I don't know about you guys, but it's definitely unusual to be awakened by the sound of someone hammering on a door and yelling "Warrant Officer - Scottish Power. Open up!" repeatedly. No, not our front door, thank goodness. It was the flat downstairs, but because it has been so muggy at night we have kept windows open in the hope that some stray breeze will find it's way in.
Rather, I should say that we have kept the windows on the vent opening because I am afraid of giant eight-legged beasties finding their way in during the night and eating me alive. Since my husband is not keen on moths, I have tried to say that keeping the windows like that is for his benefit. He pointed out that, unlike me, he tends to hit his fear with a newspaper, which makes them go away - it also makes them flat, but that's besides the point (apparently). I scream and make him catch my fears in a glass; unless that particular fear happens to be a crane fly - a daddy long-legs - in which case, please flatten and dispose as appropriate. Just don't bring it by me. Yes, yes, of course I believe that you are all a) braver than me and b) kinder to things that scare the shit out of you...
Anyway, just at the point the warrant officer appeared to be considering making his own way into the flat, our neighbour finally opened up, or rather his adult son did. As our neighbour works around 60 hours a week at an American Diner he tells me he co-owns in Bilston, he had left home around 6 a.m. leaving his son to deal with the visitors. Once a warrant has been issued - in this case for non-payment of fuel bill - then the officer assigned by the fuel companies has a right to enter the premises, under British legislation.
Because of the circumstances the engineers who had attended detached/removed the existing metres while the warrant officer looked on. A lot of questions were asked by our neighbour, quite sensibly, and prior to leaving the premises a new pre-paid metre was fitted. I must admit I did think that there was a small flaw in this system as my neighbour was told that he will need to phone a specific number to request a pre-payment card, which will be posted out. Once it arrives he then needs to insert it into the metre in order to 'marry' the two up. He can then start putting money on the card.
My first thought was that they were not going to have any light downstairs. My second thought was that the flat owner was not going to be happy at the pre-payment metre being installed, as the neighbours downstairs are tenants. I did then hear it explained that the metre had £20 already on it to tide them over until the card arrives.
Hearing all this downstairs did get me thinking; in order to reach this stage, the power company will have tried numerous contacts both via post and telephone. There will have also been a court hearing, that you will have been notified of and have a right to attend. The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has current information on what to do if you find yourself in circumstances where you cannot pay your bill. The reality is that power supply companies do not want to cut off their customers. They would much rather an agreement was worked out for you to pay what you owe in affordable monthly amounts. One part of this could be that the power company insists that you have a pre-payment metre installed in order to prevent any future build up of debt. While this does mean that you will be able to keep on top of payments, as you probably know from various television reports, fees for power delivered through a pre-payment metre can be higher.
If you do find yourself in this situation and are struggling to deal with the power company yourself, please seek advice from the CAB or a similar service.
Tuesday 21 July 2015
Saturday 18 July 2015
A lovely way to treat disabled customers.
A few of you may have noticed that I am a little hot under the collar today. No, scratch that, I think fuming is probably a much more accurate description. Some of you are in groups that I have already put comments on, but for the rest of you, I will explain below:
Yesterday was weekly shopping day, including taking along my 85 year old mother in law. Because of budget we do not particularly want to drive the ten miles to her home, then nine miles back this way to a local market only to have to repeat the same journey again. We always used to shop at Wolverhampton market, but because of mobility issues we have not been able to do that of late. Instead we thought we would use the Lidl that is local to my mother in law; the Finchfield, Wolverhampton branch.
Not any more. Yesterday involved the usual parking in a disabled bay, popping the blue badge on the dash and heading into the store. Now you all know that I am not capable of so much as getting out of bed most days, but now and then - increasingly rare, I admit - I can manage to leave the flat for an hour or two. Come the time to exit the store and get back in the car and there was a ticket on the car saying that it was incorrectly parked in a disabled bay. On inspection, the blue badge was no longer on the dash, but now on the floor - still visible and still showing the correct side of the badge as it is in a holder. I am not entirely sure how that happened, I can only think that someone bumped into the car quite heavily and it slipped off the dash, where it started out. There are no marks on the car, so it wasn't another vehicle, it must have been a pedestrian.
My husband returned to the store and spoke with the assistant manager, Michael, whose reaction told him that this is not exactly the first incident they have had. He apologised, took a photocopy of both the ticket and the blue badge, then said that although he was unable to deal with it, the store manager would sort it out tomorrow (today in other words) and give us a telephone call. Well, yes, we did get a telephone call, but it was to say that he couldn't do anything and to call customer services. However he then said that if they couldn't sort it out to call him back. I must admit that did not make sense to me, because if he had already said he wasn't responsible and wouldn't/couldn't do anything, what would be the point in calling him back? He was also very reluctant to give his name and the store direct phone number.
I then telephoned customer services and spoke to Danny, who appeared very confused by the idea of fine tickets being issued on Lidl car-parks. He went away, a couple of times, and eventually came back to ask me to send them a photocopy of both my blue badge and the fine-ticket. After advising him that the assistant manager had already taken copies - and signed one for us confirming he had done so - Danny stated that they would contact the store and the matter would be investigated. He confirmed that I would hear something within ten working days.
It does not help that this same fine-issuer (£90!!!) turns tail whenever he receives a verbal response from an able-bodied driver who chooses to park outside the bays, blocking access etc. To me, that appears to be a case of picking on more vulnerable customers to make up the numbers.
I have been told that there is no legislation that forces me to pay this fine, as the incident took place on a private car park. I will research this myself to double-check it, but in the mean-time, I will not be paying a penny. I am more than happy to appear in a court though, in my wheelchair, or appear via Skype from bed if I am unable to move.
Had the store manager been just a little more enthusiastic and a little less reluctant to give even his name, I may not be quite so angry. As it is, I am fuming. I admit it. I am, however, also very concerned at the behaviour of the fine-warden on the car-park and would warn disabled drivers in particular to perhaps think twice about visiting Lidl, especially in Wolverhampton, Finchfield.
Yesterday was weekly shopping day, including taking along my 85 year old mother in law. Because of budget we do not particularly want to drive the ten miles to her home, then nine miles back this way to a local market only to have to repeat the same journey again. We always used to shop at Wolverhampton market, but because of mobility issues we have not been able to do that of late. Instead we thought we would use the Lidl that is local to my mother in law; the Finchfield, Wolverhampton branch.
Not any more. Yesterday involved the usual parking in a disabled bay, popping the blue badge on the dash and heading into the store. Now you all know that I am not capable of so much as getting out of bed most days, but now and then - increasingly rare, I admit - I can manage to leave the flat for an hour or two. Come the time to exit the store and get back in the car and there was a ticket on the car saying that it was incorrectly parked in a disabled bay. On inspection, the blue badge was no longer on the dash, but now on the floor - still visible and still showing the correct side of the badge as it is in a holder. I am not entirely sure how that happened, I can only think that someone bumped into the car quite heavily and it slipped off the dash, where it started out. There are no marks on the car, so it wasn't another vehicle, it must have been a pedestrian.
My husband returned to the store and spoke with the assistant manager, Michael, whose reaction told him that this is not exactly the first incident they have had. He apologised, took a photocopy of both the ticket and the blue badge, then said that although he was unable to deal with it, the store manager would sort it out tomorrow (today in other words) and give us a telephone call. Well, yes, we did get a telephone call, but it was to say that he couldn't do anything and to call customer services. However he then said that if they couldn't sort it out to call him back. I must admit that did not make sense to me, because if he had already said he wasn't responsible and wouldn't/couldn't do anything, what would be the point in calling him back? He was also very reluctant to give his name and the store direct phone number.
I then telephoned customer services and spoke to Danny, who appeared very confused by the idea of fine tickets being issued on Lidl car-parks. He went away, a couple of times, and eventually came back to ask me to send them a photocopy of both my blue badge and the fine-ticket. After advising him that the assistant manager had already taken copies - and signed one for us confirming he had done so - Danny stated that they would contact the store and the matter would be investigated. He confirmed that I would hear something within ten working days.
It does not help that this same fine-issuer (£90!!!) turns tail whenever he receives a verbal response from an able-bodied driver who chooses to park outside the bays, blocking access etc. To me, that appears to be a case of picking on more vulnerable customers to make up the numbers.
I have been told that there is no legislation that forces me to pay this fine, as the incident took place on a private car park. I will research this myself to double-check it, but in the mean-time, I will not be paying a penny. I am more than happy to appear in a court though, in my wheelchair, or appear via Skype from bed if I am unable to move.
Had the store manager been just a little more enthusiastic and a little less reluctant to give even his name, I may not be quite so angry. As it is, I am fuming. I admit it. I am, however, also very concerned at the behaviour of the fine-warden on the car-park and would warn disabled drivers in particular to perhaps think twice about visiting Lidl, especially in Wolverhampton, Finchfield.
Friday 17 July 2015
E-book or printed, that is the question...
We all know that technology has altered the way that we live, communicate and understand the world around us. One of the biggest innovations in the world of books has been the advent of e-books. No longer do people have to carry around huge bags full of books that weigh heavily on the back as we struggle to haul them about. Now we can carry hundreds of books on one small tablet.
If we choose to, that is.
Many readers prefer to remain with the world of printed novels and I'm sure that none of us would deny that there is something special about picking up a beautifully bound new book. The feel, the weight, the smell and even the sound as you open it up for the very first time... It all adds up to something truly special. And yes, I know, spoken like a true book-worm!
But however special a printed novel is, even I have to admit that there are a few problems. The biggest for me, is storage. I have around eight hundred novels on my kindle at the moment, along with five audiobooks; most of those books are novels that I do not own printed copies of. While I am sure that the elite in our society would not have a problem finding space for an additional eight hundred novels, I definitely would.
Living in a two bedroom flat, there is not the room to house an additional eight hundred books so in that way my kindle has been invaluable in allowing me to read novels I would not have been able to, otherwise. I do, of course, use my local library quite extensively - as we all should if we want to keep the Government from removing them from our locale. But I can't suddenly change my mind in the middle of the night and read a library book that is not already in my possession.
Having the kindle means that I can flick to a different novel with a couple of presses of the keyboard. For me, there is also the additional benefit that the light weight and size of the kindle means that it is less painful to hold. I can only read printed novels on rare occasions now, even with my book stand, as not only are they painful to hold, my eyesight can vary while I am reading. It is much easier to alter the size of the text on an electronic book; something that is impossible on a printed novel.
So, yes, I am a fan of e-books and I do believe that they have a place. However I still love - and always will - printed novels. I have a number of limited edition signed books that mean a lot to me simply because they are beautiful items that deserve a place in my home.
Oh - plus in all honesty I really wouldn't like to troll through an e-book version of some of my academic text books. I have just glanced to my right and my copy of The Oxford Classical Dictionary, third edition revised (Hornblower and Spawforth) looking back at me. I paled slightly at the thought of an e-book version of that.
If we choose to, that is.
Many readers prefer to remain with the world of printed novels and I'm sure that none of us would deny that there is something special about picking up a beautifully bound new book. The feel, the weight, the smell and even the sound as you open it up for the very first time... It all adds up to something truly special. And yes, I know, spoken like a true book-worm!
But however special a printed novel is, even I have to admit that there are a few problems. The biggest for me, is storage. I have around eight hundred novels on my kindle at the moment, along with five audiobooks; most of those books are novels that I do not own printed copies of. While I am sure that the elite in our society would not have a problem finding space for an additional eight hundred novels, I definitely would.
Living in a two bedroom flat, there is not the room to house an additional eight hundred books so in that way my kindle has been invaluable in allowing me to read novels I would not have been able to, otherwise. I do, of course, use my local library quite extensively - as we all should if we want to keep the Government from removing them from our locale. But I can't suddenly change my mind in the middle of the night and read a library book that is not already in my possession.
Having the kindle means that I can flick to a different novel with a couple of presses of the keyboard. For me, there is also the additional benefit that the light weight and size of the kindle means that it is less painful to hold. I can only read printed novels on rare occasions now, even with my book stand, as not only are they painful to hold, my eyesight can vary while I am reading. It is much easier to alter the size of the text on an electronic book; something that is impossible on a printed novel.
So, yes, I am a fan of e-books and I do believe that they have a place. However I still love - and always will - printed novels. I have a number of limited edition signed books that mean a lot to me simply because they are beautiful items that deserve a place in my home.
Oh - plus in all honesty I really wouldn't like to troll through an e-book version of some of my academic text books. I have just glanced to my right and my copy of The Oxford Classical Dictionary, third edition revised (Hornblower and Spawforth) looking back at me. I paled slightly at the thought of an e-book version of that.
Wednesday 15 July 2015
Twitter and facebook competitions
Everyone has different things that they enjoy, whether that is an energetic hobby like cycling or a slightly more easy-going habit of reading everything in sight. Most people will know by now that I am disabled due to chronic pain conditions, which feels a lot worse than it sounds, meaning that I am unable to participate in any of the more physical hobbies that I used to love; weight training, hiking and swimming have gone the way of the Dodo for me. So instead I have been annoying the hell out of all my friends by comping.
Many of the competitions that I enter are online via social media such as facebook or twitter. One of the things that I have noticed is that when people first begin entering competitions via these sites they don't always enter correctly. This, of course, means that it is impossible for them to win. So I thought I would post a quick guide to entering social media competitions.
For facebook competitions you must enter using the original post that has been put online by the competition sponsor or the site providing the prize. Many people make the easy-to-do mistake of simply sharing the post that appears on their friends timeline. Unfortunately as this is simply your friends shared post, this means that you aren't entered into the competition or giveaway. What you need to do is:
Many of the competitions that I enter are online via social media such as facebook or twitter. One of the things that I have noticed is that when people first begin entering competitions via these sites they don't always enter correctly. This, of course, means that it is impossible for them to win. So I thought I would post a quick guide to entering social media competitions.
For facebook competitions you must enter using the original post that has been put online by the competition sponsor or the site providing the prize. Many people make the easy-to-do mistake of simply sharing the post that appears on their friends timeline. Unfortunately as this is simply your friends shared post, this means that you aren't entered into the competition or giveaway. What you need to do is:
- Click on your friend's shared post to bring up the original - or go to the sponsor's facebook page and look for the original competition post.
- Make sure that you read the instructions carefully - most will simply ask you to like their facebook page, the post and to share. Technically facebook doesn't allow sharing to be part of competition requirements, but many sites put it anyway. I err on the side of caution and share.
- If the instructions say to comment with a particular phrase or ask you a question - make sure that you do so. Check carefully, because I've messed up more than once with this!
- Again, your options are to either click on the re-tweet until it flicks up a pop-up of the original post, or simply go to the sponsor's twitter profile page and find the original.
- Make sure that you read the instructions carefully - I can't emphasise this enough.
- If it asks you to re-tweet, simply click on the button on the post that looks like two arrows forming a square.
- You may be asked to reply with a message/answer to a question as well as the re-tweet. Make sure that you do so with any hashtag key words or correct answers that they sponsor asks for - and make sure that you use their @address!
Friday 10 July 2015
I am evil. Possibly.
I rather suspect that around about now two very unfortunate telephone cold-callers are equating me with the demonic. At least, I rather hope that they are. Like almost everyone I know, I cannot stand it when I busy doing something only to be interrupted by someone trying to sell me something. Can anyone explain to me why they start off by asking me how I am today, then leaving a pause for me to answer? I have tried experimenting with different answers and no matter what I say, I almost always receive an answer of "Good."
When the phone went for the second time in five minutes I answered, heard the standard (scripted) opening and responded with "No, I am in absolute agony and have been for the last eleven years." I said this is happy tones just to see whether the person on the other end was listening or too busy reading the script to really do so. The reply came; "Good." Really? It's good that I've spent over a decade in pain? Hmm, that's a little insulting and makes it unlikely that I will be contacting your company, should I ever need the product you have just described to me.
I know. I know it is cruel and I know that if I were able to, I would take any job going, including telephone cold-calling, if it put food on the table and paid the bills. But please, come one, at least listen to the person you are calling! It may improve your chances of making a sale.
As to the first phone call, well, yes I was mean there too. I am having a bad week and while I shouldn't take it out on strangers who annoy me by making unwanted telephone calls to my number, it is one of the only forms of entertainment I have at times. The first guy was trying to flog me solar panels through the Government scheme which essentially makes sure that any excess electricity generated goes to the grid and the Government have the money it generates. Plus you still have to pay for night-time electricity. He didn't get far enough to explain that to me because I am genuinely in a lot of pain today. I asked him to put it in writing, to which he replied they don't do that. So I bought up the Equality Act and reasonable adjustments, as I figured sending the details to my home via a leaflet or - better still - sending an email fall under that. He got off the phone very quickly at that point. I wonder if I will receive anything...
How does everyone else deal with telephone sales calls?
When the phone went for the second time in five minutes I answered, heard the standard (scripted) opening and responded with "No, I am in absolute agony and have been for the last eleven years." I said this is happy tones just to see whether the person on the other end was listening or too busy reading the script to really do so. The reply came; "Good." Really? It's good that I've spent over a decade in pain? Hmm, that's a little insulting and makes it unlikely that I will be contacting your company, should I ever need the product you have just described to me.
I know. I know it is cruel and I know that if I were able to, I would take any job going, including telephone cold-calling, if it put food on the table and paid the bills. But please, come one, at least listen to the person you are calling! It may improve your chances of making a sale.
As to the first phone call, well, yes I was mean there too. I am having a bad week and while I shouldn't take it out on strangers who annoy me by making unwanted telephone calls to my number, it is one of the only forms of entertainment I have at times. The first guy was trying to flog me solar panels through the Government scheme which essentially makes sure that any excess electricity generated goes to the grid and the Government have the money it generates. Plus you still have to pay for night-time electricity. He didn't get far enough to explain that to me because I am genuinely in a lot of pain today. I asked him to put it in writing, to which he replied they don't do that. So I bought up the Equality Act and reasonable adjustments, as I figured sending the details to my home via a leaflet or - better still - sending an email fall under that. He got off the phone very quickly at that point. I wonder if I will receive anything...
How does everyone else deal with telephone sales calls?
Wednesday 1 July 2015
How to deal with me; a guide to a mad woman with chronic health issues.
It feels like it has been months since I've been well enough to tolerate a couple of hours out of bed and out of the flat; I know, asking for both is just greedy, right? I'm feeling like being greedy and demanding that my body go along with it, but apparently it has decided to rebel at this suggestion and stick two fingers up at what my mind would like to do. I think that it has been the beginning of October that I last felt even vaguely human. Since then pain levels decided that it would be fun to just shoot through the roof, my speech therapist vanished off the face of the earth and I still haven't had the nerve test that I was told I was supposed to have two years ago.
Just to make things extra fun my little finger decided that the two top sections no longer wanted to be friends with the bottom section and attempted to part ways. Well, they did temporarily part ways until I gave them a sound scolding and manoeuvred things back to their correct position. Pete bandaged my little finger and ring finger together to make sure that I didn't knock it in the night and cause more damage. It has decided to remain reconciled, thank goodness. However my shoulder blade appears to have thought it seemed like a good plan and is painful enough that it is stealing my breath at the moment. Hopefully the bout of rather extreme language will have persuaded it that attempting to do anything untoward and cause me more pain is going to result in either an emergency GP visit or a hospital trip - both of which I hate with a fiery passion. I am choosing to assume that my body and mind agree on that one.
I think that it is incredibly difficult to understand just how tiring and wearing chronic pain can be. I also suspect that because I have a habit of assuming other people are as honest - and blunt - as I have a habit of being, when they ask how I am, they want the truth. I tend to tell the truth; I am not moaning, I find that tedious, I just have a habit of being brutally honest, then I get confused when people react in ways that don't quite fit with my expectations. So, here is a quick guide to me:
Fibro also has a lot of other symptoms that people may not be aware of such as sensitivity towards heat, light, sound, smells. I have all of those and to a degree always have - although they did get a lot worse with the fibro. If I have a problem with a scent, whether it be fabric conditioner (almost always) or perfume, I am not being rude. I am being ill. I am sorry if me having to leave or going white and sick upsets people, it is not intentional. It is just part and parcel of that wicked little beast named fibro.
So, that's me talked out for the day. What's up with everyone else in the world?
Just to make things extra fun my little finger decided that the two top sections no longer wanted to be friends with the bottom section and attempted to part ways. Well, they did temporarily part ways until I gave them a sound scolding and manoeuvred things back to their correct position. Pete bandaged my little finger and ring finger together to make sure that I didn't knock it in the night and cause more damage. It has decided to remain reconciled, thank goodness. However my shoulder blade appears to have thought it seemed like a good plan and is painful enough that it is stealing my breath at the moment. Hopefully the bout of rather extreme language will have persuaded it that attempting to do anything untoward and cause me more pain is going to result in either an emergency GP visit or a hospital trip - both of which I hate with a fiery passion. I am choosing to assume that my body and mind agree on that one.
I think that it is incredibly difficult to understand just how tiring and wearing chronic pain can be. I also suspect that because I have a habit of assuming other people are as honest - and blunt - as I have a habit of being, when they ask how I am, they want the truth. I tend to tell the truth; I am not moaning, I find that tedious, I just have a habit of being brutally honest, then I get confused when people react in ways that don't quite fit with my expectations. So, here is a quick guide to me:
- If you ask how I am, I will be honest. It isn't a complaint and I don't expect you to do anything about it. That's what doctors are for.
- If I cancel plans at the last minute - which I often have to - it isn't because I don't want to chat over Skype or have you come and visit. It is because I am in enough pain that I feel like vomiting, even with my vast quantities of medication. I just don't like to tell you that, because most people are a) grossed out and b) don't know how to react.
- I don't want or need you to be sympathetic. I really don't want or need you to pat me on the head or patronise me. All I expect is for people to listen to an answer that they asked for - otherwise, please don't ask. I am quite happy for you to be as honest as I will be. If you want to say "Fucking hell, that blows big-time" then I'm good with that. Or if you want to say "That's shitty and I'm depressed, can we talk about something else?" then again, that's fine. You're being honest with me and I like that. It means I know where I stand.
- I am entitled to have days where I sulk. Pain is bad enough if you break, or dislocate, a limb. It may give you an idea if I say that my finger parting ways with itself may have prompted lots of swearing, then pain level was nowhere near the top end I have on a daily basis.
- Along with the pain I have chronic fatigue. That does not mean I am tired, so please don't tell me that you're tired too because you didn't sleep well. That just pisses me off. I would give my right arm to just be exhausted.
- I get different types of pain and different types of fatigue; the fatigue can be like utter exhaustion where there just isn't enough energy left in my body to lift my hand up a couple of inches. Or it can feel like lactic acid burning through my muscles, in combination with utter lack of any ability to move at all. I can also be mentally fatigued and have no ability to think, speak, or know my own name.
- Pain can be deep muscular and tendons - sort of feels like my bones and muscles are swollen and fighting each other. That is the one I hate the most. Then there is a surface pain like extreme skin sensitivity where even a bed sheet can be so painful I feel like vomiting. There are times that passes over into feeling as though I am about to black out.
- That pain and fatigue is there all the time. If 10 is the worst pain you can imagine, then my average is an 8. However since October it has mostly been 10.
Fibro also has a lot of other symptoms that people may not be aware of such as sensitivity towards heat, light, sound, smells. I have all of those and to a degree always have - although they did get a lot worse with the fibro. If I have a problem with a scent, whether it be fabric conditioner (almost always) or perfume, I am not being rude. I am being ill. I am sorry if me having to leave or going white and sick upsets people, it is not intentional. It is just part and parcel of that wicked little beast named fibro.
So, that's me talked out for the day. What's up with everyone else in the world?
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