Look at what I received in the post today!!

K-9 · 10-04-2010 01:31AM

Well it is called "drawing the Dole".

Agonist · 10-04-2010 01:45AM

I'd be tempted to write a cheeky response but you might get more pleasure from the situation with a firmly worded letter outlining the problems with their response, i.e. Not signed or dated, not headed paper, no official stamp or identification. Insulting lack of respect shown by the scrawled, garbled note. Point out the inconsistencies too but keep your letter to under one page long to make sure it's read.

Include a copy of their reply with your letter. Here's the good bit. CC it to the head of department, Minister for Social Welfare, Taoiseach, Pat Kenny, Vincent Browne, Joe Duffy, editors of newspapers, complaints departments, ombudsman etc. At least 30 influential people. Make sure to include a neat list of the cc.s in the letter.

Then just wait for the replies and post them all here

InKonspikuou2 · 10-04-2010 01:58AM

Is your letter box hooked up to a fax machine by any chance? What the fúck is that shít?

dr gonzo · 10-04-2010 03:15AM

Even for public servants in the mood they're in at the moment this seems a little odd. The first thing that popped into my head reading that was that the person in charge of your case asked for advice from a supervisor or something who in turn wrote it and left it on the desk, then by mistake the person put it in the envelope. Thats a big leap, obviously i have no clue, on top of all that is its incredibly unlikely it would then be posted as is. All joking aside I guess im just a little gobsmacked that a representative of the government could send a supposedly official letter like that without it being a mistake.

Unfortunately for the country im probably just naive.

spudmonkey17 · 10-04-2010 05:01AM

stars in eyes wrote: »

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW104/Pages/CommentsorComplaints.aspx

How to Complain?

Firstly, make the complaint.

Oh God.... :rolleyes:

John_Cultane · 10-04-2010 08:33AM

Strange thing is I worked on the social welfare system and they have an automated letter system. The health boards were responsible for rent when I last checked. Seems unlikely on two fronts.

10-04-2010 12:02PM

I call shenanigans.

Gillington · 10-04-2010 01:43PM

Sell it to the tabloids!!

Although that note seems similar to tabloid trash,mightnt get a response

Professey Chin · 10-04-2010 01:59PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I call shenanigans.

Ill get my broom!

kraggy · 10-04-2010 02:26PM

Wind-up. No question.

CrazyRabbit · 10-04-2010 02:34PM

Gillington wrote: »

Sell it to the tabloids!!

Although that note seems similar to tabloid trash,mightnt get a response

That note is actually an improvement on what the tabloids write.

PK2008 · 10-04-2010 04:45PM

What the problem OP?

Can you read not so great?

Letter tells to page 1 no good, please to send electric/phone/bank bill. Aswell, page 2 not have right head on it.

Simples

Me public worker, me deserve pay rise

Dravokivich · 10-04-2010 04:48PM

Freyja wrote: »

Simple or so I though until all my paperwork was returned to me today.....with the following attached.

I am still in shock at the state of the letter, spelling and complete lack of professionalism not to mention the double standards contained within the scrawled response.

(Hope the jpeg is legible as I'm doing my best with the poor raw material that was sent back to me)

I'm only going to hazard a guess here, but I suspect that was a note briefly outlining why it couldn't be accepted from a supervisor to who ever was going over your query.

I'm sure the supervisor would of expected the other guy to put out a proper response.

I say this from experience working in a call centre and being used to seeing people on the phones just relaying exactly what's in front of them without trying to understand it and explain it more formally.

Chorcai · 10-04-2010 04:56PM

photoshop

Cookie_Monster · 10-04-2010 05:57PM

Dravokivich wrote: »

I'm only going to hazard a guess here, but I suspect that was a note briefly outlining why it couldn't be accepted from a supervisor to who ever was going over your query.

I'm sure the supervisor would of expected the other guy to put out a proper response.

.

nah, not part of the job
:rolleyes:

Kernel · 10-04-2010 05:58PM

Agonist wrote: »

I'd be tempted to write a cheeky response but you might get more pleasure from the situation with a firmly worded letter outlining the problems with their response, i.e. Not signed or dated, not headed paper, no official stamp or identification. Insulting lack of respect shown by the scrawled, garbled note. Point out the inconsistencies too but keep your letter to under one page long to make sure it's read.

Include a copy of their reply with your letter. Here's the good bit. CC it to the head of department, Minister for Social Welfare, Taoiseach, Pat Kenny, Vincent Browne, Joe Duffy, editors of newspapers, complaints departments, ombudsman etc. At least 30 influential people. Make sure to include a neat list of the cc.s in the letter.

Then just wait for the replies and post them all here

Good idea, or you could use all that time and energy to get a job and get off the social, rent allowance etc..

Kotek Besar · 10-04-2010 06:16PM

Problem with making a complaint / writing to the press, is proving that this scribble actually came from the DSW. They'll just deny it.

phasers · 10-04-2010 07:30PM

What's wrong with the letter exactly?

It's legible, just a bit crooked

jdooley28 · 10-04-2010 07:48PM

its a fake

civis_liberalis · 10-04-2010 10:47PM

Chorcai wrote: »

photoshop

Yes, something so detailed and intricate could not be produced without the help of Adobe Photoshop...

smithcity · 10-04-2010 11:13PM

nipplenuts wrote: »

OP, I don't know what your problem is - you got a concise and personal letter from the Dept. Is it the content that bothers you? You need to provide proper proof of domicile, the fact that the reply was not typed is neither here nor there. Or is it?

Are you high? That "letter" was barely legible or comprehensible! Sounds like you work for the department pal!

Agonist wrote: »

Include a copy of their reply with your letter. Here's the good bit. CC it to the head of department, Minister for Social Welfare, Taoiseach, Pat Kenny, Vincent Browne, Joe Duffy, editors of newspapers, complaints departments, ombudsman etc. At least 30 influential people. Make sure to include a neat list of the cc.s in the letter.

I couldn't agree more with this. As soon as I saw the "letter", my first thought was that you should send copies of it to the Irish Times and Independant, but Agonist's idea is far better.
Sending it to so many relevant people, with the CC list attached, would guarantee action. I can just imagine Vincent Brown, red faced and frothing at the mouth, frantically waving a copy of the letter in the face of someone from the Dept of Social Welfare. That would be fantastic.

I really really hope that this isn't a hoax, it's not implausible that someone who is dissatisfied with the work to rule might get this story rolling in order to muster public opinion.

Nevermind, I want to believe it so much, I'll just refuse to entertain any notion that it's not 100% genuine.

Chorcai · 10-04-2010 11:14PM

civis_liberalis wrote: »

Yes, something so detailed and intricate could not be produced without the help of Adobe Photoshop...

My thoughts as well.

LpPepper · 10-04-2010 11:22PM

This guy should apply for a job at writing ransom letters.

CoalBucket · 10-04-2010 11:32PM

work to rule ?
i'll write the letter but i'm not typing it

Freyja · 10-04-2010 11:39PM

I really really hope that this isn't a hoax, it's not implausible that someone who is dissatisfied with the work to rule might get this story rolling in order to muster public opinion.

Nevermind, I want to believe it so much, I'll just refuse to entertain any notion that it's not 100% genuine.[/QUOTE]

This is def not a hoax, the reason i posted it on boards was just to see what I should do and also to vent my shock, I used the scanner on the printer to copy it and upload it so sorry that the quality is not the best.

I showed it to my family today and they are all disgusted at the state of the response, my other half actually said "No wonder the country is f**ked if thats what we are getting from our Government Offices".
PS: I have a passsport with 5 years left on it...thank god.

smithcity · 10-04-2010 11:50PM

Freyja wrote: »

"No wonder the country is f**ked if thats what we are getting from our Government Offices".
PS: I have a passsport with 5 years left on it...thank god.

Hehe, you may send off the forms for a passport renewal tomorrow then, no point taking any chances.

dr gonzo · 12-04-2010 02:40PM

LpPepper wrote: »

This guy should apply for a job at writing ransom letters.

The next correspondance the OP gets will be the revenue departments contact details in cut up magazine letters.

AnonoBoy · 12-04-2010 02:52PM

Freyja wrote: »

Should i sell it to a paper....make a few €
Considering the national outrage.......maybe pour a little petrol on the fire???

Get in touch with the Star or some other tabloid or else ring Joe Duffy.

Sykk · 12-04-2010 02:53PM

Lol!

Fuhrer · 12-04-2010 03:16PM

The_Minister wrote: »

I will never, ever forget one of my encounters with a public servant.

He came to the desk in such a state, that had I seen him on the street, I would have assumed that he was homeless. His nails were black with dirt and his hair was matted.
No-one should turn up to work in that condition.

I remember when I had to go into the tax office and I saw this guy at a desk in full track suit, white runners and gold chain.

I remember thinking, "What possible tax was he paying?"

Then he got up "Heyy Deerrr now, de nex person to da desk plessssee"

I felt real comfortable handing him my personal details.