About New Deal Scandal
New Deal Scandal is a spin off group from a group called Ipswich Unemployed Action. As the name suggests it is a local group -come- national, fighting for the rights of the unemployed. I am a member. This site, although having the same objectives tries to focus specifically on New Deal and the national actions of DWP/JCP – I have to admit to posting articles about other issues which are rather important to unemployed people.
I make no money from this site and I accept no donations neither.
Balance/Fact/Rights
Everything I post is the truth or facts to the information I have available. I am unemployed but I am not in this for having ago at DWP or Jobcentre Plus – but I believe in everyone regardless of differences as being equal. We have laws where everyone has to follow, well… Jobcentre Plus currently infringes the Jobseekers Act 1995 on a daily basis (and you would they would have been experienced in dealing with it by now!) the sad thing is no one believes the unemployed and there is no where for the unemployed people to complain to. I am to keep this balanced, so if the Jobcentre does something – give them praise, it can’t all be that bad, surely??
Terms for posting
Blah blah blah, basic stuff:
- All comments are moderated (not to stop free speech but to prevent the meds and other spam)
- I reserve the right not to publish any comment for any reason (i.e. racist or offensive in anyway)
- I aim to accept comments within 3 hours (but could be up to 24 hours)
- I will post any comments not in favour of any article for balance of discussion
- I do not edit comments (this goes against free speech, if something is seriously wrong with even a small part of your comment, I will delete the full comment. Saving the comment, checking later and resubmitting without that part would be a good idea)
Ratings
I have added a system where you can rate blog posts, pages and individual comments.
- I will not rate any blog post, page or comment – it is solely for use of you the blog visitor.
- Officials (i.e. from DWP/Jobcentre Plus, New Deal Providers) must not rate comments
- There is no limit to how many posts, pages and comments you can rate
- If you dislike the site or jealous if you have a similar blog, please dont negatively rate everything (or anything).
- If you are going to rate anything bad, leave some feedback (a comment)!
Summary of links contained in above New Deal Scandal post
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Just saw your comments on A4e/Hubpages? Is this true? Has A4e tried to shut this site down too???
A4e really is an irrational, paranoid, self serving company in addition to being corrupr and dishonest! If this is how A4e does business, no wonder many ex-clients have nothing good to say about the company.
If A4e think what you, I and others such as Watching A4e say about them is wrong, then take us to court! Or are they, as I suspect, scared about washing thier dirty linen in public!
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Well Automattic (wordpress.com) didn’t disclose who or what they said.
It related to an A4e post so we could assume it was A4e. It seems they took offense to something posted on here about their company and the departure of a staff member which was available to anyone searching the public company register.
A4e are welcome to try take us to court – I bet they have already queried their lawyers who didn’t seem too confident about the prospects of losing.
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Please put up a post about this as it is appalling that your blog is under threat. Even if I or others don’t agree with your views, you have a right to post them on here with the evidence you back them up with!
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I can’t post anything new hence the lack of updates
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Ah, I see! Why not draft something and send to other bloggers to publish for you?
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Update:
New Deal Scandal is still in negotiation with Automattic (wordpress.com) regarding resuming the posting on this blog (removing the restriction) and restoring the hidden post (set as private so no one can read it).
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Good luck with the negotiations…
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Update:
I have just got an email from mark from Automattic (wordpress.com) and he has accepted the evidence.
I am awaiting the removal of restrictions: you will know when this has happened as there will be new posts!
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Update:
We are back. Uploading posts very soon.
Unemployed Rabbit link is the first change to be added.
Thanks for the support.
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this is a good site more please. joh collings
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Hello
I am trying to find out what welfare contracts a4e have won. I understand that they have lost the Flexble New Deal contract-is that true? I am a volunteer at the CAB in “campaigning for Change” and we are monitoring the new welfare proposals
thanks
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it is far from clear whats going on as far as these contract awards as far as i can tell as “flexible” new deal is concerned,its due up and running in october and it might appear to see what arrives locally.
the government continues to pour billions into these schemes’ that appear to offer little.at the receiving end from my experience in the past on new deal were very poor facilities old computers/old newspapers,staff little help and all to often rude, those new often asking other members how to use a computer as this was there first time.dirty facilities/poor hygiene no hot water in toilets to wash hands or the kitchen area to wash cups exe
the government also is trying move responsibility to these private companies with little in the way of any firm results viable as everyone has seen,these companies are all to willing to take the money harass and bully the unemployed under the governments guidelines with questionable results and outcomes.
all this is a result of the countries economy over the past few decades,its unbalanced policies instead of creating a more balanced economy that isnt boom/bust/high debt/ high risk try to get rich quick at unsustainable levels with the resulting outcome.
sadly its targeting the most vulnerable in society in an attempt to claw back bank bailouts through cuts and sanctions in people benefits through failures in the economy of this country.the german chancellor has commented its a complete and utter failure of government policy also.also very worryingly this company a4e appears to be running an advice center in sheffield to those seeking legal advice such as benefits.that is a conflict of interest given the nature of there other activities and is not in the publics’ interest.
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Thats the thing though – nothing is in the publics interest.
It is either:
(1) What the most somewhat segregated (from day-2-day life in society) “elite” think is in the public’s interest (without consultation with the public)
or
(2) What they want to do anyway knowing it isn’t in the publics interest.
We need an alternative.
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New Rule…
Insert
(6) I reserve the right to edit comments for the sole purpose of adding line breaks so comments are easier to read.
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Indeed! and that elite is David Freud, a city banker (rhyming slang not intended) who was involved in the govenment’s welfare to work review, the one which recommended “increased use of the private sector” (for which read “handing over functions of the state to private concerns resulting in an even more draconian and illiberal system”).
Now he’s behind the tories’ welfare plans……… and make no mistake, if you think it’s bad now…………………….
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i should not worry about some turncoat,and who chooses to listen to him.
it might be said there is little between the political parties’ now,the programs’ and the private sector companies he proclaims the savior of the welfare state and the treasury coffers and the unemployed are embroiled in controversy, figures that show the success rate of outcomes’ are withheld which are privately acknowledged to be bad ,this no doubt is a policy followed more and more as to keep damage limitation of other “shortcomings” and financial irregularities from public/press scrutiny.
A4e are claiming to also a “stay in it” policy towards anyone who finds employment,this looks to to be a error of judgment,given the easy disposal of staff and the hire and fire policies’ brought in by margaret thatcher in the 1980s,policies acknowledged by the CAB as mentioned to me were “employment law is one of the most unfair laws”.
hire and fire situations will always have an effect and will contribute to the welfare states numbers’ as we have seen,make no mistake employers’ are always looking for the best options’ for them and its no good the dwp/job entre plus whinging about numbers on job seekers allowance because of earlier laws.
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I love reading all your blogs, a lot of what is said are experiences and other things I can relate to, especially the A4E stuff! Some of the blogs give me hope and often inspiration too.
I think you would get more people to your cause and more people reading your blogs, if you created a “New Deal Scandal” Facebook Group and/or a Twitter feed. I’m on both of those sites.
Is it okay to post links to your site from Twitter or Facebook? I would be more than happy to promote this website to everyone!
Even though I’m not in Ipswich (I actually live in North East Wales) the information on your website is relevant to me and others like me.
Cheers.
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I am glad you like the sites and I struggle to keep up with them – with other life commitments and the research etc. I would appreciate you spreading the word. Apart from search engine traffic the only promotion we have is people spreading the word… (I don’t have any banner adverts and link exchanges etc.)
yeah, I have tried to keep the sites relevant to all. Some are facts – others are experiences of mine and others. Sadly enough most of the stuff happening around Ipswich is mirrored elsewhere!
If you are interested in one of my latest blogs aimed at the Flexible New Deal (“New Deal 2.0″ lol) – you can see it at http://www.flexible-new-deal.co.uk – Thanks for commenting!
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I also agree with the comments above that the Benefits system is in a mess.
It also makes me laugh that both the Jobcentre and A4E (when they had the New Deal contract) said you shouldn’t put up barriers that harm your chances to get work, when barriers already exist!
For example, I would like to do a Web Design distance learning course (that would give me more or less the same qualifications as a Uni degree), but they won’t fund it because a) it isn’t a recognised college and b) there are no fixed hours for learning. So its okay for me to do a basic, crappy IT course at the local college, but not okay for me to do a distance learning course that would improve my chances of getting a decent paid job exponentially? That’s just stupid!
It sometimes feels like they don’t want to help me get into a decent job. Although if I did get a decent, well-paid job I wouldn’t have to sign-on ever again!
Now I will have to go on to this Serco course (the company that now have A4E’s old contract) and do a job search with someone breathing down my neck every week. I would like to not go, just out of spite and see what they do. Apparently they have powers to stop people’s benefits without consulting the Jobcentre, which I am sure must be illegal. It just doesn’t seem right!
If they do stop my benefit, how long would they conceivably stop it for?
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There is a very simple explanation for this.
Companies like A4e are setup primarily to get Government cash. You will notice their income is primarily from Government. Before they got their first contract they weren’t delivering services in their own right i.e. employment agency etc. – its all about having the right contacts such as Blunkett and A4e etc.
The target is getting you a job – or leeching after you get yourself a job. There is no incentive of helping you get a decent job as they receive no more money for it. This means they want you on National Minimum Wage.
Besides its the Employee Vs “Unemployed Scum” – or so they see it. Why would they take pride in seeing you develop into getting a better paid job then themselves?
Staff wont like to admit it but working for a company like A4e is pretty much a dead-end job. These employees typically rotate between different welfare-2-work employers or agencies. Regardless of this, they have a full time job which is perfect for them at the moment. There isn’t a real sense of achievement in the job, and being under pressure to reach targets, jealousy and being spiteful isn’t rare at all.
Besides, they strive on unemployment. They want you to get into the bottom end, dead end jobs on NMW where its likely you wont stick to them. This means they get another chance of making money in the future. Otherwise they might aswell give up – as in a few years their turnover could half if they tried solving unemployment.
Sadly, these providers delivering these courses over the years typically, see the same faces over and over again – around 1 in 3. They love these type – its like having a repeat customer!
if its Flexible New Deal you are refering to they have the powers of applying for sanctions directly to a decision maker. These are fixed (2 week, 4 week and 26 week) except for failing to apply for a job/turning down an employment opportunity where a full blown 6 month variable sanction is awarded.
Its messed up! This needs to be outlawed.
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