OMG! It’s gooorgeous! Or, so good I’ve mentioned it twice.
30 November 2007
Our new television arrived today only 2 days since I ordered it. The company rang me yesterday to ask if I would like it delivered on Monday, but it came today. I’m not complaining.
Jim chose it and I did the ordering, so I hadn’t really looked at it apart from the price, which is my job to OK. Jim earns it and I OK spending it; a perfect arrangement I say. Anyhow, I told Jim it was here and of course he had to down tools and come and see. He said he’d set it up for me. Yeah, right. More like he had a new toy and wanted to play! Read more
Arghh, the TV went
28 November 2007
Our bedroom TV finally passed away last night. It had been ill for some time and would switch itself off whenever it had had enough, so in fairness it was a kindness when it finally went last night. It had had a good innings and we will have fond memories of it.
Anyway, enough sentimentality. I need a new TV. As an emergency measure we brought the dining room TV into our room. I was watching some programmes I’d Sky Plused and it was really quite poor timing. Luckily Jim had already researched new TVs as he wanted one to match a games console we have. He has decided on this TV not just because it is white, but it HD ready and has built in freeview. Read more
Drive Assist update and thank you
23 November 2007
I noticed from our website statistics that many people have been searching for information on the report from Watchdog this week. I have complained already and got nowhere and have used the contact address supplied on the BBC Watchdog site ;
bbcwatchdog@driveassist.co.uk
There is also a contact number - 01827 305555.
I had heard nothing, but wasn’t too surprised as they must’ve had quite an influx of complaints. Today I checked my bank account and there was a refund of £155 from Drive Assist. I could be picky and ask for all my calls and time etc to be reimbursed. I could ask why I wasn’t sent an email or letter (which of course could be in the post), but I’m happy today knowing that the original amount has been refunded immediately.
I only complained on Tuesday evening, so well done and thank you Drive Assist. Good luck to anyone else who is waiting to hear.
UPDATE - 24th November
I have received a letter in the post today from Drive Assist to apologise. It seems like a standard letter. There’s no actual mention of any of the specifics from my complaint. I have to laugh that they are now very apologetic, which is a massive change from the previous dismissive letters I received before Watchdog stepped in. Now I wonder can Watchdog help me to turn around some other people with equally annoying and blinkered attitudes?
However, with regard to my complaint to the FSA that was not successful. Drive Assist advised in their penultimate letter that I could complain to the FSA, which I had already done prior to Watchdog’s involvement. I received a letter from the FSA after receiving the refund, which said that car hire per se is not covereed by them, but I may still have a complaint through my insurance company. If Watchdog had not stepped in I fear that like many before I would have coughed up and that would’ve been the end of it.
JANUARY 2008
I notice that people are still looking for information on Drive Assist and I hope that this information and that supplied by Watchdog is of help.
A new machine
22 November 2007
Not for me this time, but for my Nan. Hers has had a good innings, but has recently started to ‘clunk’ especially when spinning. It was my job to find a new one that was just like the old one! I hope I’ve succeeded in my task. I found a fantastically priced Beko WMA510W 1000RPM from Dixons. The price was a mere £155 with free delivery and just £5.99 to take the old one away. I had found the machine cheaper elsewhere, but the delivery cost always made the seemingly better deal more expensive.
Delivery was free and a mere £5.99 to get the old one taken away. From order to delivery has taken a week.
Plumbing it in could’ve been arranged, but as we are perfectly capable of doing this we didn’t opt for this. Taking the old one away we know from our experience earlier this year is not so easy. These machines are very heavy!
The new machine is simple. She didn’t want anything special, no extra programmes, no fancy colours. We have a plain ‘old’ white model that will wash the clothes and that’s that.
Dixons emailed confirmation of delivery and even posted me a copy, which may be unnecessary, but good to know. My Nan’s only concern was that she claimed never to have heard of Dixons!
Child benefit records lost
21 November 2007
I am one of the reported 25 million who receives child benefit into their bank account and therefore my details were on the ‘lost discs’. I heard this on the news last night and to be honest my first thought was not to panic. I wondered if I should? In the wrong hands the passwords protecting the discs could be hacked and then who knows? For now I’m not particularly concerned, but then my details haven’t yet been used!
The advise so far is as follows:
- check your bank accounts regularly for any unauthorised transactions.
- change your passwords if they include your children’s names or any other details that were included on these discs - name, date of birth, National Insurance Number, address etc
- contact your bank or building society if you see any transactions that are unfamiliar.
If any fraudulent transactions occur weare being told that they will be reimbursed.
As flippant as it may sound there is little else we can do. I feel for the person who posted the discs, who is reported to have resigned today.
For more information you can read here on the BBC news website. A special helpline has also been set up for anyone who is worried, which is 0845 302 1444.
In the meantime I will continue to check my account daily as I always have done and sit and wait to see what happens next.
