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gyzmo

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  1. Hi all. My apologies for not posting for so long. I think my views have been made clear as to why, but other circumstances have also affected my decision. My time is now also extremely limited (up at 5 am, back home at 8 pm) so I hardly have time to do anything at all! I am now employed (at last!) in a job that I've always wanted. Because of that, it is not really possible for me to post on here due to conflicts of interest. All I can say is that the advice I have given in the past, specifically about reporting matters to Consumer Direct or your local Trading Standards office are as important as ever - even if it is just for information. It's amazing how each little complaint contributes to the bigger picture and the general overall wellbeing of consumers. I know there is criticism of that, but trust me - it helps. Equally important to everyone is "forewarned is forearmed". Before buying anything, do your research. What do you want from an item? Size? Colour? Price to pay? Is what you are told in writing? If not, how are you going to prove something? Believe me, I am seeing things on both sides now. I'd love to be able to continue posting, but I simply cannot. I'd just like to wish this site the best wishes. I has helped me and others no end. My special thanks to a few people - you all know who you are I hope, but in particular a certain Bookworm from France. Merci, mon ami - Je suis votre débiteur. Goodbye and God bless. Gyz
  2. Went to the town hall this morning to sort out the mess with council tax. On the way there, the us driver gives me a day ticket with the wrong date on. He didn't unerstand why I was not happy with him simply crossing the date off and writing on today's date. I had to hang around for half an hour whilst another bus of the same company came along so I could get a properly dated ticket. Go to the town hall to hand in the requested forms, only to be told a court summons has already been issued. At this point I started getting stabbing pains in my chest and a tingling in my arm. I have been told that action has been put on hold, but it's only verbal and after all the cockups made, I don't trust them. Anyway, off to Tesco for a bit of much needed shopping only to find: a. No discounts applied, thereby nearly doubling my food bill a. Tried to charge me twice on the card. After half an hour of arguing I then get pulled over by the security staff, whom I soon told where he could stick his search of my bags.] Then off to the HA to get a form for a joint tenancy so I can actually start claiming some housing benefit (which i was wrongly told beforehand I cannot do). The only form they had was to take over a tenancy, but they said it was the same info so it would be OK if I just pointed it out that it was a joint tenancy. But Noooo, handed it in and I got told that they can't process the application because, surprise, it's the wrong form. They have to post me the form (instead of just handing it to me). My argument that I wanted to pick it up in person because the last two requests for the form to be posted seem to have been ignored did not work. So I have spent a whole morning doing nothing but getting stressed - something my doctor has told me I must avoid at all costs for the sake of my health. Just what is it with organisations? Why cant they get the most simple things correct? Or have I just got a sign on my back inviting people to mess me up? Answers on a postcard please.
  3. More incompetence from my HA and council. My flatmate' claim for 2nd person discount was initially rejected because one box was accidentally ticked, even though the rest of the information shows it was a mistake. So we had to fill in another form, along with supplying loads of documents. The info was taken into the HA's office as suggested, but did not seem to reach the council by the deadline, as I got a letter stating as much and that the whole process would have to be started again. After spending an hour on the phone, the forms were located and accepted as being handed in on time (2 weeks early in fact). Now they have wrote again to say that they need proof of ID before they can consider the claim:-x:-x On top of all of that, because I keep receiving council tax bills for different amounts, I have no idea what should be paid, and have now received a final demand for nearly £200. Don't have the money to pay that, but if they got the 2nd discount sorted out then the backdated part of it would probably cover the amount outstanding (it's backdated because we claimed initially for the "wrong" discount - there are apparently three different discounts for the same amount where the effect is the same). The sheer incompetence is staggering.
  4. Makes me wonder why then he allowed it to go to court rather than settle. Another example of corporations making life difficult for the sake of it. Glad it's sorted though.
  5. ? They are different classes of insurance. They may be added together in the same policy book purely for ease, but there is no good reason I can think of why a buildings claim should affect contents insurance.
  6. That's the theory. One of the worst bullies I know is actually the union rep for a local sorting office. And then there is this little man who does tiny, little inconsequential things which by themselves amount to nothing, but together make me want to go round there and give him a good kicking. A manager at a previous job I had was a very effective bully. It's quite easy to make someone's life hell without actually doing anything wrong that can be adequately demonstrated.
  7. Just want to emphasise that point again.
  8. Consumer Direct Make sure you mention that you have spoken to the manager several times. Quite possibly they may state to put it in writing as well
  9. Contents insurance is separate from buildings insurance so one should not affect the other. A "combined" policy of buildings and contents is simply a marketing method of discount, nothing more. You could ask a builder for an estimate - it will obviously cost, but you need to make sure you are properly insured and it will, if nothing else, give peace of mind. Make sure you use a reputable firm
  10. They're not so beautiful if they bite you and give you TB. Just remember that they are not pets but wild animals and see you as the same. For right or wrong, they have set up territory in your garden an dyou need to consider that. If your kids are playing outside and a badger feels threatened, it's not going to think how cute your kids are - it will either run away or attack.
  11. If it costs a lot to rebuild, it can do. At least you have differentiated the rebuild and market value - something many are unable to grasp. If you take my property for example, it's market value is somewhere about the price of a second hand dog kennel. To rebuild it would probably be a lot more than what it's actually worth If you want to be absolutely sure, you could get your own assessor in. If you are underinsured then any payment in the event of a claim is reduced accordingly, which can be very costly.
  12. Call Consumer Direct to report it. And before a certain someone comes along and starts off about it being a waste of time, Comet are under a scheme whereby TS will tell them what to do and Comet have agreed to do it.
  13. And you can put cinnamon in it, vanilla essence and strawberries... oh gawd! Where's the fridge?
  14. Just asked my flatmate whether he wanted a brew. He said "oh that reminds me, I need to check my bank account to see if that payment's gone through". Dunno if he's bought shares in the East India Tea Company or not.
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