The End of the Line.

After I had been job hunting a little while, I decided I needed to sign on until I got a job. I went to the Jobcentre and talked to a lady who told me I would need to make an appointment.

'Can I make an appointment then?'
'No, you will have to phone to make an appointment'
OK. 'So if I phone where will it go through to'
'Here,' the Jobcentre lady said.
'So why can't I just make an appointment with you now? I don't have much credit on my phone and when I call I'm on hold for so long...'
'OK,' she said, 'give me your number and we will call you'

I gave my number to the lady. Five minutes after I left the building I got a call from the same woman who had just told me I would have to phone to make an appointment, phoning to make an appointment.

Because of renovations at the Jobcentre, my application to recieve Jobseekers' Allowance had to be put off for four weeks. In which time I phone up to say that I had got a few days work.

They phone me up again to come into the office and when I turn up the same lady tells me that they have cancelled my claim because I have done more than 16 hours of work, even though I have gone a month without recieving any help.

I am told I will have to start a new application, and that I will have to make an appointment.

'Can I make an appointment then?'
'No, you will have to phone to make an appointment'
OK. 'So if I phone where will it go through to'
'Here,' the Jobcentre lady said.
'So why can't I just make an appointment with you now?'

And so on and so on...



"Ben"

Click here to submit your own story of administrative incompetence, jobsworthiness or meddling.

 Britain: What A State

The Department of Social Scrutiny's guide to your entire life in Britain. Includes all necessary tax and identity card application forms and a full guide to the British public transport system, as officially sanctioned by Notwork Rail.

Plus: New retirement guide "Are You Alright, Dear", handy graduated tea strength colour matching chart and official guidelines for the consumption of cake, biscuits and other snacks served at ambient room temperature.

Britain: What A State

�Thank God: a book that's both clever and funny. Deserves a place on the lap of every comedy fan in Britain.� Charlie Brooker
�If you wince at the word 'benchmark', this neat parody could be just the thing to cheer you up.� Sunday Telegraph Magazine