The Kindle edition is on free promotion this weekend, and it has had a positive effect. It has reached number 3 on the UK free music chart and number 1 on the same chart in France where it has a certain je ne sais quoi! The US are a bit slow to respond – only at 11 over there!
Guess what? I always thought that paying extra for upper class flights was because of the service, comfort, priority, lounge, etc. Turns out its actually safer too! The seatbelt has an airbag in it! What price do you put on your safety?!
The Whaley Bridge Cricket Club trip went to Frankfurt last weekend – and it was a much smaller affair than the halcyon days of 20 plus revellers, frequent visits to the hotel manager’s office, and the general chaos that ensues when trying to herd cats. Maybe they will return, but for 2017 just 5 of us set off, taking breakfast at the wonderful Cafe 110. Actually there were only 4 of us at this stage – our fifth member met us at the airport. The trip to the airport was a sober affair – as the bus driver banned alcohol. That wouldn’t have gone down well in days gone by, and we wont be making that mistake again.The guessing games still work – even convincing someone that was convinced we were going to Frankfurt that we were not going to Frankfurt. As it turns out, Frankfurt is a bit smelly. Someone needs to sort the drains out. Someone also needs to sort the karaoke out! Definitely not PC!
We spent a pleasant afternoon in Waxy’s Irish Bar (when in Rome…) discussing the merits of Chesters not being able to charge his phone because he hadn’t left the room key in the electric slot, and discovering the phrase ‘unsolicited back story’ which completely replaces the concept of body language! Perhaps the funniest item occurred when we were sat on the plane ready to return. Chesters, again, asked when it was that the 4pm Sunday kick offs had been changed to 5pm? I will let you work that one out.
Next year – who knows – but there is sufficient interest to mark the end of the cricket season with a regular excursion abroad – watch this space.
I’m working on GDPR at the moment – the data protection regulations. I would have thought that most big companies would be well on the way to compliance by now (the deadline is May 2018). Well, I got a marketing SMS from EE this week – telling me to text STOP to 1234 to opt out. I was sure I had already done this – and sure enough I had done the very same thing in February.
The conversation went like this…
Why are you sending me SMS messages when I opted out?
Because you upgraded your contract.
I didn’t opt in to marketing so why are you doing it?
I am sorry sir, I will make sure you are opted out.
That’s not the point – why did you opt me in?
Very sorry sir, I have put a note on your account and you will not receive any more marketing from us.
If I do I will go straight to the ICO.
Very good sir.
Was that the end of it? Not at all. The next day I got a marketing email. Seems that was automatic too. Honestly, these firms are in for a real shock. It would be remiss of me to let this kind of thing slip by unnoticed, after all, whats an occasional text or email? The point is that they have my data. They are using it for a purpose that I haven’t agreed to. Today marketing, tomorrow – identity theft. Can’t wait for May. I will be going after all of them!
Ole has ventured off to Salford University, and honestly, in the last 2 weeks I have spoken to him more than in the past 5 years! First of all he set off with a car load of stuff on a Saturday morning. And of course I went the following day with a car load of stuff that he had forgotten. He needed a book that arrived by post, so I posted it on to him. Took him 4 days to figure out where the university post box is. Then there was the bank account conversations! Ole’s grant is around £1296 per term – a little over £100 per week. We said he could have £80 and the rest would be for accommodation. But, he wanted the £80 to be paid weekly rather than in one lump sum. I thought that this would be because he didn’t want to overspend – but no. Quite the opposite. He didn’t want to underspend and get to the end of term with £500 in his account.
His first lecture was last Monday. He missed his first lecture on Tuesday, and then he moaned that he has at least one lecture every day so he couldn’t possibly get a job. His mum cancelled his driving test for him, and he still cant budget.
How much have I got in my account?
About £27
I thought I had £57 – where has the rest gone?
New Look, Peachy Keens and Spotify
Then it went quiet.
All quiet on the Zac front? Not really – he has been at the physio as he seems to have inherited my dodgy knees! A bit of strapping and some exercise seems to have done the trick, and he is enjoying the peace and quiet without his older brother. However, the opportunity to clean came with the departure of Ole, and of course Zac’s room got swept up into the process. It is clear that Zac has become quite creative in his hiding places for unwanted fruit. We found some raisins in Ole’s room. We never give Zac raisins. These would have been grapes at one time that he secreted away in Ole’s drawers. Then there was this…
The label kind of gives it away – this was slowly turning into cider under a pile of sheets and blankets! Its not that he doesn’t like the fruit – its just that he can’t be bothered eating it. If only fries and chocolate cake were fruit!
In my own kitchen we have had a bountiful harvest of plums. The trees were so heavily laden that one of the branches snapped under the weight. Makes you wonder how Barbara Windsor didn’t constantly fall over. Anyway, there have been two varieties of plum jam made, plum cobbler and some gin. My contribution was autumn crumble with the plums complemented by apples and pears. I arrived home last night to find three pumpkins at the door – pumpkin pie anyone?
I stay at quite a few hotels, and when in Nottingham the DeVere Orchard is one of my favourites. I might have to review that! Last week I arrived and there was a sizeable queue for check in. It took at least 20 minutes, and I was told that the computer system had broken down. Then they charged me twice. This was quickly rectified as I sat waiting for dinner. Just as I ordered, a fire alarm went off. Well, I presume it was a fire alarm. There was no urgency from the staff and no announcement. Everyone just stayed put. The alarm continued to ring, and the waiters wandered about like lost souls. They then announced that it was not a real fire alarm – though that was difficult to hear over the sound of the alarm, and when they finally got it switched off, after about half an hour, they said there would be a delay to the food. Well, there wasn’t just a delay – they forgot about my order altogether! Shocking! The manager has been in touch via Tripadvisor – expecting big improvements next time I visit!
Not had one of these for a while – a run in with Customer Service! This time Three were the culprits, as I requested a PAC to switch Ole’s phone to EE. Now, I had previously requested one some time ago, but the switch had failed at EE and Ole had not contacted them in time so that one was cancelled. This time I was determined to see it through myself. Also bear in mind that the previous PAC was issued within 15 minutes of the call. So, I called, and they wanted details of my Sim. Sadly, Ole lost this before or during his trip to Zante.
Conversation number 1 proceeded as follows-
Never mind sir, perhaps you could answer some security questions
Ok
What was the last number called on the phone?
No idea. Perhaps it was my number?
No – that’s not correct
My wife’s number?
No – that is not it either.
Well, it was last used in July – two months ago – cant you ask me something else?
What are the last 6 digits on the Sim?
We’ve been through this – I don’t have the Sim.
I could order you a Sim.
Ok – could you do that then please?
Ok- that has been done – it will be with you in 5 working days.
It actually arrived much earlier – but that was just the start of my problems.
I’m ringing to request a PAC
Ah yes sir I will send it straight away.
(PAC arrived but failed at EE)
The PAC doesn’t work.
Let me check that for you…Ah yes – I see that PAC was cancelled when you ordered a new Sim.
Ok – I have the new Sim – can you give me a PAC.
Certainly – I will order that for you now. Ok all done. (reads Ts & Cs for the umpteenth time)
An hour later I rang again.
My PAC has not arrived.
Oh, sorry about that – let me check that. It appears to have got stuck. Let me see what I can do.
{long silence}
Ok sir, it should be with you in one hour at the most
What did you do?
It was stuck in our system so we have released it
Ok (sceptical tone n my voice)
Two hours later
My PAC has not arrived
Very sorry about that sir, let me look into it.
Yes – I don’t know why you haven’t received it, If you can answer some security questions I can read it to you.
Ok
What was the last number you dialled on the Sim?
(I felt confident about this one)
It was you – I rang Three on this Sim
No sir, that’s not the right answer
WTF?
I did – two hours ago. I was speaking to you.
Ah yes sir, I see now. I will read out your PAC.
Unbelievably I got cut off – but I was so close so I called them straight back
I was just talking to your colleague about my PAC – he was about to read it out but we got cur off. Can you get it for me
Certainly sir, let me just check.
{worryingly long silence)
Sorry to keep you waiting sir, I have ordered a PAC but it will take 48 hours
No – the guy told me a few minutes ago that he had it. He was about to read it to me
Sorry sir, not sure what he was going to read…
My PAC
No – sorry sir, that could not have been your PAC – it will take 48 hours
Last time it took 15 minutes
Sorry sir, there is nothing I can do
Well you can stop saying sorry and get me a PAC
Sorry
Aargghh
Sorry sir, would you like me to escalate to customer service?
Well who are you?
I am customer service but I can escalate to my manager
Will they get me a PAC
Sorry sir, I cannot get you a PAC but I can escalate it
Can you escalate it to Ofcom because that what I will do?
I will get my manager
(very brief silence)
Ah Mr Madden, so sorry for the delay
The delay hasn’t ended yet – wheres my PAC?
So sorry sir, the PAC will take 48 hours.
Hang on, your colleague said he would escalate it to you. Are you just sat next to him?
No sir, I am in customer service
So was he
Sorry for the confusion sir
Stop saying sorry and get me the PAC
Sorry sir
If you say sorry once more I will go straight to Ofcom
Sorry sir, but there is nothing else I can do.
(another pause)
I will give you £10 credit on the Sim so that you can use it until you get the PAC
I don’t want to use it – I am already using the EE number I just want to transfer my Three number
Sorry sir it will take 48 hours
At this point I was losing the will to live and the football was about to start. The PAC arrived around 40 hours later and the transfer has been completed. Three rapidly rose to number 1 on my list of crappy customer service departments – I will let you know if anyone manages to top them!
