| DanaC |
02-22-2016 04:15 AM |
I may have mentioned here, somewhere, that I got a letter over Christmas telling me I owed NHS dental services several hundred pounds for dental treatment that I was supposed to be exempt from because of claiming Jobseeker's Allowance at the time treatment started. The treatment had continued, because of several postponed appointments (the dentists were having some issues at the time), past the point when I signed off JSA. When the dentists had sent in the paperwork, they'd put the date I went in for the treatment under deep sedation, instead of the date when that round of treatment began.
I spoke to the dentists and they said they were emailing the NHS and not toworry. Then I get another about ten days ago, from the NHS telling me I have still not sorted out the money I owe them, they've added £50 costs and the next step is taking me to court. I phoned them, explained what had happened with dates oftreatment and that my detists had said they were emailing them - was told there was no email on record, they'd had no contact from the dentists - but would put a stop on the account for 21 days whilst I try and sort it out. Spoke to my dentists - they'd sent two separate emails, to the correct email adress and received an automated reply telling them their email had been received and they would be contacted in the next few days. That was in early January.
Bless them, they phoned the NHS and got them toaccept that there had been an error on the dates and that treatment was to be dated to the first visit. But - they now needed proof that I was on JSA at that start date.
So that left me having to call the Jobcentre Plus hotline. The only point of contact for anything to do with JSA , it can be an hour or more on hold and the advisors are often less than helpful.
I've been putting off calling them. Just the thought of having to explain the situation makes me feel tired. And then there's actually getting through to them. No good trying at just any time of day - pretty much the only way to get through to them is to call during their first hour (8-9am) so there are only two days a week I am even about at that time. This week I am on holiday from work and decided to get it out of the way early. I was on the phone at about 8:30, on hold for about 30 mins. Just as I was starting to get really hacked off with the Four Seasons hold music, someone answered.
The call took less than three minutes. The advisor was very helpful. Oh, right, she says, I'll get you a letter sent out. It'll be with you in th next few days. And, yes, by all means I can send it to an alternative address where the dog won't shred it.
This makes me feel pretty groovy.
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