(Just to relieve the boredom they do occasionally 'lose' the complete dossier and ask you to fill it all out again. I have learned to tell them to bloody well look for the old one, and this usually works!)
Yep, I had that one at the council offices when I demanded action. Off goes the clerk, comes back five minutes later and says "The person who was dealing with your case isn't here and I can't find the file." Then he looks blankly as though I'm just supposed to say O.K. and leave.
Well, not this little black duck! I just said "Well you'd better go look for it then, I'll wait," and sat there. It's funny how he managed to come back with it about 15 minutes later.
e.g. your employer won't pay by anything other than direct credit transfer into a bank account. you can't open a bank account without a utility bill. you can't get a utility bill in your name with out having the ability to set up a direct debit mandate,, which obviously requires a bank account! ... total catch 22.
I knew there was a lot in favor of being self-employed.