to worry about, they are for a genuine purpose to prevent spread of infection and safeguard public health.
THIS is you need to worry about:
https://beastrabban.wordpress.com/2021/06/19/open-britain-on-boris-johnsons-further-assault-on-electoral-democracy/
Boris is eroding freedoms in underhand ways hoping people won't notice, but I don't think that the pandemic is any way connected to this.
It looks as they are intending to lock us back down come September time or there about but what I am wondering is – are they going to extend furlough? And what about this 'temporary' UC 'uplift'? Are they going to extend that? Another six months and JSA claimants will be out of pocket to the tune of £2080! " grand – think about that 🙂 You could buy a lot of weed with that, eh, trev 😉
Personally I would spend it on a computer and internet access so I could spend all day on find a job. I would also buy a mobile phone so that the jobcentre could contact me. I may also treat myself to an interview suit and shoes. And a tie! And if you believe any of that load of old cobblers I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you 🙂
I do not smoke weed Fred, or tobacco. It's something I grew out of years ago.
Fred has been brainwashed into a Tory Utopia Myth. Fred won't be so jolly when he is forced onto Universal Credit in some way – Tax Credits – Child Benefit etc.
trev, no-one really give up on the weed or fags, do they? 😉 As soon as you encounter a bit of stress in life you fall right off the wagon 😉 I am a walking, talking living testament to that fact 😀
Fred stop being a Poverty Pimp.
Poverty pimp?! No bleedin' way. I love money, can't get enough of the stuff, or at least the missus does 😀
How is Sharon your misses !!!
Personally I would spend it on a computer and internet access so I could spend all day on find a job. I may treat myself to an interview suit as well. And if you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you 😀
@superted
It would appear providers can process a claimant's personal data without their consent. I contacted Reed recently to find out if they were still holding my personal data. They confirmed they were, so I sent the following:
"Dear Reed in Partnership,
Thank you for confirming you hold my personal data.
Please read the following carefully:
1. You have advised the DWP and myself you are still continuing to hold my personal data for over TEN years! They have sent me an RARL2a, which I have to complete before you will release my information to me. If as you say you are only the data processor and not the data controller, can you please tell me why you are still continuing to hold my personal data after all this time? This length of time does seem rather excessive.
2. Should I ever be referred to you again in the capacity of a client/customer, I write to advise that in its capacity as a data processor, Reed and/or Reed in Partnership do not have my consent to process my personal data, effective immediately. Please advise on the process. And please confirm in writing you will comply with my request. And if not, why not.
This was Reed's reply:
"Dear Mr jj,
In this instance, we are processing programme participant's data for the DWP under contract and it is a requirement for us to do so to deliver the procured service.
In terms of data retention, this is required of us as the processor, and we are contractually obliged to store this securely until we can delete it or otherwise instructed by the controller. The retention period for the Pathways to Work programme, you were participating in, expires on 31/12/2023 and all programme data will be deleted after this date. The length of the retention period is often associated with the relevant funding for the programme, and there are audit requirements from those, and other regulatory bodies.
Regarding future programmes you might be attending, this will be determined by a number of factors, but, the main one will be who the Data Controller is and the lawful basis for processing that data.
Our lawful basis for processing is often through our contract with the DWP (or another commissioner), their lawful basis would most likely be for a public task, but, each service is different.
If we want to process anything outside of our contract, then we would have to gain consent from the participant directly for that; consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.
Reed in Partnership"
jj joop
i find it hard to beleve that that contract is still ongoing from 2010 it makes no sense at all that they would still be processing data from that long ago and for what reason until 2023?
so bar what the dwp give them they still need your permission for anything else like a cv ect so you can say no.
best option here is not to give the dwp anything data wise like a email address as then the provider will need to gain permission for this from you in person as no other way to contact you bar post.
62 Since the launch of the Pathways to Work Programme there have been several key
developments that will affect the Department's approach to prime contracting. In 2008,
the Department published a new Commissioning Strategy which covered its future
approach to contracting out welfare to work provision. The Department is also currently
piloting the Merlin Standard to support the development of good practice in supply chain
management within the provision of welfare to work services.
63 In June 2010, following the general election, the new Coalition Government
announced that all existing welfare to work programmes would be rolled into a single
Work Programme, which will go live in Summer 2011. The Work Programme will use a
prime contractor delivery approach.
Click to access 101121_Pathways-to-Work-Prime-Contract-Model.pdf
You must not keep personal data for longer than you need it.
You need to think about – and be able to justify – how long you keep personal data. This will depend on your purposes for holding the data.
You need a policy setting standard retention periods wherever possible, to comply with documentation requirements.
You should also periodically review the data you hold, and erase or anonymise it when you no longer need it.
You must carefully consider any challenges to your retention of data. Individuals have a right to erasure if you no longer need the data.
You can keep personal data for longer if you are only keeping it for public interest archiving, scientific or historical research, or statistical purposes.
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/principles/storage-limitation/
This is your right to have personal data erased when it is no longer needed. This is also known as the 'right to be forgotten'. To find out how long DWP needs and keeps your information, see the section 'How long DWP keeps your data' on this page. DWP has to keep information about claims and services for a period after claims have ended, in case appeals or reviews are necessary, and to make sure we have finished any follow-up action.
DWP's Data Protection Officer
DWP has appointed a Data Protection Officer. The role of the Data Protection Officer is to make sure DWP is compliant with data protection laws and to act as a point of contact for data subjects.
The DWPs Data Protection Officer is Dominic Hartley. You can contact the Data Protection Officer by post at:
DWP Data Protection Team
Benton Park View 6
Room BP6001
Mail Handling Site A
WV98 1ZX
Or by email at: data.protectionofficer@dwp.gov.uk.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter#your-rights-when-dwp-uses-your-information
Very interesting. I have filled in a Right of Access form as requested by Reed and sent it back to the DWP, so hopefully Reed will then give me copies of all my personal data they hold.
This is what the DWP sent me
"We are in receipt of your email which you sent to Reed in Partnership requesting information. The Department for Work and Pensions are the data holder for the information you have requested.
In order for us to process your request we need to verify your identity. Can you please complete and return the attached RARL2a or alternatively you can complete and submit a secure electronic form on line. The form can be found using the following link to the gov.uk website."
This is what I sent back:
"As per your instructions, I have filled in the attached RARL2a, which I have completed. According to them they are only the data processors but you guys (the DWP) are the data controllers. And apparently only the DWP can authorise them to provide me with copies of all personal data they hold on me. I don't know what that's all about.
As you can see from the email below, I contacted Reed to a) provide me with a copy of all personal data they hold on me, and b) to advise them they do not have my consent to process my personal data, etc.
In respect of 'a' they have confirmed they still continue to hold my personal data after TEN years! But as they are only the data processor and not the data controller, they have kicked me over to you guys.
And in respect of 'b' they have said nothing.
Why are they, as data processors, still continuing to retain my personal data after over TEN years? I have emailed them back in the meantime to ask them the same thing and to repeat my request they do not have my consent to process my personal data and to remove it from their system."
you can do a sar to the dwp and get all the data that the dwp hold on you and what they say about you on the lms and can do it online.
this is what i got when i done mine.
If agencies aka DWP, Reed etc hold data on you that you believe to be incorrect you can request it to be changed to be correct information, if they do not change it they themselves will be breaking the Data Protection Act.
"1. Personal data shall be:
(e) kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed; personal data may be stored for longer periods insofar as the personal data will be processed solely for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) subject to implementation of the appropriate technical and organisational measures required by this Regulation in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the data subject ('storage limitation')"
So, even if you collect and use personal data fairly and lawfully, you cannot keep it for longer than you actually need it.
There are close links here with the data minimisation and accuracy principles.
The UK GDPR does not set specific time limits for different types of data. This is up to you, and will depend on how long you need the data for your specified purposes.
How should we set retention periods?
The UK GDPR does not dictate how long you should keep personal data. It is up to you to justify this, based on your purposes for processing. You are in the best position to judge how long you need it.
You must also be able to justify why you need to keep personal data in a form that permits identification of individuals. If you do not need to identify individuals, you should anonymise the data so that identification is no longer possible.
You should consider your stated purposes for processing the personal data. You can keep it as long as one of those purposes still applies, but you should not keep data indefinitely 'just in case', or if there is only a small possibility that you will use it.
When should we review our retention?
You should review whether you still need personal data at the end of any standard retention period, and erase or anonymise it unless there is a clear justification for keeping it for longer. Automated systems can flag records for review, or delete information after a pre-determined period. This is particularly useful if you hold many records of the same type.
It is also good practice to review your retention of personal data at regular intervals before this, especially if the standard retention period is lengthy or there is potential for a significant impact on individuals.
If you don't have a set retention period for the personal data, you must regularly review whether you still need it.
However, there is no firm rule about how regular these reviews must be. Your resources may be a relevant factor here, along with the privacy risk to individuals. The important thing to remember is that you must be able to justify your retention and how often you review it.
You must also review whether you still need personal data if the individual asks you to. Individuals have the absolute right to erasure of personal data that you no longer need for your specified purposes.
so can anyone tell me how reed can keep on record personnel data for 13 years when the pathways to work programme ended in 2011 and turned in to the work programme.
31/12/2023 and all programme data will be deleted.
why has all programme data not been deleted already and what possible reason is there to still keep processing this data as it well exceeds the statute of limitations act and why has the dwp the said controller of this data are still letting them process this data as there is no valid reason for doing so given this is a private company for profit and that contract that that data was given for ended in 2011.
there is no purpose to still retain this data over that amount of time when the contract has ended other than the dwp think they are above the law and can do what they like with digital personnel data as they remain the data controller.
id also fire off a foi request and see what comes back as this is taking the piss!
Furlough is mainly to keep companies is business & the Furlough workers are cannon fodder.
Judge's 'astounding' attack on Coffey's 'wholly unsatisfactory' behaviour
By John Pring DNS on 17th June 2021
A high court judge has accused work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey of "wholly unsatisfactory" behaviour and lacking respect for the mother of a benefit claimant whose death was linked to failures by her department.
Mr Justice Morris spoke out about Coffey's actions as he criticised her for deciding "at the 11th hour" that she wanted the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to be allowed to provide evidence at a high court hearing next week.
That hearing will decide whether there will be a second inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, a disabled woman who took her own life after her benefits were wrongly stopped.
DWP's 11th hour decision to take part meant further stress and distress for her mother, Joy Dove, from Stockton-on-Tees, who has fought for justice for her daughter for more than four years, and who was left on the verge of tears during Friday's hearing.
But she told Disability News Service this week that Coffey's behaviour had only made her more determined to continue the battle to ensure the full truth of what happened to her daughter emerged.
She said: "I will just keep fighting and fighting."
But she also said that Coffey's lack of respect and understanding of her distress, and that of her family, illustrated the culture of disrespect for disabled benefit claimants and their relatives within DWP over the last decade.
DWP was informed about the family's legal proceedings last December, and other than indicating the following month that it had not yet "taken a position" on the case, Coffey (pictured) took no further action until last month, when she found out the case was due to be heard on 22 June.
She then decided that DWP wanted to make legal submissions to the 22 June hearing.
The judge said Coffey's behaviour in leaving it until the "11th hour" to participate in the case – and to provide no explanation for her delay – was "inimical" to the court, a word which means unfavourable, unfriendly, or even hostile.
He said: "There has been a wholesale failure to comply with the letter or spirit of procedural requirements."
Although DWP had expressed regret at any distress caused to Dove, the judge said Coffey's conduct was "lacking in respect and understanding", while its expression of regret "falls somewhat short of an apology".
Merry Varney, a partner at the law firm Leigh Day, which is representing Dove, said the way that she and her family had been treated by DWP was "an absolute disgrace" and showed "no proper understanding of the impact on Joy".
She said it was "astounding" to hear such strong words directed at a secretary of state by a judge.
Varney said Coffey's behaviour was "completely illustrative of the culture of the DWP that we have heard many individuals and bereaved families describe – lacking in respect, understanding and no apology".
She said Dove had now been caused "significant additional and wholly avoidable distress" as well as extra expense and inconvenience.
The judge ruled that DWP would only be allowed to make written submissions to next week's hearing, and only on one of the three points on which it had requested to present to the court.
But that decision means that the hearing will still now run over one-and-a-half days, instead of just one, causing expensive and stressful last-minute alterations to the family's arrangements.
Dove said: "I am appalled by the behaviour of the DWP.
"I believe they caused my daughter's death by their callous disregard for the anguish they caused her and now, with the same abominable attitude towards ordinary people, they are causing me more distress."
The first inquest into her daughter's death, which took place in May 2017, lasted just 37 minutes.
The coroner had turned down Dove's request to examine the actions of DWP.
Now she wants the high court to quash the results of that first inquest and order a second one by a different coroner.
Whiting, a mother-of-nine and grandmother, took her own life in February 2017, 15 days after she had her employment and support allowance mistakenly stopped for missing a work capability assessment.
The Independent Case Examiner concluded in 2019 that DWP was guilty of "multiple" and "significant" failings in handling her case, and that it had failed five times to follow its own safeguarding rules in the weeks leading to her suicide.
A DWP spokesperson said: "Our condolences are with Ms Whiting's family. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further."
That proves Therese Coffey is an accessory to pre meditated state sponsored murders by the DWP.
Now get your lawyers working DWP.
You think Therese Coffey can get away with it by being sacked. It is a criminal matter not a political matter.
Legalize Criminal Politics. The DWP lawyers will be advising against that. So the DWP have no lawyers now.
The DWP's only defense is incompetent contradictions. Pathetic.
Hancock:"We have no duty of care at all to vaccine refuseniks!"
https://off-guardian.org/2021/06/17/matt-hancock-hints-nhs-has-a-decreased-duty-of-care-for-anti-vaxxers/
Matt 'Hanky' Hancock
Chris 'Too Shitty' Witty
Therese 'UFO Useless Fat Object' Coffey
Justin 'Disability Hate Crime' Tomlinson
Priti 'We're So Priti There So Priti Patel Vacant Sex Pistols Fan' Patel
Boris 'Tory Left Wing' Johnson
Liz 'Buy Brexit Cheese' Truss
Michael 'Combat Summer Shorts' Gove
One thing that always amuses me is that when this UC 'uplift' is about to expire we can expect to see the usual media onslaught and even on here, in fact, I will write Komrade Koates headline now: "Cruel Universal Credit Cut Looms – Millions of Children Face Being Plunged into Poverty'. Of course we all know that is is nothing but a load of nonsense since the 'uplift' applies only to the personal allowance intended to provide for the needs of the adult(s) receiving it; it has got absolutely nothing to do with the child component which is paid separately and is not affected in anyway by this 'uplift'. And what some people are too thick to realise though is that through this idiotic 'virtue-signalling' and the false conflating of the personal allowance and what is paid in respect of children is hampering the cause of JSA claimants. The consequence of this hogwash is that JSA claimants in exactly the same situation as UC claimants remain hidden behind this wall of balderdash. The drums will start beating again as September approaches you can rest assured of that, and the 'best' outcome that can be hoped for is yet another extension to the 'temporary' 'uplift' but you can also rest assured that JSA claimants won't be receiving one extra bean.
Fred you poverty pimp. You know nothing about the DWP. Why should people not on the DWP & have well paid jobs get Child Benefits they are stopping child poverty getting Child Benefit because there is now a class system in child benefits. Furlough will not be extended until the rich get off claiming Child Benefits for their little darlings.
Child Benefits should be Means Tested.
Not if the missus wants a new kitchen, fancy holiday, new car… 😀 It is not child benefit I need it is a money printing press 😀
Poverty Pimps.
I don't think child benefit is means tested, Stepping. We used to claim it when we were rolling in money 😀 And why the hell wouldn't we? 😀
The rich people starving poor children by claiming Child Benefits is the Tory Policy. Bring in Marcus Rashford to say a few words.
Fred you are really showing up how thick you are.
Yeah well, Stepping, I am just a regular working-class geezer. I don't have any fancy education, letters after my name or fancy titles like you do 😀
Back on topic from poverty pimps egos.
The DWP are back in court today.
Now Fred lets talk about your misses Sharon. That will shut you up.
@Stepping Razor Sound Plate System – Stepping, you have to remember that there are people like Fred posting on here, who share 98% of their DNA with a fucking chimpanzee !! So what else can you expect ?
No-one can have any delusions about Universal Credit now. It's a cruel system, set up to discipline and control the unemployed. And to goad them into low-paid work, as an alternative to welfare. It's a dream benefit for right-wing Tories, who can rest assured that the unemployed are not being left to skive it. And that if they must claim Universal Credit, they will have to constantly behave and act as demanded by the DWP. With strict conditions, and harsh punishment for disobedience.
@ Jeff
The conditions are so stringent and ridiculously difficult to comply with that a great many claimants are guaranteed to fall foul of the sanctions regime and end up in debt/arrears and deeper poverty, if not homeless. What sort of Social Security system is that? Universal Credit, along with the combined effects of the Covid pandemic and Brexit, will lead to mass poverty and the breakdown of Society.
Jodey Whiting: DWP allowed involvement in High Court inquest decision
The DWP will have to pay 30% of Ms Dove's costs for the hearing.
Ms Whiting, from Stockton, took her own life on 21 February 2017 after her ESA, housing benefit and council tax benefit payments were stopped.
The payments were halted after she failed to attend a work capability assessment (WCA), but Ms Whiting had requested a home visit for the WCA due to her poor health which was refused.
An independent inquiry has found the Department for Work (DWP) breached its own rules and it has been ordered to apologise and pay £10,000 compensation.
That is not good enough, it should be a criminal matter not Corporate Manslaughter with a fine & a slap on the wrist to continue the DWP illegal criminal policies at the DWP.
I want my benefit uplift,
That's £20 to say,
I want it now Rishi Sunak,
And that means right away.
The whole thing has been wretched,
And unfair from the start,
So here's your chance to prove you're
A Chancellor with a heart.
Don't let the legacy claimants down,
It's not just about the money,
But being fair to all of us,
And not trying to be funny.
Random Poet
@Random -They should read this out during the court case.
George M
The Nuremberg Code (video)
https://tapnewswire.com/2021/06/the-nuremberg-code-1947/
Covid vaccine damage
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
What is the total number of people in the United Kingdom who have applied for vaccine damage compensation related to any of the Covid-19 vaccines available?
Please include Refused, Pending and Completed cases
Chris Richings
The Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (VDPS) provides a one-off tax free payment,
currently £120,000, to those people who are severely disabled as a result of vaccination
against a specified disease, within the meaning of the Act.
It is not compensation.
The total number of people in the United Kingdom who have applied for vaccine damage
payment where they have claimed to have had an adverse reaction to vaccination against
COVID-19 is 101. All cases are currently pending.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/covid_vaccine_damage#incoming-1814895
Restriction on activity on the Work and Health Programme
Where a restriction is in place on the type of work search activity a claimant will do when the claimant is in receipt of an employment related benefit such as legacy job seeker's allowance or universal credit.
And such a restriction may include but is not limited to a restriction placed on travelling times, hours of employment and so forth or basically any type of restriction that was agreed and recorded by the work coach as part of the claimant's commitment.
Can you confirm that these restrictions are still in place and apply when a claimant is transferred to the government's new initiative the 'work and health programme'?
Scott Perry
There is no obligation for a participant to sign the Action Plan. Chapter 4 (Action Planning) of
Work and Health Programme Guidance states:
 ensure evidence of all interactions are recorded, dated, signed and held for all
Participants, in line with the customer journey detailed in your tender. If a Participant
cannot or refuses to sign, you must record the reason for this
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/restriction_on_activity_on_the_w#incoming-1815278
No wonder there has been a crisis of rent arrears with people on Universal Credit. It doesn't pay enough money. And it deliberately doesn't pay enough money.
When will this systematic cruelty stop, and be replaced by Universal Basic Income ?
Enter the Tory Covid Variant. Pilot mass gatherings – Sport – Festivals – Entertainment Venues & more. The Tories are not the pilot of Covid but are the pilot of spreading covid.
The DWP have no defense lawyers left. So the DWP don't turn up to court cases. Gives you a clue it doesn't need to go to court in the first place. The DWP want to keep it in house with pay offs to keep people silent. But you forget DWP there is a thing called the internet. The DWP have nowhere to go apart from paying up for their robbery.
DWP you are not going down in silence because you have no DWP lawyers. Lawyers are telling the DWP they are not going to break the law for the DWP which will make the DWP lawyers criminals. Lawyers are not political or political tools for the DWP to break the law & their own rules.
What next the whole Civil Service going on strike !!!
I thought is would be the Andrew Marr Show next !!!
'Conservative MP Dame Andrea Leadsom has warned some people on furlough are avoiding going back to work because it has been 'great' for them and others are 'terrified' of returning to the office
Leadsom added: 'for other people, it's like, "well actually being on furlough in lockdown has been great for me – I've got a garden, I've been able to go out walking every day, I've got great vegetables growing, I don't really want to go back to work, maybe I'll think about part-time or I'm going to retire early".' Daily Mail
What a bloody cheek ! God forbid that the working-class dare to think of retiring early, or taking things a bit easier in their later years. Here we see the true Tory attitudes that lie underneath their PR bullshit.
The rich class, and the servant class.
Our cuddly Tory MP Dame Andrea 'Goes To Waitrose' Leadsom is as lazy as the people on furlough that she is supporting. These lazy people should be sacked by their employers, but the furlough is keeping these companies in business. Now they can write off all their debts.
I was watching Rishi Sonic Sunak being interrogated by that equally smug Scotchman, Andrew Neil on the new Freeview channel (In what appears to be HD on Freesat). By the way, I can highly recommenced this channel to you, trev. It is right up your street. Neil hauled Sonic up over these missing JSA payments. This was GB News so as always they were suffering 'technical problems', so the sound keep cutting out, Sonic sounded like he was in an echo chamber, was in another room. Anyway, as far as I could make out Sonic was waffling with a Tony Blair like grin (does this geezer go the the same voice coach as Blair?) and effectively denying all knowledge of JSA as a benefit? "Andrew surely, you mean Universal Credit?" "No, as I have clearly stated I meant JSA – Jobseeker's Allowance". "Well, that's peculiar… maybe you are talking about some sort of benefit that people no longer claim." "Again, no there are currently live claims for JSA" "Oh, Andrew, as I said, you are obviously the expert and know more about this than me :D". Thankfully, Dan Wooton popped up with the weather and something happened with Sonic's mike so that was that. But if anyone on JSA thinks they are going to get an extra dime out of this Sonic character I wouldn't hold your breath.
GB News is most certainly NOT for me, it is a Rightwing Reactionary Fascist mouthpiece.
I don't know, trev. Who have you been watching on it? From what I have watched so far it seems balanced. If anything, I would say it was more far left-wing. But I suppose that depends on how you align your political compass. But at least they give both sides of an argument unlike the rest of the media. It is nice to see a news organisation deal in facts for a change. Maybe you just have to sample more of their output before you can call it for sure. But 'Right-wing Reactionary Fascist mouthpiece' does seem a bit strong. Esteemed and much respected commentators such as Andrew Neil, Dan Wooton, Lawrence Fox, Julia-Hartley Brewer, Nigel Farage are right-wing reactionary fascist mouthpieces, really? The missus always tunes in after Corrie for that Aussie Dan Wooton character. I am sure it is not for the debate though, but I'm not bothered as going by the look and sound of him I am sure he 'bats for the other side' 😀
"Andrew Neil, Dan Wooton, Lawrence Fox, Julia-Hartley Brewer, Nigel Farage are right-wing reactionary fascist mouthpieces, really?"
Erm…yes, really.
As GB News would say it is 'open for debate'. They are not ones to stifle opinions, even yours, trev. And like I said it all depends on your own perspective. We were watching Katie Hopkins on GB News the other day and the missus called her a "commie". So there you go, commies on GB News, maybe not as one-sided as you make out, trev. I haven't made up my mind on GB News yet but do prefer it to the other much more 'slicker' news channels. Too slick for my liking.
HOW the flying fuck can Katie Hopkins be a fucking "Commie"? Are you taking the bleedin piss?
In fact don't even answer that. I don't want to know. Come back only when you have something sensible to say.
Here is one of the Stars of GB New just to top the list of idiots around these days:
Staring to feel a bit like there may need to be a reconvening of the Nuremberg trials in the not to distant future. pic.twitter.com/x5SNPhd9hk
— Laurence Fox ✌🏼🇬🇧✌🏼 (@LozzaFox) June 19, 2021
Exactly. I rest my case.
Ah! Larry Fox. The man who stood to be London Mayor receiving 1.6% of the vote and losing his £10,000 deposit in respect to that election. Just the sort of character the man off the street would be interested in listening to. I would stick to appearing with your older sis on Googlebox if I were you Laurence and leave politics alone for the sake of your wallet.
Aleister
Fred do we give a shit about your misses Fred !!!
Maybe you don't Stepping, but I do – she's my wife 😀
Fuck your wife Fred.
I thought Boris Johnson was Stalin like all the other Tory Voters Fred !!
If GB News, which is dependent on advertising, is still around in a year to eighteen months I will be surprised. The programme is obviously being made on a tight as a duck's rectum budget with some of the weirdest content I've ever seen. I saw one programme where a camp comedian led a discussion about "cancel culture" the point seemingly that everybody should be able to be as rude, insensitive and insulting as they wanted, wherever and whenever they wanted, in order to defend the right to free speech in a free country to stop the nation going to the dogs.
My feeling is that there won't be a big enough audience for GB News' diet of twaddle to encourage business and commerce to fork out for adverts to be shown, although suspect that advertising slots currently are dirt cheap; somebody was advertising something to do with tenting, camping and glamping on GB News when I tuned in briefly to check it out which kind of set the stage! GB News doesn't have many presenters and overworks the ones they do by making them host interminably long shows, during which conversations with obscure guests go on for too long becoming boring, strained, stale and stilted because everybody outstays their welcome.
GB News is to news and journalism what Prisoner Cell Block H was to drama and the thespian art.
If you need a laugh give it a go before it's gone… which I reckon will be sooner rather than later.
I don't watch TV so I have not been brainwashed into thinking a certain way.
Good for you, Stepping. I don't really watch it either – I prefer to read a book but the missus keeps putting it on for her silly soaps…. and that Dan Wooton on GB News.
So why are you coming up with this TV crap then Fred?
Oh the misses Sharon.
Don't you think your on the wrong blog with your misses Sharon Fred !!!
Stepping, I am aware this isn't a TV blog. You would think I was talking about the latest plot developments in Eastenders or Corrie. I get enough of that of off the missus to keep me going 😀 I only mentioned Rishi Sonic Sunak's appearance on GB News because he was being questioned on missing JSA payments. Maybe it doesn't affect you personally but it does others, so please show some patience.
There other ways of getting what bullshit Tories say but that is pointless because Tories & Tory voters talk out of the arse FART.
I think it is so funny when the Tory Voters blame Labour for Boris Johnson being so useless. Ha ha ha ha ha
John Bercow defects to Labour with withering attack on Johnson
Former Speaker says party has become reactionary and xenophobic under its current leadership
Off topic but here's something to raise your spirits…
In pictures: 1,000 Dreams to mark World Refugee Day
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-57488050
The coming week will be the Tories infighting war to oust Boris Johnson & get a new Tory leader. Forget Covid.
I went shopping yesterday and treated myself to some expensive black cherry jam, which I thought I could have tomorrow but I had some today instead, though there is plenty left for tomorrow…
@trev – The DWP are paying you too much to have them luxuries.
It's surprising what little luxuries are affordable if unhealthy habits are broken or brought under control; drink, drugs, tobacco. But it's the promise of jam tomorrow that keeps us going.
Cash in hand making a come back
As the world of commerce expands online it appears cash in hand work on the domestic front is seeing a growth. Whether too old, too disabled or too busy, everyday citizens via apps are offering up work on a cash in hand basis.
People on welfare, retired people and those with a little time on hand are all getting involved so as to make that extra bit of cash both welfare and businesses fall short on. The oddjob industry has reinvented itself in a convenient way it appears.
@trev,
I have some bread but no jam. I have a 45p packet of tescos couscous,just add not water, stir and leave for five minutes to absorb the water. At least it saves on the electricity.
Sorry to hear you're down to the cheap couscous Rob, been there myself, though actually it's not too bad, I've eaten worse believe me, there's been times in the past when I've eaten out of date stuff that my upstairs neighbour threw in the bin! Personally, I've been a lot better off financially since I stopped smoking last year, but also my leccy is on the cheap via an old coin meter, and I no longer have any Gas, and during the pandemic my Council cancelled my Council Tax bill, so that's made a difference too. It's a crap flat in a dodgy area but cheap to live in.
When the Nazis did Genocide of the disabled they were up front about if unlike the Tories who keep it under raps with Disability Sector Champions, Disability Confident, Disability Unit. All in all it is Genocide of the disabled Tory Policy that is seen as help. Tory Policy Every disabled person does not deserve to live & have the right to live under Tory Rule. Human Rights Abuses Tories.
Britains biggest Brexit Trade Deal is with Israel selling British weapons to Israel. Israel is a State not a religion. The Tories are racists against Jews. How can a racist Tory Party defend Jews by selling Weapons to Israel. Tory Rivers Of Blood.
Now Tories let us see who is the racist by calling my a racist. Thick as shit Tories.
Are you aware it was the British that bought eugenics back into fashion that led to not just post 1900 Germany cultivating the art for many decades ?
You dont have to hide something when its considered an accepted practice.
Yes Doug The Tories Concentration Camps down the WCA.
@doug,
Talking of cash, has anyone on here gone into tescos and found they won't allow people to use the self service machines unless they pay by card?
I haven't yet Rob but it wouldn't surprise me. What i have noticed though is the persistence to try to push people to shop via app by giving them more points than both cash and card payers. Tescos caught me out by offering a price off deal only for me to findout once hitting the till that it only applies to shop store card holders (a different method to the accumulating credit method).
Shops seem quite hellbent these days to get your data from what ive observed.
"No staff no cash – Tesco is going checkout free!"
No security? Fill your bags and walk out! Seriously though, many people don't have the latest smartphone, so they can't shop there, unless there's an alternative method whereby you can scan your debit card? Whatever happens it will put more people on the dole, Tesco employs thousands, and every other supermarket will follow suit – Morrisons, Sainsburys, Asda, etc. Unconditional Basic Income is the only way forward.
Not 'Arl Vernon' again !
In my local Tesco, they have ten self-service checkouts. Five are cash or card. The other five are card only.
Well I went to Tesco & asked for Brexit Cheese & they didn't know what I was talking about. I am only repeating what Liz Truss said "Buy Brexit Cheese".
How can Britain pay for all the spending? Get these corporate companies like slandering YouTube, Amazon, Google, GoatFace Book, Instagram to pay their taxes in Britain. But the Tories are scared.
When are the Tories going to charge me for a Disability Hate Crime & DWP Disability Fraud ? Come on Tories practice what you preach. So it is Tory Disability Hate Crime against the disabled if the Tories do not act now.
When the Tories put everyone in the new lockdown no one will take any notice, so the Tories will have to impose Marshall Law. The country does not have enough police & British Soldiers in the British Army to impose the new lockdown. The Tories will have to put the Marshall Law Contract of to tender with G4S the front runners closely followed by Serco a close 2nd. In Hindsight, no time for that Tories. The Tories realize that they can't put people back in lockdown.
DWP will start contacting ESA claimants to arrange appointments with their work coach this month
The DWP has announced the reintroduction of Claimant Commitments and Action Plans for people receiving ESA.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/money/esa-work-coach-appointments-24353620
ESA to New Style ESA = Disability ESA to Able Bodied New ESA. The DWP have cured all disabilities with the New Style ESA. Well done DWP for doing the impossible curing disability.
DWP you going backwards on the Universal Credit Roll Out.
Inflation hitting 4% will slash £700 off household incomes | Personal Finance | Finance
The Resolution Foundation is predicting that the UK's inflation rate – which hit a two-year high of 2.1 percent last month – is on course to top 4 percent later this year. This would slash £700 off average household incomes – affecting living standards and creating a problem that the government cannot ignore, it warned.
It mirrors a trend of rising inflation already seen in the US, but increases on this side of the pond will be less stark, it said.
https://toysmatrix.com/inflation-hitting-4-will-slash-700-off-household-incomes-personal-finance-finance/
Don't slash Covid benefit uplift, former Tory minister urges
Architect of universal credit says government must rethink plans to end £20 a week payment increase
Guardian/Observer Sun 20 Jun 2021 11.00 BST
The former minister who oversaw the introduction of universal credit has called on the government to maintain key benefit increases introduced during the pandemic, lamenting that it had taken a global health crisis for the welfare system to be provided with adequate funding.
In a rare interview, David Freud, regarded as the architect of the controversial benefit, told the Observer he battled against "massive cuts" demanded by the Treasury and had considered resigning.
The Tory peer said an increase in housing allowance during the pandemic must now be maintained. He added that ministers should also rethink plans to cut, from September, the £20 a week added to basic payments. "When you've got lots of people who are not normally in the welfare system needing to subsist, the rates aren't good enough," he said.
Some Tory MPs already think the government is heading for major fallout if it cuts universal credit in autumn, just as the furlough scheme ends and the pandemic's real effect on the economy begins to emerge. A recent survey also suggests there is widespread public backing for making the £20-a-week universal credit increase permanent.
Freud was speaking ahead of the launch this week of his book Clashing Agendas, which documents years of battles with the Treasury and crises in the introduction of universal credit, which replaced a range of benefits and tax credits. He said that as well as repeatedly demanding cuts, the Treasury wanted to use universal credit to claw back money overpaid by mistake. This left thousands of claimants with unexpectedly low monthly payments.
"It was a part of the deal," he said. "The Treasury said, 'you can have universal credit, but we want to use it as an efficient debt collection device'. And, of course, it is very efficient. I think it's counterproductive: it undermines universal credit. I wish we hadn't had to agree to it."
He said universal credit's reputation had been repeatedly damaged because then chancellor George Osborne had combined its introduction with huge savings. "By the time we'd gone through the coalition period, all the cuts that were reasonable, and extra ones, had been done," he said. "I think it was a mistake, particularly from 2015, to go on with this massive cuts programme."
He questioned Labour's pledge to replace universal credit, as starting again would be hugely difficult. "I can imagine a savvy political party putting a bit more money in the system and rebranding it – but I can't see it changing to a genuinely new system."
A government spokesperson said: "Universal credit enables claimants to support themselves and their families, helping them to move back into work, allowing them to increase their hours and supporting them towards financial independence. When the chancellor announced the six-month extension to the uplift, it was clear it was a temporary measure to support households affected by the economic shock of Covid-19."
Freud was speaking ahead of the launch this week of his book Clashing Agendas.
Lord Fraud wrecked our Social Security system and pushed millions of people into poverty, and drove thousands to suicide. Freud and Smith have blood on their hands.
@trev- Perhaps he is starting to regret some of the things that were done ? All too late now.
All the Tory Voters calling Boris Johnson a Commie bastard.
Jobs for all! "do you want fries with that?"
McDonald's to hire 20,000 staff and open 50 outlets
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57544235
And these are the jobs of the future ?
The very near future, unfortunately.
I did apply years ago at KFC as they had a data entry department, I did not get anywhere with it. the job would have suited my disability
Do you want a zero hour contract with your fries as it a great place to work.
my_final_username
Channel 4 lined up for privatisation as early as 2022
https://www.ft.com/content/7c8bffd3-74ca-455d-835e-4557b645c504
Got to say Burger King do better burgers. The coffee isn't as good as Mac D's. But the worst coffee is in KFC.
I wouldn't know George, I don't patronize such bistros.
bk for the burger and round to mcds for the fries and coke over the road pmsl 😉
https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/new-gloucester-burger-king-bring-5526586
Yes, it's some time since I was in a KFC, but I do remember the coffee comes as a horrible suprise.
Without wishing to worry anyone…
Winter lockdowns are a possibility, SAGE says
Experts warn of a 'miserable winter' ahead
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/winter-lockdowns-possibility-sage-says-20860275
OMG i never seen that one coming did i lol.
Being on lockdown in Winter isn't so bad, most people stay at home and keep warm anyway. Summer lockdown is worse for people. Neither bother me particularly, I never go anywhere anyway.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02610183211001766
now just think of all them work coaches that are complete ass holes and not had anyone to bully for over a year they must be foaming at the mouth to get going again with sanctions at full steam ahead.
if they cant get you on the job search then it will be down the provider hole you will go with sanctions for not even turning up on time they will make it hell one way or another.
That is why Work Roaches are foaming at the mouth during lockdown to go on strike because their DWP bosses are bullying them. Ahh poor Work Roach.
they can give it all day long but dont like it when the boot is on the other foot do they pmsl 😉
You never know, they may be undergoing a crisis of conscience, a deep inner conflict brought about by the higher cosmic energies of the New Age now bombarding planet earth and coming into finely tuned focus by the Summer Solstice amid the magic of mid-Summer, on the back of the Covid Pandemic as the catalyst for change, the veil is thinning as humanity is reborn in the 4th Dimension under the watchful gaze of the Elementals.
as a work coach you do as your told buy upper management even the floor managers have no choice to toe the line or else even if it means they breach the civil service code of conduct and cost them there job, they can easily replaced! and no accountability for upper management.
So DWP your policy is to bully disabled people into committing suicide DWP Policy. Let's start with the disabled & then work on the JSA people to commit suicide. That is why there are so many DWP Deaths DWP Tory Policy. As Lord David Fraud said about the sanction policies at the treasury to cut costs in his new book so he will not go down with the Tories & DWP in State sponsored Murders at the DWP.
All hiding behind Corporate Manslaughter charges. No its Pre Meditated State sponsored Murders
What's needed here is someone to intercede with the Elementals, on behalf of humanity. Perhaps someone we know, who is a member of the ILL****ATI ?
I have some good news for you, trev 🙂
GB News Radio to launch on Digital One nationwide
GB News is planning to launch on Digital One in July just weeks after the television service of the same name starts broadcasting.
The national station will be available across the UK and final negotiations are currently taking place with Arqiva to secure a slot.
The output will be a full audio simulcast with the television station, meaning no special programmes or content will be made for the radio channel.
GB News is currently securing a licence to join a DAB multiplex too.
Chief Executive Officer Angelos Frangopoulos said: "GB News is a digital start-up designed to bring greater plurality of voices to UK media so we're passionate about delivering our programmes on every platform we can, including live DAB digital radio."
He added: "It's a considerable challenge to expand into radio so quickly but this opportunity is too great to miss.
"It means we can serve more people by giving them the choice to tune in to us anywhere, any time."
Mr Frangopoulos said it was rare for spectrum capacity to become available on the D1 national radio multiplex. "It was a highly competitive selection process so we're really delighted," he said.
"We look forward to partnering again with Arqiva, who already take care of our terrestrial and satellite television signals as well as our fibre connectivity."
The television channel, GB News will be available on Freeview and You View channels 236, Sky HD 515, Virgin Media HD 626 and Freesat 216 from this Sunday at 8pm.
fred stop thinking you are a Google search Engine.
I don't care Stepping, anything that makes listening to Katie Hopkins in the car possible can only be a good thing 🙂
The missing link 🙂
https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/06/gb-news-to-launch-24-hour-speech-radio-station/
You're the missing link Fred. I think it's time we double checked your identity. Repeat after me, "Chelsea fans are a bunch of little girls", and "Rangers are a bag of shite", and "God bless Celtic", and "King Billy was a knob".
When the Rapture comes, people like Fred will be left behind.
Reverend Green
Somehow I don't think "Fred" is his real name, and if it's who I think it is he certainly deserves to experience a rupture.
Therese Coffey seems to be at a loose ends.
I have made a Right of Access Request to the DWP requesting they give me copies of all my personal data held by the Reed Group. I contacted Reed directly initially but they fobbed me off, claiming they were the data processors and not the data controller. The DWP have confirmed receipt of my request and will respond within one calender month. Basically, I want to see what Reed are holding on me. We shall see!
In the meantime, here is some interesting information about Reed:
Reed in Partnership is part of the REED Group. The REED Group includes four companies: Reed Specialist Recruitment, reed.co.uk, Reed Wellbeing and Reed in Partnership.
Some Reed in Partnership services are co-financed by the European Social Fund.
Reed in Partnership Ltd. Registered Office: Academy Court, 94 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1DT. Company Number: 851645. Registered in the UK.
What's the point of having a DWP Minister at the moment it's Therese Coffey is all their job is PR Promotion & keeping the Social Media accounts going. So sacking Therese Coffey means the DWP will need a new Social Media Slave for the DWP.
DWP Stop hiding behind Corporate Manslaughter because no one is responsible for the DWP. So That responsibility fulls with the Prime Minister then Boris Johnson or perhaps Boris Johnson is hiding behind Corporate Manslaughter with Matt Hancock over the DWP & Covid.
When are the DWP going to treat Covid 19 as a disability, long drawn out DWP.
Covid 19 is already a disability for the Tories & the economy.
Complaints re-design update
Negotiators from the GEC met with Customer Experience Directorate management on 16 and 17 June to discuss their developing plans to re-organise the complaints function within DWP.
CED have shared their high level plans with members which are currently awaiting approval by senior management at DWP level to move responsibility for complaints from a single centralised function into the owning business areas (UC, CMG, RSD, DS, WAD etc.), with a smaller centralised team in CED remaining.
Talks will continue while details are worked out
CED have agreed to ongoing discussions with the GEC about how this will work and what the impact will be on members on the ground. The GEC have been clear in talks there should be no detrimental impact on members as a result of these planned changes and this is a priority for us. Members have raised concerns about what the move will mean to them, how it will be managed and when the position will be made clear. The GEC will continue to discuss with the Project Team how members' views and circumstances will be considered in decisions about what work they do, and where they sit within the new business structure. No final decisions have been made by the business about how this will be achieved as yet and we will continue to talk to them and provide further updates for members as soon as possible.
Changes are not to cut staff numbers in complaints
No cast iron guarantees were able to be offered by CED on how the new structure will be arrived at but they did state that the changes are not in any way aimed at reducing staffing numbers working on complaints. They advised that the point has been made to Directors of Business Units (BUs) that to continue to improve performance in complaints and provide better feedback to improve quality in the businesses, it will likely mean more investment in complaints in the long run not less.
100% checking in Complaints
As part of the ongoing discussions, negotiators highlighted ongoing concerns from members regarding the 100% check on cases that was brought in as part of the changes made in July 2020 in complaints. Members have told us checks take too long, adding unnecessary delays, that errors aren't always based on actual errors but rather because a checker may have made a different decision, or as the checker would have used a different style or phraseology.
Members report this makes them feel that they are not trusted by management to do a good job or to give the right outcome to the customer, despite in some cases many years of experience in handling complaints. We stated that whilst the quality checkers do a good and important job in ensuring the accuracy and consistency of responses, a 100% check feels to many members to be unnecessary and removes empowerment from them to deal with cases quickly and efficiently.
CED agreed that checks should be reduced and are developing a plan to move to a more risk based checking strategy, whereby common errors are checked more frequently along with complex and/or high profile cases; but that the checking on other cases is ramped down. It was also highlighted that as part of the future operating model it is envisaged that the quality agenda will cover management grades as well as caseworkers going forward in order to support them in their roles, and help improve the support they in turn give to their staff.
As part of the quality strategy, efforts will still be made to identify where quality can be improved, and where support through coaching or training can help avoid errors in future; and how better feedback can be provided to BUs to improve their quality to avoid complaints being made in future.
https://www.pcs.org.uk/department-for-work-and-pensions/news
"""But to improve their quality to avoid complaints being made in future."""
Why is there not a DWP Customer Union !!! The people treated like shit by the DWP need a Union. So Human Rights come into play. Human Rights does not need a Union just abuses from the DWP.
The PCS Union are taking the piss.
The PCS Union are only getting involved because of the Stupid DWP Workers that feel they are hard done by by their DWP bosses in their Work Contract that they agreed to. More complaints more work.
Government report reveals highest ever level of new disability benefit claim registrations
https://thiis.co.uk/government-report-reveals-highest-ever-level-of-new-disability-benefit-claim-registrations/
The DWP in CHOAS.
No 10 rejects suggestion triple-lock pension pledge could be suspended but concerns remain
Very interesting line from a House of Commons Library briefing.
Suggests the triple lock on pensions could be kept in name – but ministers change the mathematical measure used to work it out.
Therese Coffey at DWP spoke about this last year.
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/no-10-rejects-suggestion-triple-lock-pension-pledge-could-be-suspended-but-concerns-remain-277449/
The Government is fully committed to being criminals.
State pension: Warning as 'low' sum leaves millions at risk of 'inadequate' income
A STATE PENSION warning has been issued as the "low" level of the sum could mean Britons are unable to rely upon this form of support in retirement.
https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/1452451/state-pension-warning-amount-sum-payment-eligibility-UK-2021
Tens of thousands of Europeans face losing benefits within days as one in six yet to apply for EU settlement
Tens of thousands of Europeans in the UK face losing their welfare support within days after it emerged one in six EU nationals claiming benefits are yet to apply for settled status.
Following Brexit, EU nationals and their family members who wish to stay in Britain must apply to the EU settlement scheme by 30 June, with those who do not automatically becoming undocumented – leaving them unable to access state support and liable for deportation.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/eu-nationals-benefit-settlement-home-office-b1869812.html
DWP: young universal credit claimants offered work placements at funeral directors.
Highlighting one funeral director who joined the firm at the age of 18, Co-op Funeralcare has launched 20 work placements for 16 to 24-year-olds in Bristol under the government's maligned Kickstart scheme, under which the government subsidises wages for young people on universal credit for up to six months.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/jobs/dwp-young-universal-credit-claimants-5556562
When I was doing my NVQ years ago when I was 18/19 the training provider where I was doing my qualification, sent me to do my placement at a funeral directors, I was not taken on by the firm once I completed my NVQ, the firm just took someone else from the same provider I was not interested in seeing dead bodies, I did not have the tact, my speech was not clear. being on placement there were very little I was allowed to do
I did get a training allowance back in 2002 it was standard 40 pounds per week, plus an extra 10 pounds on placement + my travel experiences, I had to pay the 4 pounds towards my travel
I lived with my parents so it helped, I still live with my parents in my 30s because of my disability
maybe I would have benefit from a national funeral director like co-op than an independent one with just one branch, even though a few of my colleagues did start of in the position as me a few years ago, both were took on by the company and done well.
i should put on my cv i can dig a 3 foot wide by 8 foot long by 6 foot deep hole in 2hr 15mins with no noise.
Someone the DWP needs to get in quick.
Lavishly funded Moderna hits safety problems in bold bid to revolutionize medicine
Damian Garde
By Damian Garde Jan. 10, 2017
But the Crigler-Najjar treatment has been indefinitely delayed, an Alexion spokeswoman told STAT. It never proved safe enough to test in humans, according to several former Moderna employees and collaborators who worked closely on the project. Unable to press forward with that technology, Moderna has had to focus instead on developing a handful of vaccines, turning to a less lucrative field that might not justify the company's nearly $5 billion valuation
https://www.statnews.com/2017/01/10/moderna-trouble-mrna/
DVLA workers to strike over long-running Covid safety dispute
HUNDREDS of workers at the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) are to stage a three-day strike from Tuesday day in a long-running dispute over Covid-related safety.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union based in Swansea, South Wales, will walk out from Tuesday to Thursday.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/dvla-workers-to-strike-over-long-running-covid-safety-dispute
What about the DWP. Are they going to go on strike?
nothing about it today but fingers crossed but i now have a face to face appointment next week and see what they think of my face mask 😉
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303406242708?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item46a46bdb94:g:KigAAOSwS0pekLpJ&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSzaVbXtmGxqmWnpn8RLN2q36r4B7Zgx6jxKiBBcEseRZKogyuJLnryFewSFnD8C0xTWOuwnFipNLOzpMn7PVjkUXGChm4mauMdKbBtep%252FGueU0F5RbEDMqLBCWa9ZhXwdiWj4hx0bOGQnWdThZFY2VxEdfCFq6OgeZBukdmeiGeeocFQ4mCnVPUzjOx9C1hc8nyJOAcPNkPtd3gPrC8ispoBhGIYuVTSIZw7%252FwFwmpfXZoLsrjffB2XkrmrjPPu6lfxYZbdVOFyru%252BzVvyf8WIYtJfAI4pwUyvL3EJhtPe9DluS2WAWeCP0RUMxE%252BZrlkU85Uvj7mKBhMAng7pa9%252BYotwQxAUHBrvSyCXOD4mG5XcwQOxCIr60EgsYQQQfygXJaB86iMsqwAf1xHFa7FuI%252FIzHRsqv6%252BBgbeJPeG3sOE%252FNAQXYqmN1t0s93E82ZU0rZ%252FsGM9%252B%252BvEYZcST7rSv8TMBXSAstqKfpb9HxEXlGv0YLs55zzaAzWzTBVWxtIYcfawsBwKdNijp1q4P5gMQLNFoCrWqB5YlcxVZIM7ZPSqIrB2ARC7iRoVM5wFWyNByvZZkoTZySxJftGoMKDeH8h%252BI%252B1EBpmEwVEHlOp7zic%252B50t1VuWr5hWVIjtF7fVd%252BuLm8KQQvJw2%252BJKiACA8isYY5iCrx5rwHDrT0CWTnNcei%252BX%252FylHNKzMyLArOM5xfTozpibcadeB%252FfRvQS18sIrOwoOyfWcm3t9uz7CIEaaEw7QL%252BDFgJa0iWT2TyYYo92%252FrlX2lrKnYyxcKpKOxFT8pxvngsLqu%252B5oZ9hzSWmZ8qrMwNTJb%252FOrj9U2B2RrxW08Y8gu8Zp8OSWuaG9PUOERA%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524
Let us know how you get on. Cheers!
Sunak you married money,
So its not the same for you,
But what are the legacy claimants,
Poor bastards, going to do ?
They can hardly live on their JSA,
With the little they have got,
Now your blocking the £20,
And Rishi, that's a lot !
Don't make the legacy claimants
Suffer any more.
Just give them the £20 uplift,
That they've been asking for !!
Woman who lost fiancé to AstraZeneca jab may never qualify for £120k DWP payout
Under legislation passed in 1979, people who suffer harm from vaccines can claim damages from the government of up to £120,000.
But to do so, victims must prove that they are at least 60% disabled as a result of vaccination.
The scheme does also not apply to fatal outcomes unless it can be proven that the victim was 60% disabled before they died.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/woman-who-lost-fianc-astrazeneca-24373080
So you would only be able to make a claim if the 'vaccine' left you paralysed from the neck down. Ridiculous!
I had a call from the pimps earlier today, told them it was a bad time to call me as my beloved mum passed away yesterday, so the cow made another appointment for two weeks time, dismissed me like I was a piece of crap and hung up, how evil can you get.
Sorry to hear that, Cloverleaf 😦 Did she not at least say 'sorry for your loss' like every normal person would say? It is truly awful that someone could be so heartless and dismissive towards a fellow human being in their time of need. At least it gives us an insight into the psychological make-up of the types they employ in these roles. Hope you feel better soon.
No Fred she didn't say'sorry for your loss' I don't want any sympathy from those prats. I phoned the dwp to cancel my mum's pension, lady on the phone was so kind to me compared to the pimp it brought a year to my eyes.
Cruel DWP benefit cap hits record 200,000 families as numbers soar during Covid
The benefit cap is meant to push people into jobs or cheaper flats – but these are exactly the things that people haven't been able to do due to Covid-19
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/cruel-dwp-benefit-cap-hits-24374425
https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/extra-universal-credit-support-you-24375364
xclausx
Disabled woman took own life as a 'direct result' of her benefits being cut
Jodey Whiting died by suicide just two weeks after her disability benefit was stopped because she hadn't attended a work capability assessment, court is told
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/disabled-woman-took-life-direct-24373892
UK Community Renewal Fund: prospectus 2021-22
Updated 11 May 2021
Now we have left the European Union, the opportunities to deliver this ambition are in our own hands. Investment from EU Structural Funds will continue to be spent by local areas until 2023 and this government has committed to at least matching EU receipts through the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund, on average reaching around £1.5 billion a year. This new Fund, to be launched in 2022, will operate throughout the UK and play a part in uniting and levelling up the whole country.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus-2021-22
DWP: Nearly half of Universal Credit benefits claims are being cut
45 per cent of all claims in February had a deduction – some 2.2million – to pay back money that had been overpaid or borrowed from the DWP
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/dwp-nearly-half-universal-credit-5563282
Temporary youth job scheme is 'just a plaster over a gaping wound'
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/dwp-kickstart-scheme-criticised-by-young-people-8030662
Yep, sticking plaster solutions, I think most of us knew that when it was first announced.
Wigan Job Centre 'putting public at unnecessary risk of Covid exposure'
Complainant accuses staff of allowing a customer in the Brocol House building on King Street without checking if they had any symptoms of the virus
https://www.wigantoday.net/news/uk-news/wigan-job-centre-putting-public-at-unnecessary-risk-of-covid-exposure-3282123
'Later in the day, the complainant also said that a staff member reported testing positive, having spent the day seeing customers.' ??? So in fact, this Work Coach could have themselves infected who knows how many Jobcentre customers ? Having gone into work infected, but not knowing it, and then tested positive.
The Work Coaches need to be tested twice a day. Once when they go into work, and once again at the end of the day.
Logs of calls to claimants
Does UC log or keep a record of calls made to claimants by Work Coaches (WC) for Work Search appointments undertaken by phone, including when the claimant
does not answer the phone? Please disclose a sample log or record of calls to a claimant and advise how this personal data is recorded on claimant's UC account's and how a claimant can request a copy and what they should request.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/logs_of_calls_to_claimants#incoming-1818035


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title: Rebecca Mcguire's 61st Birthday
date: 2016-05-24
author: Jeffrey Davies
tags: weekly links, java
status: published
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Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Aenean justo nisi, finibus nec porta a, vestibulum at massa. Proin egestas euismod magna sodales sodales. Pellentesque at condimentum lorem. Etiam interdum purus non mauris ullamcorper, quis feugiat eros varius. Pellentesque turpis ante, aliquet quis risus sit amet, tincidunt viverra lacus.
Nulla finibus in justo id congue. Praesent ante orci, tincidunt vitae lacinia quis, semper a ante. Pellentesque ac nisi non diam efficitur hendrerit. Nam rutrum, lacus vitae sagittis ultricies, arcu nunc vestibulum arcu, et eleifend ligula augue vitae nibh. Nullam ut commodo sem, id rhoncus risus. Quisque vehicula molestie ex eu lobortis. Fusce condimentum nisl in quam fermentum ornare. Phasellus sed neque ac sem pulvinar suscipit quis at ex. Aliquam feugiat dictum ante nec malesuada. Proin vestibulum ante vitae viverra rutrum.

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Cras odio justo, mattis semper orci sit amet, consequat accumsan quam. Phasellus eleifend sem ut urna accumsan, eget consequat leo bibendum. In viverra dui ultricies est aliquet, id laoreet metus viverra. Nulla a commodo nunc. Integer pharetra leo molestie fermentum feugiat. Nam vulputate mauris nisl, eu rhoncus mauris sollicitudin a. Vivamus vestibulum venenatis quam, a viverra ante finibus in. Nullam efficitur diam a lacus tempor, eget porta enim varius. Cras consectetur accumsan turpis, ac rhoncus sem sagittis eu. Curabitur ultrices arcu ut dictum rhoncus.

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Montblanc may refer to:

 Montblanc, Hérault, a commune of the Hérault département, in France
 Montblanc, Tarragona, a municipality in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
 Montblanc (company), a German manufacturer of writing instruments, watches and accessories
 Montblanc (Final Fantasy), a moogle in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance A2, and Final Fantasy XII
 Montblanc Cricket, a character from One Piece

See also
 Monblanc, a commune of the Gers département, in the region of Occitanie in France
 Mont Blanc (disambiguation)

fr:Montblanc

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The induction process for new volunteers is arguably the most critical stage of the volunteer life cycle. Although we focus much of our attention on attracting volunteers, it is what they experience when they join that actually determines whether they will stay.
In this webinar, you will learn how to map and analyze your current volunteer onboarding and orientation practices and pinpoint areas that need attention. We'll cover what volunteers adjust to their new environment and how you can take proactive steps to help them settle in comfortably. We'll also explore how volunteer needs change over time and how you can foster deeper and deeper commitment to your cause.
Improving the volunteer experience doesn't need to be complicated or costly. Even small changes in the way you do business can lead to the kind of deep engagement that helps teams succeed. You can also set the stage for greater word of mouth marketing and better recruitment results. We will show you how!


You are visiting the placeholder page for Lisa Bumgardner. This page is here because someone used our placeholder utility to look for Lisa Bumgardner. We created this page automatically in hopes Lisa Bumgardner would find it. If you are not Lisa Bumgardner, but are an alumni of Lincolnton High School, register on this site for free now.


text:
Naranbhai, Vivek, Massachusetts General Hospital and Ragon Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Cancer and Inflammation Program, Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Leidos Biomedical Research Institute, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Resea (United States)
Nason, Martha, Biostatistics Research Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (United States)
Nde, Pius, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College (United States)
Nega, Melon T., Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia (United States)
Nelson, Eric J., Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California; Emerging Pathogens Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Nerandzic, Michelle Marie, Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio (United States)
Newsome, William, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (United States)
Nigalye, Maitreyee, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
Nixon, Douglas F., Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (United States)

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text:
E-toll tags 'violate CPA'
By Farzana Rasool, ITWeb IT in Government Editor.
Johannesburg, 17 Jan 2012
E-tolling, and specifically the registration of e-tags, goes directly against the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) that protects consumers from unfair, unreasonable and unjust practices.
Cliff Johnston, vice-chairman of the SA National Consumer Union (Sancu), says certain clauses in the terms and conditions of contracts that users must sign when registering their e-tags definitely go against the CPA.
He specifically mentions the clause that says the SA National Roads Agency's (Sanral's) information is correct unless a driver can prove otherwise, which is particularly salient in the case of fraudulent plates being used by criminals.
Prove glitches
"My car could be sitting in my garage, but if my plates have been fraudulently duplicated how do I prove that the toll fees incurred are not mine? It goes against consumer rights. That is totally wrong and unreasonable," says Johnston.
In December, ITWeb reported that road users must be able to prove they were not driving in cases where they receive incorrect bills for the controversial system.
In light of Johannesburg's notorious billing system for utilities, which, among other issues, overcharges residents, there have been several concerns around billing for e-tolling and what measures motorists can take if they are incorrectly charged.
In response to a parliamentary question, transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele said: "If the road user can prove that he/she was not the driver of the vehicle with the applicable nomination form, the transactions will be moved to the correct driver, or if the vehicle in the images is not his/hers, a representation can be made."
Think first
Sancu was on the verge of putting in a complaint to the National Consumer Commission, but when the commencement of e-tolling was postponed it decided to take the complaint to the new Sanral board.
Sanral last week announced e-tolling would not begin in February as planned, since it still needs to consider stakeholder comments and petitions on the matter.
"Basically, we feel Sanral has not thought this out properly," says Johnston. He adds that as a result, the agency is trying to tie in users of the system, via these terms and conditions.
"There's something very, very wrong. It has not been thought through. We think the new board has seen this and hopefully realises the amount of complaints they're going to have will not be worth it."
Battling on
The Democratic Alliance (DA) yesterday lodged a complaint against the Gauteng toll collection system with the National Consumer Tribunal, according to DA Gauteng transport spokesperson Neil Campbell.
"We have taken this step as we do not believe the battle against the tolls is over even though the February implementation date has been delayed.
"This battle's hardening up and I still think we're going to win."
He adds that the complaint is regarding the system infringing the CPA. Campbell says the system is unfair and unreasonable on several grounds.
These include that users give access to their bank account or credit card for unknown amounts; the high possibility of error or fraud in that an excess of 10% of licence plates are cloned or fraudulent; the lack of clarity on how disputed amounts that are already deducted will be refunded; and the undisclosed administration fees, for example R5 charged for statements sent in the post and 20c for each SMS notifying the account balance.
The spokesperson also notes that the motivation for identification of vehicles by e-tag, as opposed to licence plate number only, is unclear.
"The exemption of a certain class of road users, namely minibus taxis and busses, prima facie constitutes an unfair discrimination on the basis of economic status, a component of 'social origin', which is a prohibited ground identified by section 9 (3) of the Constitution.
"In terms of section 9 (5) of the Constitution, the exemption is presumed to be unfair and is liable to be declared invalid unless it is shown to be justifiable in terms of section 36."
Johnston also thinks certain clauses in the registration terms and conditions violate the Financial Services Act.
"As far as I know, they cannot demand information from you that they don't need."
He refers to the clause that grants Sanral irrevocable authority to obtain information from any institution where the user may have an account, including the Credit Bureau.
"For example, if you want a prepaid account, there is no reason for them to ask for your bank details, because you're going to pay cash. It's certainly unreasonable."
He also says there must be many drivers on the road, who, for whatever reason, don't have bank accounts. "Are they then not allowed to use the Gauteng e-toll roads?"


Cyanotype or Blueprinting or Sunprinting. This is called by many names - Cyanotype is correct. I am teaching this at the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference for the Haus of Stitches in early June. I also have an article published on Alternativephotography.com about making a quilt with cyanotype fabric. Cloth Paper Scissors tells all about cyanotype in the March/April 2010 Issue No. 29 by well known mixed media artists Linda Blinn and Jane Lafazio. Even Martha Stewart has gotten into the picture in her magazine "Martha". Does this mean I will soon be famous with this upcoming trend. I have been teaching a class using this technique since 2004. I can't wait until warm weather so that I can get outside and 'blueprint' madly.