Well my remortgage was pending, and I noticed that there was a great offer from HSBC supporting a 2.29% mortgage rate, which is very competitive - and there was plenty of tempting features. No remortgage fees, no valuation fees, no early redemption fees - wow it sounded too good to be true, but I think it is this good!
Anyway, the remortgage was completed quite effectively - and during this process I requested £9k more than my current mortgage redemption figure amount, as I wanted to use this funds to cover the new ISA savings for 2011/2012. All seemed fine, and I was expecting the full amount to be released - £xk for the redemption with Nationwide, and the ~£9k to me as a cash advance.
This is where things started to be realised as an issue. The redemption with Nationwide was effective, but the £9k was not released to me. Apparently, HSBC only honour a redemption amount to the existing mortgage provider and does not link the remortgage application as an additional advance funds release (equity release). So the £9k was not going to be provided.
I questioned this as I stated that surely it was strange that I was asking such a high 'difference' between the mortgage balance and my requested mortgage advance. It materialised that what I had needed was to apply for a second loan (which HSBC call a "home owner loan" and there was no other way to receive this. I explained that this was not crystalied to me and that I would have requested this at the time of my application - which the Mortgage Manager dealing with my application commented that it would "match" my existing mortgage set-up (rate, duration, conditions etc). Anyway, I duly agreed to this home owner loan request, but it then materialised that the rate was 0.1% higher than my initial advance.
I had had enough, so filed this as a complaint to HSBC Complaints department. The Area Manager reviewed my case and admitted that there were a number of "learnings" noted, and things that they could have done better. The agreed to expedite my Home Owner loan application, and as I was about to go on holiday in April, he agreed to process the application so I had to he offer on my door-mat ready for signing upon my return. Finally, I said to myself.
Upon my return, I sifted through my amil, and no letter from HSBC. I visited the branch, and received a phone call from the Area Manager. He advised that due to compliance requirements, he had to receive 3 more recent payslips. I explained that this was not what he explained to me before my holiday, which he accepted - we discussed compensation and he agreed to offer me £100. I emailed him the payslips and he duly processed the Loan Application promptly thereafter. He actually advised me that they had suspended the Mortgage Manager dealing with my original mortgage application, whilst my complaint was investigated.
I received a letter from the area manager, which confirmed what he had told me verbally - but one thing he omitted was the reference to the £100 compensation. I simply had had enough (again!).
So in late-June, I decided to send a more formal letter of complaint to the Head Office outlining the catalogue of failings and requested £250 in compensation - non negotiatoable. Today, I received a far more apologetic response, accepting the shortcomings, during my previous communications and more recently - and provided me the cheque for £250 without question. They accepted that there were significant learnings with the communication and accepted that what been offered verbally had not been confirmed in writing - which was a further mistake (re the £100 compensation offer).
At least companies do put their hands up when they do wrong once in a while!
When we went to see our good uni-mate in Tampa, Florida, we took the option of a Hire Car via Avis. All was good, and just prior to completing the rental request, I signed up to their "Avis Preferred" loyalty scheme, which allows you to 'set' some standard preferences. I didn't realise that by setting this booking settings, these become "activated" during a rental booking as extras.
Anyway, during the reservation, this wasn't clear, and actually was not picked up on the original booking. As I was a BA Executive Club member (their FFP) they supported a "free additional driver" application, which I duly accepted when I picked-up the keys in Tampa. However, this and the other "optional" (turn-default) extras became listed on my booking as firmed-up extras.
The rep giving me the keys didn't make this clear at all, so the only time I noticed it was when we deposited our keys and I was given a receipt confirming "pre-paid" charges and then the shock news that added charges were incurred.
Upon my return, I contacted Avis to question this, as they would have to contact Avis Tampa, they would respond within 15 days. I received a voicemail a couple of weeks latter which simply stated "all charges were correct, no refund was due". No contact number was left, nothing! WTF?
I therefore wrong a letter addressed to the Complaints department, demanding that a more effective review should be carried out and requested the £188 refund to be honoured in full. They finally responded, accepting that the 'preferences' should have been discussed by the rep at Tampa before allowing me to sign the declaration, as well as the erroneous "additional driver" charge. In conclusion, they would honour the full refund of £190.
Well I wanted to hear what the Financial Ombudsman Service had got to say, and after an amount of problems experiences last Winter when I suffered over 20days without heating and hot water, I wanted British Gas to pay.
I had requested compensation amounting to £3k which was equiv to a new boiler quote - which they had provided me once they declared my boiler non-repairable.
Unfortunately the Adjudicator (the step before an Ombudsman review the case) didn't really support my case 100% - whilst he accepted the points I was making, in that by declaring the boiler non-repairable, they was a £2700 cost that I would incur, he commented that he had to take the "actual events" that unfolded in the particular review. Noting that British Gas had repaired the boiler (although again accepting that this was after my intervention, asking for a second opinion), and that they had offered a suitable level of compensation £200 or 50% of a new boiler cost.
British Gas have now offered, via the Adjudicator, £200 AND the 50% offer as a way of settlement, whilst I still wanted more, I did not have the time nor patience to keep pursuing, so accepted this amount. At least I receive £200 PLUS the 50% offer, which I hope to receive during the time I am away. In fact the offer has to be resolved within 6mths, so I better get cracking with progressing that very soon!
Well my mum had commented that her broadband connection had been quite slow, so I decided to test this out. Surprisingly it was very slow.
On Sunday, 19th June I went on www.mybroadbandspeed.co.uk and tested the theory, and this was the results.
I then filed a support ticket for PlusNet, and surprisingly they actually reviewed the case quite promptly. They noticed a few ping-drops during their remove tests, but couldn't understand why the speeds were that low.
Since they started looking at it, I did a follow-up 'test' myself, and amazingly the speed had increased over 1800%! No joke!! Here's the results completed on Tuesday, 21st June
That's ridiculous - although PlusNet agreed that there was some sort of network issue, they couldn't pinpoint the cause. But as the speed had vastly improved, I agreed for them to close the ticket, and if the speeds dropped again, I could simply reference the ticket!
What a holiday it was - not only did I spend some quality time with a couple of great mates from university, but it was sooooo relaxing it was unbelievable!!
It was a great choice (thanks Raffi!) for renting a car, cos you definitely need one to venture anywhere!
Anyway, we saw a lot of places, went to some amazing beaches met up with some great people, and tanned very nicely!
Food was fantastic - though I must admit the Big Red Cinnammon Chewing Gum gave me a bit of a shock - ergh it caused me to have a "burning" sensation in my mough - which made it difficult to eat anything. Weird...!! It felt like you just put a burning hot slice of pizza or boiling water in your mouth!
Anyway our fun adventures went like this...we started with a nice meal in Hooters....some relaxing strolls along the beaches around the West coast of Florida. We had plenty of pool-side fun in the 30C Florida sunshine, TGI Friday meal (where we tried the TGI-speciality Guinness Milkshake), some healthy options at Sweet Tomotoes, tried an IHOP brekkie - interesting indeed (that's like 4 pancakes with a fry-up!). We went on to a German meal one evening - very nice indeedy, very popular place. We tried to see the penultimate shuttle launch (the last for Endeavour), but it got canned at the last minute (grrr!), I saw my first Baseball game with the USF Bulls against St John's (Bulls won - yay!), relaxing in Clearwater, followed by Japenese Teppanyaki, with some licking fun with Karalyn's 2 dogs...a stroll in St Petersburg, a great burger at Mel's Hot Dogs, a few drinks at some nice drinking establishments, an afternoon adventure down historic Ybor, our first kick-ball experience (USF won at this too!), and a row down Hillsborough River alongside some 'gators. Wow! Whilst rowing along the Hillsborough River, I learnt that put your oar down means stick it in the water (as a brake) - ha! I chose the "lets just crash into a tree" approach to slow us down) ... Anyway, our hunt for my wildlife continued...well they hunted us down :) We then concluded our trip with a relaxing dinner at Clearwater beach - watching a magical sunset with great friends and great company - a nice way to conclude our Florida holiday!! PS if you wanna tip for a great Florida beach - try Siesta Keys - absolutely stunning!!!!
Great fun, great friends, great entertainment and definitely a relaxing trip indeedy! Right, time for the next holiday!
At the end of last year, a Global Rotation Programme opened up again within Amex, to give employees the opportunity to learn and develop in a different area of the Business.
I didn't manage to research in time for the "Wave-1" applicants, but managed to consider the Wave-2 positions this time around. The positions opened up on 23rd March, and the applications were due in on 5th April.
As I was looking for a change and a different challenge, I thought this was a great opportunity to achieve both. There were 2 positions that I was keen on, one was based on Sydney in the Digital Transformational area, which is part of the Enterprise Growth division - a relatively new division set-up last year...it sounds like one that I could associate myself in very easily - think social networking, new marketing, and innovation platform applications combined. The other was still in GNS but part of the Advisory Services arm based in Singapore.
I applied for both - but I didn't seem to get through the initial sifting process for the Sydney one - although this was very different to what I am doing - it was going into the area of Sales & Marketing and Member Get Member marketing, I thought it was going be very interesting - c'est la vie. But the other position, the GNS one, I managed to get through the initial sift and got an interview. Chuffed to bits!
The interview went fine, and it was then a matter of time to hear back. Part of me was very hopeful, and the other part was a bit uncertain, as it was looking at two areas that I would have to do some research prior to the placement. I then heard back on late Wednesday evening that I was successful in the interview, and received the job offer! I would be mad not to accept it, so I duly acknowledged and confirmed my acceptance on Thursday morning. Talk about an amazing experience, and I am soooo happy to hear about this great opportunity.
I can now leave for holiday and relax, whilst being assured that I only have 4-6 weeks before the placement commences - wow! How exciting, hey? :)
Lets firstly put democracy aside as the reason behind the march - which of course is going to be remembered by the Riots in London by the Anarchists rather than actual TUC march itself.
I found that the Labour and TUC are in a dream-world when they think that there is an alternative - yes the alternative is significany austerity cuts that Greece, Ireland, Portgual, Spain and Italy are all facing - do we want to be embarrased and be "FORCED" to make these cuts by the IMF/EU - of course not, so lets do it before we are forced too!
I just luved (not!) Ed Miliband's speech - it was nothing short as being CRAP! Why the comparisions with the Civil Rights movement, Apartheid and the Suffragettes - that's absurd - the March was no way similar! In fact, the irony that he was making a speech for cuts that we driven by his own parties shortcomings for a decade! The Labour party paid over the noise for lots of things, created the power to the Unions (as always!), and made the Public Sector so bloated and over-burdened that it was only a matter of time that people realise it couldn't continue. Then he says who ever swings the axe is the bad-guy - hmmm!! Funny!
What did they achieve by the March - well nothing. I don't see a clear alternative answer from those who were protesting (the Unions and Labour party didn't seem to want to mutter the specifics of this alternative!). Hey-ho - dream-on guys, get real, and welcome the world of the realism - that the rest of the Private Sector have faced (e.g. CUTS!) over the past 4-5 years!
PS: talk about CUTS - the fact that the Police and Cleaner's had to cover the marches (during and post) - meant that we (the public) has just paid for what appeared to be a massive street party! Grrr!!!
Well I read this a couple of months back, and it gave me a chuckle...the irony is that it is so true, more so when you reflect on the current unrest of taxes and the wealth-tax focus of late!
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to £100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay £1.
The sixth would pay £3.
The seventh would pay £7.
The eighth would pay £12.
The ninth would pay £18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay £59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by £20." Drinks for the ten now cost just £80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the £20 windfall so that everyone would get his "fair share?" They realized that £20 divided by six is £3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid £2 instead of £3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay £5 instead of £7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid £9 instead of £12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid £14 instead of £18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid £49 instead of £59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
"I only got a pound out of the £20," declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, "but he got £10!""Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a pound, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!""That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get £10 back when I got only two pounds? The wealthy get all the breaks!""Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
Well a bit of a belated 30th Birthday pressie for myself (well a treat for myself), but I was intending to purchased a personalised number plate for ages...
Unfortunately, "Aaron 1" wasn't available - and there was no way of creating a play with the legal plate characters (AANN AAA - Alpha and Numeric respectively) to create my name, so I decided to go with the X26 ADB strategy. My month and date of birth - followed by my initials.
Quite nice I though :) Wasn't cheap-cheap, but wasn't ridiculously expensive...but it does look quite nice now on the car - ha!
Well having experienced a hellish snowed-in period without heating and hot water water in late December, I was close to having to buy a new boiler.
Only after my persistance did I manage to get a second opinion on the state of the boiler - which resulted in British Gas being able to repair it. It turned out to be a faulty pump - which they had already replaced - how funny, hey? They made it worse by replacing a shoddy part! Nice!!
Anyway, now I'm on their case, because they threw in the towel, and almost made me sign off on a £3,200 boiler - which I didn't actually need...if only they replaced the faulty pump, it would have been resolved a lot sooner - without the 8 visits and 20 days outage issue!
So the formal complaint letter fell on deaf ears - they weren't interested in coughing up with my expected settlement request, and have offered £30 then £200 and a final offer of £265. I'm not interested, I want them to accept their significant shortcomings, rather than keep "apologising"!
Anyway, the matter is now with the FSA, because British Gas are no longer willing to offer a more appealing settlement offer to me!
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