Council cunt
This would have fitted well into the "Council Cunts" QOTW but I wasn't a member then so...

My family had moved up to my step-father's mother's big house in Scotland after she died but hadn't sold their Hertfordshire house as they weren't sure yet if they would permanently settle in the frozen wasteland north of Hadrian's Wall.

I had finished college and wasn't exactly looking for work so I moved in there for a few months as did most of my mates. Happiest few months of my life probably.

All good things come to an end, my step-father decided to rent out the house so I had to get out.

I found a bedsit and the landlord kindly agreed to let me move in on the agreement that I bunged him a couple of hundred quid deposit and would apply for Housing Benefit and settle up any outstanding rent when the first payment came through.

After about five weeks, I got a letter from the council saying that they just had to send someone round to view the accomodation then my claim would be approved. A couple of days later there was a note posted through the letterbox saying "I called but you were out, please telephone us to arrange another visit".

The landlord was starting to ask questions.

So I rang the council and they said their very busy man would return in two weeks. Two weeks passed and another note through the door so I rang them again and this time got them to confirm a date when their man would come.

The landlord was becomming increasingly impatient.

Another two weeks passed and I made sure that I didn't leave the house at all on the day of the visit. Yet at some point, mid-afternoon, another note appeared on the door mat. "How strange, there was definitely no knock or doorbell ring" I thought as I rang the council yet again to make another appointment.

The landlord was getting quite angry and suggested that I may have pocketed the Housing Benefit.

Another date was set and this time I took no chances, I spent most of the day sat on a chair watching the frosted glass front door. Someone approached the door and then squatted down in front of it. Whoever it was hadn't knocked, just walked up to the door and squatted. I opened the front door and there in front of me was a man in a suit writing out an "I called but you were out" note. He was so startled by my opening of the door, he fell over.

The forms were filled in, my claim was approved and after another two weeks the landlord got his money.

It took thirteen sodding weeks all because of that council cunt.

I did make a complaint but whether anything happened about it I've no idea.
( stopmeandslapme Cometh the hour, cometh your mum, Sat 4 Apr 2009, 13:51, 12 replies)

This happens to me all the time
I once saw a Home network delivery driver park his van outside my house when I was expecting a delivery whilst gardening out the back, sprint to my front door, post the 'Sorry you were out' card, then sprint back to his van and tried to drive off.

Much to his chagrin, he found me standing in front of his van with an angry look in my eye. I also wouldn't let him leave until I had checked all pages of the books I had ordered.
(powervator and NONE SHALL PASS, Sat 4 Apr 2009, 15:09, closed)

*Some* posties do this too -
At home, hear something come through the door, it's the red slip that asks you to come to the depot and pick up something.

Crazy idea - try 'delivering' it first, eh?

Although others are exemplary: Did I ever tell y'all about the time our regular postie saw a recorded delivery letter for me in his bag; so to be helpful, took it into my place of work for me (not my home, which it was adressed to), so I'd get it faster? Only snag was, I was at home. The letter had come from my place of work. It was about my being fired.

Apparently they weren't expecting to see their letter boomerang back to them. He thought they were a bunch of eejits for posting something so close. If only that was the limits of their stupidity, I'd be a happy bunny.
( The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Sat 4 Apr 2009, 17:21, closed)

Ok you two
posties do it, despatch drivers do it even educated fleas would if they could write

but this cunt nearly got me turfed out by my landlord.
( stopmeandslapme Cometh the hour, cometh your mum, Sat 4 Apr 2009, 18:23, closed)

Sure dude...
I didn't seek to diminish your plight. My experience was a minor annoyance, however your dude was a idiot. Peace.
(powervator and NONE SHALL PASS, Sat 4 Apr 2009, 23:15, closed)

Fair enough
Not trying to hijack, just joining in the grumbling about ninja-callers.
( The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Sat 4 Apr 2009, 20:08, closed)

I Would Have
Complained to my MP, my MEP, the Equal Rights Commission and the Permanent Secretary of the DWP or whatever department deal with it now. It's the only language these fuckers understand.
(McChinaman banned, Sun 5 Apr 2009, 14:45, closed)

there is absolutely no point doing this.
Surely reading this QOTW has given an inkling of just how seriously a complaint from a customer/claimant/dreg of humanity gets taken by anyone working within the benefits system. Filed in the bin, and backslapping all round to celebrate being Better Human Beings than those jobless scum who keep cluttering up the office.
( Batsgirl, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 12:23, closed)

There is a point...
In the sense that if you make the case to your MP, they can probably get the council to at least acknowledge their cock-up. It may not change things, but it should ensure it gets some recognition.

Best thing to go to MPs for is when the admin side of the benefits system isn't paying you what it should and you can prove it. Write your MP a nice letter/email explaining it, give them all the details and ask if their staff can use the MP's priority line to check on the situation.

It works, because I've worked for an MP and made it happen.
(annexed, Tue 7 Apr 2009, 13:18, closed)

This^^
Worked like a charm for me.. details to follow..
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Tue 7 Apr 2009, 13:41, closed)

I never understood why people do this
It's happened to me a few times before by a delivery company.

Surely it's EASIER to knock/ring at the door, than it is to fill out a "While you were out" card?

Why would anyone spend their time doing something more cumbersome - and which is going to make people angry?
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Sun 5 Apr 2009, 17:23, closed)

apparently
As for speed, it's faster to spend 15s dashing off a form than waiting for the door to be answered (if at all). Since some people are allowed to finish as soon as their rounds are done, there is an incentive to rush. This is, I think, one of the "spanish practices" that is intended to be eliminated with the post office reforms.

Or it could be that the person is overworked, and has to rush to avoid pulling unpaid overtime; in which case they need to raise the issue with their employers and their union (who don't seem shy about making a fuss)

Or, it can be because they actually left the item back at the depot, or don't fancy carrying it on their rounds, or digging aroung in the back of their van for it. If you have the recipient go pick it up, it instantly becomes Someone Elses Problem.
( The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Sun 5 Apr 2009, 17:36, closed)

I don't think
his job assessing living accomodation is entirely comparable with that of a courier.

He either did this so that he could skive off most of the day or he did it because he intentionally wanted to fuck up people's claims.

Either way he is a CUNT.
( stopmeandslapme Cometh the hour, cometh your mum, Tue 7 Apr 2009, 10:08, closed)