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Tuesday 7 December 2010

Opus Credit Cards

Oh and Opus Cards run by Lloyds Banking Group, thank you so very f@#king much in issuing cards to a secondary card holder who has not been authorised for 5 years, abusing confidential customer information, losing a payment of £455, never calling back or escalating matters and generally being complete 'c u next Tuesdays' you utter f%#king nob jockeys!

--- update 7 Dec 2010
The threat of using a small claims court summons to recover the funds 'may' have changed the 'takes 14 days minimum to find a payment' to actually being located and credited overnight. Don't pat yourselves on the back Opus Cards you are still complete shitbags!

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Monday 29 November 2010

Caption Competition

A favourite pic of mine back from an article in The Sun last year.
Ed Spiliband
Sums up the Labour Party pretty much at the moment.
Captions anyone?

Buzz Lightyear Drinking Cup Rudeness

Doing the rounds on Twitter.....


TO INFINITY AND BEHIND!!!

Thursday 11 November 2010

Citibank, Lloyds Banking Group fail!

I have a citicard credit card. At the moment Citibank have decided to dispose of this portfolio and retain egg credit cards which they purchased a while back. My card is being sold/transferred to Opus cards managed by HBOS arm of Lloyds Banking Group. The transfer happens on the 21st November.

Me, Mr X is the account holder and Mrs X used to be an additional card holder but no longer. So Imagine my surprise when Opus send Mrs X a letter containing two cards, one for her as the main account holder (she's not!) and one for me as an additional card holder (I'm not!).

So several issues here. As citi are still the card provider I ring them the see what has gone on. Not our fault contact Opus. I pointed out to them that they released information about an obsolete card holder. The Indian call centre had no escalation procedure, line management to raise my concern. I managed to get the telephone number of Citicard/Egg data protection officer but as I am an outgoing customer the cock has not replied to my voicemail.

-- update --
Citibank DPO had been trying to call me back but my phone had been the issue, not routing calls. He was very helpful but all focus is now on Opus as to why they transposed the data they received!

Opus call centre does not open until 21st November, leaving me no method to raise concerns of potential fraud, credit file misuse and data protection violations with them. I tried a different tack of contacting BoS credit card call centre but they have no information until 21st and advised me to contact Citi with regards to why HBOS had sent incorrect cards?? What the f...?

In summary, Citibank you are US cocks of the highest order with no regard for UK or EU data privacy law or any sense of customer service. The US moans about BP oil spill but wraps Britain into it. But when you send out fucking google cars harvesting private data in every country that's ok is it??

Opus/Lloyds Banking Group you are total cocks for engaging with future customers but not providing feedback channels to your communications!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:The St,,United Kingdom

Thursday 14 October 2010

Chilean Miners Rescue

This has been compelling viewing, and a truly remarkable feat of human endurance.  Add to that during the rescue itself the sense of family and national pride it really does make you think.  Sky News coverage has been very good but I wished they hadn't used the Lemmings On Screen Graphic, a bit too much.


Wednesday 6 October 2010

My piss boileth over!!!

http://bit.ly/d8IQI0

Truly outrageous Expose of a Feckless Benefits Scrounger in the UK!!



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Tuesday 28 September 2010

Petrol Prices just 17 months on

Just been looking back at my emails from www.petrolprices.com
What are we paying now 115 -119p per litre?? In less than 2 years on!?
It really does take the piss!

---------------------------

Station  : Tcs Black Cat
Address  : Great North Road, Chawston, Bedford, MK44 3BE
Brand    : Total
Distance : 3.29
Price    : 94.9p
Updated  : 06-04-2009
---------------------------
Station  : Tempsford Service Station
Address  : Tempsford Road, Sandy, SG19 2AF
Brand    : Shell
Distance : 4.89
Price    : 94.9p
Updated  : 04-04-2009
---------------------------

Monday 20 September 2010

Tommy Boyd Pubcasts

Don't miss them!

Tommy is joined for more general pub banter – from the arcane to the poignant - by Mark, Fiona and Jason. Thanks to Matt Hollick for the technics and the crossword questions.

http://mrtommyboyd.wordpress.com

Barenaked Ladies Gig and Smartphones

I was lucky enough to win tickets for a Barenaked Ladies gig at the O2 Academy in Leeds last Friday.
As I glanced around I noticed the amount of people taking photos and video with their mobile phones and it suddenly occurred to me just how much my iPhone and satnav had been used in the entire process of getting and being there.

First, was winning the tickets themselves.  I was using the twitter client for the iPhone when Absolute Radio tweeted the competition question to win a pair of tickets.  I tweeted back the correct answer in under a couple of minutes and I was a winner.

Then there was the SatNav with it managing to get us around the traffic on the A1 as we headed North and also directing us to the nearest car park to the venue.  The result was we could leave home with very little continguency time as we did not need to use the paper map, drive blindly into traffic jams and get lost in central Leeds.  Then I used Google Maps on my iPhone to get a walking route from the car park to the venue.

Once inside I was taking photos, HD video on the phone and posting some of the photos straight to Facebook.



It is only just over ten years ago, when I would be at home beating my computer keyboard around the walls because my 28k dial up modem had failed for the umpteenth time to connect to Compuserve or Daemon.  Now we have broadband speed and processor power in our pockets, an always on community.  They say the next billion of the world's population to be connected to the internet will be via mobile devices first.

I wonder where we will be in another ten years?

Thursday 9 September 2010

The Extreme Action Spider

He's been hanging on for the past two weeks, three floors up on the office window, and his web has withstood the recent wind and rain.

I bloody hate spiders though!




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Tuesday 7 September 2010

iPhones, Baths and Rainwater

Back in 2008 I brought my first iPhone. I waited for the 3g as I didn't want to go back a step to GPRS/EDGE data speeds.

The phone survived a 4 foot drop onto a kitchen floor very early on. The case was damaged and after 15 months I finally lost the volume and mute buttons, resorting to using a paper clip to push what remained of the switches inside the case.

I persevered with it determined to make limp on out of contract, enjoying a reduced 1 month sim only contract until the iPhone 4 was released.

With a month to go until iPhone 4 launch day I had a night out in Brighton. I booked into a seafront hotel and got a free upgrade to a suite with a jacuzzi bath.

8 pints later I got back to the hotel room and decided to relax before bed with a bath and to read the newspaper on the iPhone. At 3am I awoke freezing cold, wet, still laying in the bath. The iPhone was laying at the bottom and was completely dead.

Luckily I had insurance and a trip to the Carphone Warehouse was needed. They confirmed the water damage in store. You could see the film of water between the glass and the screen. I was told that they can confirm most phones as water damaged and replace it immediately in store, but as it was an iPhone it had to be sent off to their main repair centre who then may pass it to Apple.

Three weeks later, the phone had been from the store, to the CPW repair centre, to Apple repair centre, each of them confirming water damage. Then Apple repair send a new handset to CPW repair centre, CPW repair centre then 'test' the new handset and finally pass it back to the store for collection.

In the meantime my insurance gave me a cover phone. It was a mid nineties Nokia which had lovely rubber buttons and you could only call, text and play snake on it. Absolute torture after having an iPhone for 18 months.

I finally had my hands on the replacement handset five days before iPhone4 launch day. I was disappointed that I had got another 3G after the guy in store told me it would most likely be a 3GS replacement, but still.

On iphone4 launch day I half decided to queue and attempt to get one. In Swindon (where I was working that week) at 8:40 am the Orange store had a queue of 4, Phones4u I think could not have any left as there was no queue, Carphone Warehouse a queue of 20 and o2 store must have been 200 minimum. My choice of network 3 were not offering it on launch day. I decided to wait a couple of weeks.

Then the 'grip of death' reports started to come out. To the point I decided to wait for longer and still enjoy the £15 a month sim only tariff I was enjoying on my old but now unlocked handset.

All was well until 2 weeks ago when I was putting up a tent in appalling rain. Knowing that iPhones do not like water very much I took it out of my soaked trouser pocket and placed it inside the tent for safety whilst I continued to put it up. However the rain continued and went straight through the inner tent before I had a chance to pull the waterproof outer over the top.

Inside there was a pool of water and floating inside it was the replacement iPhone!!! The screen was flickering and despite getting the hairdryer on it five minutes later the poor thing died. I sent it on its way with the best expletive hymn I could muster. The B, F and C words were used.

So. I write this on my new iPhone 4 on a new contract. The iPhone 3G is going through the three week process as before, but be damned if I was going to use that bloody emergency Nokia again!!

But now I know just how sensitive iPhones are to water expect me to be posting from a Blackberry next week.

PS No 'grip of death' experienced so far!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone




Location:High St,Malmesbury,United Kingdom

Wednesday 1 September 2010

The Apostrophe Rap

Let's sort out the apostrophe use once and for all.  God knows what they are teaching the kids in school these days.

Sunday 22 August 2010

Mr Toad comes to stay!

When I was camping in Malmesbury last week, I packed up and found I had a visitor.  Hello Mr Toad! (I think I have my toads and frogs round the right way..answers on a postcard if not).


Wednesday 18 August 2010

Thursday 5 August 2010

Kev Dickson

Check out Kev Dickson's website to review his albums and song writing. Hopefully on BBC Radio Wiltshire this evening.

Http://kevdickson.wordpress.com




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Location:Regent St,Swindon,United Kingdom

Tuesday 20 July 2010

The New Apple Friend Bar

Following on from the Genius Bar is the new Apple Friend Bar. Book your session now!


New Apple Friend Bar Gives Customers Someone To Talk At About Mac Products

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Working for free in the supermarkets

A pretty obvious one to go for but I'll moan about it anyway based on too many recent experiences.

I always viewed people who use self scan checkouts at the supermarkets as having a sandwich short of a picnic. Supermarkets sell it to you as having a choice to beat the queue for your benefit. If only, it's to reduce staff costs and maximize profit. We all know it but if it's there and helps us get out the shop quicker...

I however am a stubborn bastard!

My take on it is, if a tin of fruit retails at 50 pence then that includes the cost of the goods plus the mark up.

Contained in the mark up is the costs of getting the goods to me, and the cost of a checkout person scanning it, the rest is profit for the store.

So if we assume even a modest 2-3p built in cost for checkout staff, if I use self scan then I would expect to have that 2-3p deducted. Otherwise I provided willingly greater profit for the store.

So for me to self scan one of two things need to happen:-

1. An automatic discount of x % of the final shop total.
2. For the self scan machine to time how long I have used the till and pay me a reasonable hourly rate pro rata once I have checked out. Why should I work for Tescbury's for free?

But now this 'option' has started to be forced upon me and everytime I go in to buy a few items I have to explain the above thoughts to another member of staff who comes up to me wishing to help. It's not their fault it's the managers so I always treat the ones at the coal face with respect when I explain my objections.

Recent episodes:
Sainsbury's Swindon
5 normal tills at the market end only 1 manned
4 self scan, 1 member of staff wandering about.
1 very long queue for the only manned till.
This happens every day.
I always have the self scan wanderer come up to me to joyfully show me how to save time by 'playing shop',

I say, had they opened all the manned tills I would not be in a queue that would then need me to 'save time' and provide them bigger profits.

I always explain, pay me, discount the shop, or open more tills before asking me to work as a checkout operator for free.

You can tell the throttling of the manned tills is deliberate to condition customers to help Sainsbury's eliminate staff costs.

I have the same at Tesco's. Their machines don't recognise their own recycling bags so you get invalid items in the bagging area. Daft sods! I once saw a customer told by a supervisor he had to use them due having a few items!!

B&Q have taken the brave move in most stores in my area by only having one manned till and providing 8-10 shiny self scan machines. 'Come over to these tills to save queuing' they say. I
never had to queue before you removed the manned tills!! FFS!!

After 7pm (IIRC) I have noticed there is no choice in my local store, no manned till in the evening. That's when I go to customer services and ask to pay. When I am directed to self scan I explain I am illiterate and need help to read the screen. They then check it out for me.

Stand up all resist this change, it's not good for anyone. But if there are 10 manned tills all with queues with just one lonely self scan in the corner I think we can all be forgiven for using it as a genuine emergency.


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Location:B4014,Malmesbury,United Kingdom

Tuesday 1 June 2010

The Tight fisted are such eco-warriors!

I'm fed up with this bull shine that the tight fisted throw about their businesses and personal lives, using the environmental argument to justify them saving a few pennies.

Hotels with that lovely sign in the bathroom. "Do you really need fresh towels? If you do place them into the bath, doing our bit to help the environment by reducing cleaning chemicals and electricity use".

Piss off! The environment was furthest from your mind, the need to reduce your costs was, and then to get away with the skimping you throw the environment angle in to make me feel guilty and to 'assist' you to reduce costs in the thin veil of doing my bit for global warming.

The camp site I stayed at recently stated on the shower door "Campers are to keep their showers to under 5 minutes for the sake of the environment.". Er no I think you looked at the fuel bill and thought f**k prices have gone up again.

Travelodge are the masters of this, closely examine the room. 1 lightbulb will be missing out of every 4 lights, 1 screw missing out of every door hinge. Extra pillows are available on request. Look you sods one pillow is insufficient, don't pull the environment crap at me over a sodding pillow. Fact is 1 missing item in every four saves 25% on costs, and the room just about manages to continue function.

So tight arse businesses, be transparent in your costs, increase or prices maybe, but stop using the emotional environmental card!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:High St,Malmesbury,United Kingdom

Thursday 27 May 2010

Lunchtime chillout at The Glue Pot

Crop Circle today! Hmmmm




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Location:Rodbourne Rd,Swindon,United Kingdom

Tuesday 25 May 2010

My new iPad - I managed to get one early.

Not too sure about this one though.

The Iain Lee Two Hour Radio Show Mon - Thu (facebook page)



The Iain Lee Show Facebook Page

Just do it, join up on facebook and away you go watching the fruitcakes comment as the show is on air!
And remember to tune in to Absolute Radio Mon-Thu 11pm - 1am.

Sunday 23 May 2010

BOX - Temptation Girl!

Japanese Band Box sing Temptation Girl!

Wednesday 19 May 2010

The New Evening Local

Excellent food and real ales at The Smoking Dog in Malmesbury.

Rev James and Butcombe pints are very good.



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Location:Arches Ln,St Paul Malmesbury Without,United Kingdom

Wednesday 12 May 2010

CON-DEM nation?

The continued absurdity of needing hybrid words to describe things continues with CONDEM nation. Maybe conjoured by a disgruntled Labour supporters or maybe just a bit of mickey taking by the press?

Personally the implication does not bother me just the fact that the word has been constructed.

Previous ones include
Susan Boyle : SuBo
John and Edward : Jedward
Jean Leggings : Jeggings

So can we please stop this constant fuckery (fuck and buggary) with words? Whoops! :-)


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Monday 3 May 2010

Another apostrophe fail!




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The Iain Lee Two Hour Weekday Radio Show Mon - Thu

If you haven't been tuning into Iain Lee on Absolute Radio and you like listening to complete nutters on the radio then where have you been?

Iain 'Mr 11 O'clock show and RI:SE' Lee serves up a weekday late night treat between 11pm and 1am Mon to Thu on Absolute Radio (used to be Virgin).

With such regular callers such as Vinny, Andre, Cougar Pammy, Gatford, Rob from Ponders End, and other such nuts jobs it's always good to listen to live or as a podcast when travelling about in the car. The podcast is available through iTunes.


Wednesday 28 April 2010

Lardy Bus Crash

So I'm sat outside of The Glue Pot when a small car decides to pull out in front of a speeding bus. One of the lady bus passengers required a neck brace and stretcher. However given that her physique suggested she had just swallowed a Zeppelin, I was expecting the emergency services to cut off the top of the bus to remove her! 5 men required! Bad back injuries just remove her alone will be winging their way to the insurance companies!


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Monday 26 April 2010

Hans Asperger Quote

"Able autistic individuals can rise to eminent positions and perform with such outstanding success that one may even conclude that only such people are capable of certain achievements ... Their unswerving determination and penetrating intellectual powers, part of their spontaneous and original mental activity, their narrowness and single-mindedness, as manifested in their special interests, can be immensely valuable and can lead to outstanding achievements in their chosen areas."
Hans Asperger (1944).



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Piston Groovy!

Piston Groovy are an awesome rock covers band playing venues around the A1 between London and upwards towards Peterborough. This year I hear the are venturing towards Norfolk too.

Check out their website
Piston Groovy. The next gig is on the 29th May at The Rose in Biggleswade. See you there and let’s rock!





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Location:Rodbourne Rd,Swindon,United Kingdom

Friday 23 April 2010

Happy St George's Day

Happy St George's Day everyone!

This lunchtime I am celebrating with a pint of Dragon's Breath from the Hopback Brewery. It has been brewed with a hint of chilli for the fiery kick.

Later I shall work through Charles Wells' Bombardier and Shepherd Neame's Spitfire before singing Jerusalem and hitting the hay! Happy day!!



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Location:Reading St,Swindon,United Kingdom

Thursday 22 April 2010

Miserable Sod Post : I

Call me Mister Picky (actually DON'T!) but when I'm on the receiving end of non verbal business communication I do expect the sender to construct it with some sense of respect for themselves and the company they represent.

I acknowledge that not everyone is brilliant at spelling, but, if you are using a computer to send an email or letter there is this wonderful feature called spellcheck!

People who say 'Yeah I'm not too good at spelling.' to justify their toilet communications can piss off. It's laziness! The computer can help with your deficiencies but you chose not to use it.

I once received a 12 page document from a quality manager that had no less than 20 spelling mistakes and one of those words was the word 'quality'!! This person was responsible for quality across the company but could not be bothered within their own work.

The naming and shaming starts here as they pop up into my mailbox!!


Location:Emlyn Square,Swindon,United Kingdom