karen2205: Me with proper sized mug of coffee (Default)
Karen ([personal profile] karen2205) wrote2003-08-21 03:23 pm

Bureacracy

Following on from [livejournal.com profile] beingjdc's post earlier, here are my recent experiences with bureacracy.

While trying to register with a local doctor yesterday, I had to show them my lease to prove that I lived in the right area, my passport to prove that I live in this country, my NHS card (fair enough) and then fill in a medical questionnaire (again fair enough - it takes months for your records to catch up with you). But having spend ten minutes or so completing this questionnaire I had to make an appointment with a health care assistant to register with the practice (isn't one available until 15th Sept) and they won't register me *until* that appointment. So the point of me sitting there filling in their questionnaire then and there was?

Oh and talking about that questionnaire - not only did it ask 'How long do you intend to remain in the UK' - well, err I *live* here you know, it asked 'First language', followed by 'Any English?' - how anyone who speaks no/limited English is supposed to even get that far on the form.....

And all of that's before we reach the family planning questions on the back - 'Which method of contraception do you use?' - Well I don't use any, but that's because I've never had sex - as I felt the need to write on the form. Saying you use no contraception *without* giving an explanation just looks bloody irresponsible.

Then when I got home, there was a letter from a firm of baliffs wanting to remove property belonging to a previous tenant for failing to pay her Council Tax, so I phoned them, explaining that said person doesn't live here anymore, that I do, and that the Council already know I live there - and so I have to send them a copy of my lease and of a utility bill.

Post a comment in response:

If you don't have an account you can create one now.
HTML doesn't work in the subject.
More info about formatting

If you are unable to use this captcha for any reason, please contact us by email at support@dreamwidth.org