Bureacracy - the role playing game

[ffutures]

I started the paperwork on the renewal of my CRB (criminal records check, required by anyone working with children) in January. For various reasons there was a delay putting it into the system, but I got the result a couple of weeks ago, showing that I am indeed as boring as expected.

Except that someone just noticed they spelled my name wrong, as MARGUS.

Hopefully the phone call I just made to the CRB people will be enough to get it fixed. If not I'll probably have to go through the whole bloody rigmarole again...

Comments

[w00hoo.livejournal.com]

I'd say, how could someone type Margus and not see it wasn't a real name, but seeing the names that come through UK schools now I don't think it counts any more. If I named NPC's some of the names I've seen come through my wifes primary schooled I'd be laughed off the table...

[dsample.livejournal.com]

MARGUS MARCUS

They aren't that dissimilar, especially considering that the first time Marcus went through the process, it was probably typed on paper forms using a Courier font, and at some point they were transcribed into electronic form by some minimum wage typist (or an OCR program) that could easily make a mistake like that.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Hand written by me then presumably OCR. But they had other documents with my name spelled correctly.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I think it may be OCR of the form - but they also had copies of my passport, a bank statement and an electricity bill, all with my name spelled correctly!

[robertprior.livejournal.com]

Magus would have been cool, though…

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Riiight...

[paratti.livejournal.com]

Or there's always deed poll;)

[nelc.livejournal.com]

I second this. Margus is a cool name, with a hint of the exotic about it, and you should think about adopting it.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I think not.

[draconin.livejournal.com]

We have the same thing here - except it's called a "Working with Children" certificate. And costs $33.

And guess what? We (teachers) are required by law to belong to WACOT (West Australian College of Teaching) which is the legislated professional body equivalent to the AMA or other such. They also require a criminal records check.... and (of course) they won't accept that you've just paid for one to get the Working with Children certification (also required by law) so you have to pay the $33 fee all over again. Plus, of course, the fee for membership. For which you get, as far as I can see so far, nothing at all.

Every three years. Sigh.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

This one is normally paid for by the employer - but you need to renew it at regular intervals, and the one I have covers me for London only, not the whole UK. If I went to another area I would have to do the whole thing again.

[draconin.livejournal.com]

I wish ours were covered by the employer but no such deal. Seems odd that yours only covers London; if you've no criminal record relevant to children then surely that's going to still be true outside of London?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I have no idea why it works this way - my guess would be that they look at more than just criminal record, e.g. social services etc., but I don't actually know.

[dsample.livejournal.com]

Did you ever play Douglas Adams' old Infocom "Bureaucracy" game?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Nope - I was never any good at text adventures, they lack the human element I like in RPGs.