RAF JPA Rollout

[moosemaster]

But JPA can't read QRs.

Even though SAMA could, it still didn't stop the blunties trying to take more. (or is that the other way round?)

I once had a pay packet for £17 because "the computer" took back an overissue. OC PSF asked what my problem was, and told me "it will all be sorted in next months pay run!"

Oh good, that'll make things better then!

[foormort]

Oh dear

After a few beers I decided to reply to an email about JPA addressed to me as a 'customer'. In my brave state I explained that I was not a customer but a serving military officer. Anyway I have received a very nice letter putting my opinions straight, explaining how JPA is the future and how I am indeed a customer. Call me stupid but I thought customers could shop where they fancied and if the product was faulty they could ask for their monies back?

[moosemaster]

I agree, doesn't the Sales of Goods Act say something about "Fit for Purpose"?

Bet we opted out of that though.

[ZH875]

Has anyone tried to fill in the JPA 016 form, using a computer?.

It appears all the fields to be filled in are protected from being filled in, and you need a password to unprotect the form so you can fill it in.

Looks like the only way is to print it and fill in by hand. Whats the betting that JPAC & HR Admin reject forms because they cannot read your handwriting on a form that has been filled in over the last two months.

I Quit.

[moosemaster]

Originally Posted by ZH875

Has anyone tried to fill in the JPA 016 form, using a computer?.
It appears all the fields to be filled in are protected from being filled in, and you need a password to unprotect the form so you can fill it in.
Looks like the only way is to print it and fill in by hand. Whats the betting that JPAC & HR Admin reject forms because they cannot read your handwriting on a form that has been filled in over the last two months.
I Quit.

It's probably a template, so you'll have to make a copy of it somewhere, change the properties from read only, then fill it in.
Only a guess, haven't even tried filling in any JPA forms myself. Who's gonna know, defo not anybody at the unhelpful desk.

[Spacer]

Just to add my name to the list, on Fri I got all my basic pay, but no FP. I phoned PSF who weren't interested, and I phoned JPAEC, who told me there were notes on my file that said I hadn't been paid it... but couldn't tell me when I would be or any more details. I phoned them to tell them that

[ZH875]

Originally Posted by moosemaster

It's probably a template, so you'll have to make a copy of it somewhere, change the properties from read only, then fill it in.
Only a guess, haven't even tried filling in any JPA forms myself. Who's gonna know, defo not anybody at the unhelpful desk.

It is a word document, not template, but even if you do copy it, the only way to fill it in is to remove the protection,and for that you need the password, and of course EDS are going to give that out for free aren't they?.

Bah Humbug, Christmas is cancelled until JPA (January,Perhaps April) is sorted.

[unclenelli]

Are Most People in for a Good Xmas .... Not Me

From the jist of most of the posts here, it would seem that most people will be in line for a good Xmas - By then they will have sorted out everyone underpaid and they'll all get a monies due just in time for Xmas (dunno which Xmas, could be 2011 for all I know!!!!)

Not for me though - I went on a 3 day course a couple of days after JPA tried to go live. Allowances (as it was then) told me I could spend £21 per day + £5 incidentals on dinner and tea (lunch & dinner for the Southern Monkeys) and I could claim for mileage as I was going straight home after the course, not back to RAF wherever.

Completed the course and kept all the receipts - Managed to get online and filled in the data - Nearest I could find for daily rates was "NS - CHBS booked accommodation" and filled in my claim. Motor Mileage Allowance (MMA) could not be found, so I clicked the only thing I recognised as mileage Official Duty Rate (ODR) for the outward journey and the hypothetical return journey (122 miles each way although I travelled 122 miles there and 188 miles home - it did allow me to explain the hypo journey)
When I tried to print my copy of the claim, it had inserted it's own default values - daily rates £7.31 and ODR 40p/mile instead of 20.5-ish p/mile
It said the claim had been referred to my "Line Manager" for approval, so I emailed him to tell him not to approve it as it was complete bolleaux, and it would have to wait until my next day shift so I could talk to PSF/HR (doesn't HR seem to infer some "HUMAN" essence although they seem to lack this quality)
OC PSF said my "line manager" was actually the part-time civvy bloke in allowances and he had automatically approved the fraudulent claim.
Now I had my top-cover from OC PSF and the email I sent to my Boss, I was bullet-proof (and about £40 better off), but I had better tell JPAC about it using iSupport - Well I would if I could get online!!!!!

So I'm now awaiting a snotty saying I owe £40 and/or a Barrier Pilot (RAFP) investigation into my fraudulent claim.

Apparantly for the Mileage part I should have clicked on PVR - Why the hell should I click PVR - I don't want to PVR - I just want my mileage paying!!!
But No - PVR is not Premature Voluntary Release any more - it's Private Vehicle Rate (20.5-ish p/mile)


Alfens - never diod the job it was bought for in 1993
RASDA - very user-unfriendly with servers that can't cope with the traffic
JPA - Can't do the job it was bought for (seem to work for small companies (100-ish employees), but not for RAF - 40,000 hits on day1 made the servers suspect a Distributed Denial Of Service (DDOS - see the computer forum for more info) Attack and it shut down!!!
BOCS - again, an off-the-shelf system that the RAF will foook about with and buggger it up!!!! Goes live 01-Aug-06 with all other systems turned off on 31-Jul-06 - I predict dry-wipe boards across the country!!


ScATCC had a computer system (SIRS) that was predicted to die at Y2K - the result was a perfectly functioning replacement system (SIRIUS (which became knows as SIRS))- I should know - I was an end-user involved with the core development of the system. The system was paid for by NATS.

Why do the RAF always go for the lowest cost, sh1tt1est option that never works and ends up costing more than the best option would have in the first place, and insist on fooking around with it so that it works even less than it did off-the-shelf


[Rant Mode Off]

[SirToppamHat]

unclenelli

I don't disagree with most of what you say, and I have been very critical of most of the IT systems we use day-to-day, but the main problems with the operation of RASDA were (and still are) to do with the limited bandwidth available on the SLI, and the fact that the users initially wanted too much from it, but were then reluctant to use it because of a lack of direction from above. One thing that I recall from it was our inability to use the latest version of Oracle (which I think was 8i ??) and so the developers were forced to use the previous version (7?) instead. The reason was that the new version of the software had not been security accredited yet. Has the same been the case on JPA I wonder? We found that the developers were having to un-learn skills, rather like having their hands tied behind their backs.

As for being user-unfriendly, I agree it's not perfect, but RASDA is a massive step-forward from its predecessor (UKAIR CCIS).

I'll get me coat. Back to JPA.

STH

[Pontius Navigator]

and MFMIS?

Or the Tornado Mission planner or the EW program system (Something like PFMR or PFMP) in the late 80s? Supposed to take EWOSE data and either replicate EW signatures for the jets or at Coningsby actually create tapes in case the master machine at EWOSE failed (was bombed).

Anyone remember Bodger Edwards of EWOSE? Job so secret that he was absolute ruler of his feifdom.

[Where R We?]

The routing software on the helpline has now broken down too...FFS...so I have to wait for the first available agent.

Found this out while trying to sort out an expense claim and on page 2 of 3, when I clicked on the 'Details' button, I get an error which means I have to contact the SysAdmin.......



Edit: And then the w*****s hung up on me!

Edit2: 24 hr wait for them to come back to me.........

[SpotterFC]

Just think yourselves lucky if you got paid at all.
Apparently, due to 'a breakdown in communications' with the Cypriot Banks people in Cyprus didn't get paid until today (if they were lucky). I wonder if they mean 'we forgot to tell them'?
Where Are We - that'll teach you to be in a job that requires you to go overseas for 'business' meetings . GPC - the way ahead.

[Where R We?]

Originally Posted by SpotterFC

Where Are We - that'll teach you to be in a job that requires you to go overseas for 'business' meetings . GPC - the way ahead.

GPC covers most of it but the airport terminal doesn't take too kindly to GPC for a bottle of juice, nor the miserable French bus driver for 3.90EU, can't get IE from GPC either Nice to hear from you too

[4fitter]

Logged on for the first time today to try and sort out a claim.
Had to get our HR Admin to talk me through because the box was doing funny things. Eventually was able to press the submit button and then received a message telling me I had been reported to my line manager for a policy violation !! If this means a fraudulent claim then role on the courts martial.

[Chox Away]

Auditing

A colleague of mine managed to submit an i-expenses claim just over 2 weeks ago and has been duly paid. Success!
However, after logging on today (just returned from 2 weeks detachment) to submit another, he has just received a message through JPA that the claim has been chosen for auditing purposes and is to take all receipts etc up to handbrake house in person (could otherwise get lost in the post) sometime within the next 7 days. (This request is already overdue due to the 2 week detachment). Additional to this, all future claims are to be withheld until he has done so.

[Scud-U-Like]

JPA started the Reichstag fire, shot Kennedy and ate my hamster!

[Plasticab]

Get this...one of the guys at a secret Shroshire Training Base got paid £12,000 net this month.....now that's a lot of premium bonds!

[Where R We?]

Found an excellent flaw in the system (one of many no doubt!!)

My immediate boss has now left the RAF on retirement and as such was on Terminal Leave when JPA came in and his replacement has just arrived. His boss (my Wg Cdr) also left the RAF and his replacement is not due in post for another couple of weeks!

I submit an expenses claim (shock horror I know, it worked), to be met be the caption, your form has been sent to your manager for approval. Ring PSF,

'Who is my manager?'
'Don't know, could be an audit check, please bring everything down to accounts'

Trundle off to accounts. Transpires that my expenses form has gone to my Sqn Ldr (who has left) for approval, after 5 days it will have been sent to my Wg Cdr (who has left), next it would have gone to the Gp Capt!!

Fortunately, the chief clerk saw sense and said that despite JPA being 'on-line' that I should go and fill in a F016 and get the claim manually. I could see that the PSF staff were getting really p*ssed off with the system too, more work for them and more work for everyone else...I am sure it will improve!

[Where R We?]

At 15:00, even JPAC couldn;t access the system as it had gone 'offline'!

[Pontius Navigator]

I read the MOD Web 'how to use JPA' today.

Easy Peasy.

Log on after working hours. No queues no help desk no handbrake house.