Today I has mostly been....

[teamsaint]

....there's a utube for everything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYb-tCaeTh0

One of the redeeming features of the modern age.sorted my garden wall rendering out a treat using a youtube video. There are some very good videos on how to do carpentry jobs , from America......

[Serial_Apologist]

One of the redeeming features of the modern age.sorted my garden wall rendering out a treat using a youtube video. There are some very good videos on how to do carpentry jobs , from America......

You saw them.

[Roslynmuse]

Oh dear. These full, organised, structured days...

...I aspire towards them but rarely achieve them.

The rot sets in with the first tap of the snooze button on the alarm.

************************************************** ***

Mostly today I have been furious with the mobile phone industry. I have had my smartphone since July 2015, and apart from replacing the battery once about three years ago, it has been doing well. Until the weekend, that is, when the screen starting flickering and refusing to light up properly. I had a spare battery that I charged up but same issue. I decided (resigned myself to the fact) that 5.5 years plus is probably a pretty good lifespan for a mobile, and started researching the latest equivalent. Found a likely one with my current provider (EE) and then compared the cost with that of my wife's provider (Tesco mobile). For the modest package (relatively small data usage) I'm after I can pay £10/month less with Tesco AND no upfront payment on the handset - basically a saving of about £400 over the duration of the contract. Requested PAC code so I could keep my number. Ordered phone from Tesco. An hour later I had a call from EE basically saying that all the charges quoted on the website are fictional and they could match or improve on what Tesco was offering. I didn't lose my temper with them but I did point out that they had lost a customer by failing to be honest about charges. I haven't time in my life to haggle or bargain with big companies. Their loss is all I can say...

[cloughie]

Oh dear. These full, organised, structured days...

...I aspire towards them but rarely achieve them.

The rot sets in with the first tap of the snooze button on the alarm.

************************************************** ***

Mostly today I have been furious with the mobile phone industry. I have had my smartphone since July 2015, and apart from replacing the battery once about three years ago, it has been doing well. Until the weekend, that is, when the screen starting flickering and refusing to light up properly. I had a spare battery that I charged up but same issue. I decided (resigned myself to the fact) that 5.5 years plus is probably a pretty good lifespan for a mobile, and started researching the latest equivalent. Found a likely one with my current provider (EE) and then compared the cost with that of my wife's provider (Tesco mobile). For the modest package (relatively small data usage) I'm after I can pay £10/month less with Tesco AND no upfront payment on the handset - basically a saving of about £400 over the duration of the contract. Requested PAC code so I could keep my number. Ordered phone from Tesco. An hour later I had a call from EE basically saying that all the charges quoted on the website are fictional and they could match or improve on what Tesco was offering. I didn't lose my temper with them but I did point out that they had lost a customer by failing to be honest about charges. I haven't time in my life to haggle or bargain with big companies. Their loss is all I can say...

I absolutely agree with your stance - if I get a renewal of insurance and I think it a bit steep I check out alternatives and agree it then cancel the previous provider - if they try to persuade me to save with a lower offer I simply say you’ve had your chance - goodbye’

[Dave2002]

You saw them.

He knows the drill.

[Serial_Apologist]

I absolutely agree with your stance - if I get a renewal of insurance and I think it a bit steep I check out alternatives and agree it then cancel the previous provider - if they try to persuade me to save with a lower offer I simply say you’ve had your chance - goodbye’

There was a discussion on Jeremy Vine this morning on the merits of customer loyalty to the big providers of this net service or that car insurance, and the overwhelming consensus was that those companies have NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in respecting customer loyalty - they're only interested in getting more and more new customers.

[Roslynmuse]

There was a discussion on Jeremy Vine this morning on the merits of customer loyalty to the big providers of this net service or that car insurance, and the overwhelming consensus was that those companies have NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in respecting customer loyalty - they're only interested in getting more and more new customers.

Indeed - what angered me more than anything was that in 5.5 yrs I haven't had any attention other than a regular extraction of £££s from my bank account - and then at the first sniff that they might lose that they were on the phone. That and the pointless game playing over pricing on the website.

[french frank]

that those companies have NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in respecting customer loyalty - they're only interested in getting more and more new customers.

I know what that calls to mind

[Nick Armstrong]

I know what that calls to mind

Tis the Way o’the World

[Nick Armstrong]

There was a discussion on Jeremy Vine this morning on the merits of customer loyalty to the big providers of this net service or that car insurance, and the overwhelming consensus was that those companies have NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in respecting customer loyalty - they're only interested in getting more and more new customers.

It took me some years to realise that car insurers operated in the opposite way to what I would have assumed to be the case. Rather than premiums reducing year on year to reflect your fidelity & reliability (i.e. absence of claims), they leap up after the first year - because the ‘lure new customers’ rate ceases

I concluded that they rely on the majority of customers just letting policies renew automatically ignoring the hike, which nets them far more than a fairer approach - so they don’t care about a few attentive customers telling them where they can shove their expensive renewal...

[Serial_Apologist]

Tis the Way o’the World

It makes one feel one is being superceded. "Super Seeded", is the brand of bread I get from Tescles. "I would prefer "pre-seeded": I am a fatalist", I told the poor uncomprehending man at the checkout.

[LezLee]

I got an email from Scottish Gas this morning with a bill for 0.5p. I paid my bill (rather more) last week so am a bit puzzled. They don't accept payment of less than £2. I might seek legal advice or tell them to stuff it.

[teamsaint]

I use A plan for my car and home insurance. I hesitate to recommend, but I find their prices very good, service impeccable, and renewals always competitive. Maybe not the absolute cheapest, but not far off. And hassle free !!
Definitely worth a try if you are are looking for a new provider.

[Petrushka]

I got an email from Scottish Gas this morning with a bill for 0.5p. I paid my bill (rather more) last week so am a bit puzzled. They don't accept payment of less than £2. I might seek legal advice or tell them to stuff it.

There's probably been a mistake somewhere along the line, either yours or theirs, and while it's for a very small amount, don't ignore it. I'd be inclined to query it with them or, if you don't want the hassle, pay the £2 minimum and leave the balance as a credit for next time. Before retirement, I used to work in billing/debt collection and if I learnt anything at all it was never ignore a bill or demand for payment however silly it looks. Another thing I learnt was to always pay bills immediately.

[gradus]

There's probably been a mistake somewhere along the line, either yours or theirs, and while it's for a very small amount, don't ignore it. I'd be inclined to query it with them or, if you don't want the hassle, pay the £2 minimum and leave the balance as a credit for next time. Before retirement, I used to work in billing/debt collection and if I learnt anything at all it was never ignore a bill or demand for payment however silly it looks. Another thing I learnt was to always pay bills immediately.

Its one thing or the other. Bulb Energy have taken it into their head to credit my account with £4,162. I eagerly await the demand for repayment.