I visited the Heywood storage facility in Manchester many years ago, when it was first being set up, and for my sins worked for the Benefits Agency (RIP). It is simply large industial units on a giant industrial estate. It was a nightmare then, and I'm sure it's worse now.
They had one computer system at DSS end shipping the stuff out, and in some cases just clerical records, while the contractors had their own system for receiving the stuff; of course there was no link between systems. I don't know if it's different now but cases were placed in cardboard trays which were numbered, and retrieval was via the numerical filing of the trays. Can you imagine the scope for confusion and chaos with low paid staff, poorly trained, and rubbish computer records.
However the way I see it, this works to our advantage now when DWP are unable to provide evidence on debt cases etc.
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