Ipswich Unemployed Action can reveal that both Papworth Trust and Seetec are starting to chase up ex-clients in order to claim substantial outcome payments on the Work Programme.
This might seem logically fair enough considering the payment model of the Work Programme, however, word has reached us, that these activities are becoming harassment, and many of those being chased and harassed never even attended the Work Programme.
One person in particular, who signed off shortly after being referred to one provider right at the beginning of the Work Programme, before the initial interview and without signing any forms, is receiving up to 2 letters per week and up to 7 phone calls per week whilst the provider tries to dig for information to claim a rather healthy and substantial outcome payment.
This has been ongoing for a few months this year, and even resulted in the provider attempting to contact relatives and friends to find out employment details of this person, in order to attempt to claim money from the taxpayer – money in this case that the provider isn’t entitled to considering the person never started the Work Programme.
The fact of the matter is, the Data Protection Act doesn’t allow data to be stored for longer than it is necessary, so 2 years since the initial referral when not claiming Jobseekers Allowance in that time is unlawful, the data should have been destroyed along time ago. The digging for information through relatives is an invasion of privacy.
Have you been receiving the same unsolicited correspondence? Or know someone who has? Let us know.
