Hi all, it's the tossers at Reede In [edit] Partnership. Signed off earlier this year, and I've got a real little harpy who keeps calling me demanding the name of my current employer, she just tried to bribe me with vouchers if I coughed up the name, obviously they'll take it and get their £400 bonus from the government for nothing, as the job is a referral from an ex-colleague. I'm sure I'm not the only one they have tried this with, and frankly as they get £400 every time I get a new job, it wouldn't surprise me if they have secret call-centre somewhere where they call current employers HR departments and cast doubts anonymously, in the hope I'll be sacked and back with them. Now, I've emailed the "Independent Case Examiner", and their stuffed skirt emailed back saying she was unable to progress as "This office cannot look into complaints about legislation, policy or complaints which do not fall under the sphere of maladministration". In other words, they are just not bothered. I was advised to take the case to the Chief Ops Officer for the JC. However, I have no faith at this point that that will go anywhere. Yes, I'm aware that my case is with them for a few years, but this is [a problem], other government departments have entire helpdesks for whistleblowers to call, and this [behaviour] needs to be stopped.

Ingeus seem to think that my fortnightly signing on at the Jobcentre is separate. My contract is with the Jobcentre and not Ingeus. They (Ingeus) expect 3 jobs applied and declared to the Jobcentre and then as many jobs as they say I must apply for and declare applications to them on paper unless I want to be reported to the Jobcentre for possible sanctions. Are they allowed to force me to make many, many applications far in excess of what my Jobseeker Agreement stipulates? I always exceed the mininum requirements for activity that the Jobcentre expect of me. Has anyone made a request for info on this to DWP Central FoI Team regarding this?

Hi I'm looking for some advice. I have received a solicitor's letter saying that I am in arrears on my mortgage and if no agreement can be reached then the house may be repossessed. I am querying the arrears as it includes a multitude of charges etc., When I first became unemployed I requested that the arrears be added to the end of the mortgage...capitalisation...but Platform refused..because this was something that they didn't do. I also asked if I could buy myself out of the high interest rate to a lower interest rate...and they refused. My original mortgage was for £93,000 interest only. I opted for interest only because I was stuck in a really high interest rate and planned on going onto capital and interest after the initial 3 year fixed term. Remember that I asked if I could capitalise these arrears and was refused. I just discovered today that my current mortgage payment is including the arrears amount ie the £93,000 plus arrears plus charges! My mortgage payment is £288.50 per month. I pay £290. As I am already paying a higher mortgage to pay interest on the arrears and the charges...I have said that they have effectively capitalised the mortgage by adding the arrears to my mortgage balance and increasing my mortgage payment to cover the interest on this. I have asked for complete breakdown of all charges, arrears, mortgage payments and, they added insurance to my payments too at an extra £22 per month despite giving me no option to look at different quotes. The insurance is with their own insurance company and despite paying £22 every month, plus interest on my mortgage, the insurance doesnt cover me if anything happens to my home. If Platform capitalised the arrears I would be paying no more than I am paying already....effectively paying the interest on the arrears. I have had mortgage arrears before with other mortgage lenders and they did not add the mortgage arrears onto the mortgage. They were completely separate and were paid off when the mortgage was paid off. The way I see it Platform are not treating me fairly...they are receiving the interest payments for the arrears but have refused to capitalise. Is this common practice? Any help would be great! I need some advice on how to deal with this. Gemspan xxx Can somebody give me some help please? Is there anybody around that can advise? Thank you Gemspan

Morning everyone, Here's a situation I'm new to, I wonder if anyone can please advise? I moved into a flat in March The flat has had extremely little use since then, mainly because I've been away a lot The previous occupiers vacated 28th February. They used EDF for both Gas & Elec. Early March I started receiving letters from EDF addressed to "The Occupier" or "The Customer" I ignored EDF's letters. I'd used them before and didn't want to this time around. I also wasn't in a hurry to sign an alternative energy provider because I would be away for several weeks In April I signed Scottish Power for Gas & Elec - a good deal, including a Quidco cashback offer. Only issue was, it would take a long time for them to officially start supply In July Scottish Power finally started supply. Mid July, I provided them both start readings (from when I moved in in March) and current readings. The differences were very small - extremely low usage due to me hardly being there EDF continued to send letters and bills addressed to "The Customer" (must be using estimated readings even though labelled as Actual!), although I've not instructed them and I'm pretty certain they'd not have had any access to my meters. I've ignored all EDF letters/bills (Electricity bill about £150, Gas about £50) because I want Scottish Power to pick this up, not EDF. 9-Aug, EDF send letter addressed to "The Customer" saying that the reading they have received (from Scottish Power presumably) is "not in line with your previous energy consumption"... they are in the process of contacting my new supplier (Scottish) to agree an accurate closing meter reading and the process can take between 6 and 8 weeks ... as soon as agreed a final bill will be sent to me, I do not have to take any further action. 12-Aug, EDF send letter addressed to "The Customer"saying the Gas amount of £50 is outstanding, threatening that if I don't contact them or make payment within 14 days, they'll refer to the Collection Management Team. I had planned to not contact EDF as I have no dealings with them, and get Scottish to absorb the consumption from when I moved in March. But now am uncertain as to how this would likely play out. Does the "default provider" have any rights? Any advice would be appreciated - thanks in advance.