[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

I went to vote today. Handed over my Voting Card ad Driving Licence. He called out a number to the lady handing out the Ballot Papers, three today because of Mayoral and London Assembly votes. I found numbers on the back of all three papers, and I asked if they were used to identify me. This was affirmed. So the anonymous 'free' vote is yet another sham scam.

This is not new, it's been that way pretty well forever.
So far as I recall form my school-days (sixty years ago) it can only be used with a court order, which is pretty well unheard of.

[Rolebama]

I used to go to my local Community Centre where I was given the top copy off the pile with no identifiers at all. At that time I handed over my Voting Card and it was kept so it couldn't be re-used. After I had put my cross in the relevant box, I would fold it in half and put it in the box. It was completely anonymous. This as the same system whatever political election. As to comment about a Court Order, they were just ordinary people who had the list of names and addresses along with the numbers, although I am sure they had some kind of job title, and I do not believe for one minute that an interested party could not obtain them. I think this is an agree to disagree moment.
I apologize if this reads as insulting in any way, that is not my intent.
I also apologize generally for starting this thread as I now read my original post as political, it was not my intent, I just felt the need to vent.

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

I used to go to my local Community Centre where I was given the top copy off the pile with no identifiers at all. At that time I handed over my Voting Card and it was kept so it couldn't be re-used. After I had put my cross in the relevant box, I would fold it in half and put it in the box. It was completely anonymous. This as the same system whatever political election. As to comment about a Court Order, they were just ordinary people who had the list of names and addresses along with the numbers, although I am sure they had some kind of job title, and I do not believe for one minute that an interested party could not obtain them. I think this is an agree to disagree moment.
I apologize if this reads as insulting in any way, that is not my intent.
I also apologize generally for starting this thread as I now read my original post as political, it was not my intent, I just felt the need to vent.

The linked document (from Parliament itself)) explains that the current procedure has been in place since the Ballot Act 1872. I can't confirm that - my experience only goes back to 1970!
https://publications.parliament.uk/p...68/768ap12.htm

[NMNeil]

Serious hump time.
I want to buy a Chevy Bolt EV, and as usual I start my search on the internet.
I put in the search criteria that I'm only interested in cars within a 200 mile area (Don't forget the US is huge, so 200 miles is nothing). The first results I keep getting are from these "We deliver to your door" cars dealers like Carvana, but the car can be literally thousands of miles away. When I've finally find a few cars that I can actually go and see the ads all say "Call for price". Why not just tell me how much you want for the bloody car. The local main dealers web sites all have the live chat option, so I though I'd give that a try, and they go something like this.
Chat person "Hello my name is xxxx, how can I help you today?"
Me. "Hi, can you tell me if you have any Chevy Bolts in stock?"
Chat person "If I can get your phone number and e-mail I'll pass you over to one of our professional sales representatives"
Me "A simple answer of how many you have in stock is all I need"
Chat person "I don't have that information but if I can get your phone number and e-mail address I'm sure the sales staff will be able to help"
Me. "Tell you what, I'll call back in an hour, which should give you enough time to talk to sales and find out for me"
Chat person, who is now off her standard script "I'm not sure I can do that"
Me "What, ask your sales team a question?"
Chat person disconnects.

Rant not over.

I design and build simple electronics projects and as such I often need the datasheets of components, so when I go to the manufacturers site I can download the datasheet at no charge, but quite often I'm met with "Log in or create an account to get your datasheet"

But this "Log in or create an account" is an epidemic from so many sites, so just for fun I set up a throw away e-mail account and set up accounts with a few company's, not all electronic components manufacturers.
A week later my throw away e-mail account had over 750 sales and scam messages.

Everyone wants you on their database and I won't play their games.

Rant officially over and I'm pouring myself a beer, or 3 😁

[Drivingforfun]

@NMNeil

I don't understand salespeople sometimes, it's as if they are trying to waste their own time as well as mine...unless some customers do in fact fall for their tactics?

I was looking for a certain nearly-new car several years ago and went to the showroom to sit in a new one just to check it out. The salesman came over and we had a chat and told him the colour and spec I wanted. I said my budget was up to £20,000 but I would begrudgingly go to £25,000 for a PERFECT car, but that was an already-exceeded-absolute-maximum ... he came back and said he had found a few but all were £27-30,000 🤔

Another one is estate agents ... when looking for an old cottage, the type with wooden beams inside that you bash your head on, in a rural location ... they came back excited that they had found exactly what I was looking for, with several new or nearly new builds in towns and cities........it's like they DID understand the requirements, but then went for the complete opposite 😣

[NMNeil]

It was exactly the opposite when we were looking for a home to retire to.
Every Realtor (estate agent) would listen intently as we described what we were looking for, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with some land, but not too close to town and move in ready.
Without fail we would be shown the semi derelict piece of s**t that they have had on their books for years and just couldn't shift.

[Drivingforfun]

When buying a house, the buyer is often expected to pay a "nominal" fee of £50+VAT to run some checks to make sure they are genuine and that the funds originate from a legal source

I already know I'm an honest buyer, and I know where my money has come from ... if the seller doubts me surely it's up to them to pay for their own checks?

I realise the answer is that £60 is not a lot relative to buying a property and if you don't like it then don't buy the house, but it's annoying

[NMNeil]

I understand.
Here in the US the whole realtor / estate agent fees issue has been the result of a lawsuit.
https://realestate.usnews.com/real-e...rs-and-sellers

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

When buying a house, the buyer is often expected to pay a "nominal" fee of £50+VAT to run some checks to make sure they are genuine and that the funds originate from a legal source

I already know I'm an honest buyer, and I know where my money has come from ... if the seller doubts me surely it's up to them to pay for their own checks?

I realise the answer is that £60 is not a lot relative to buying a property and if you don't like it then don't buy the house, but it's annoying

Is this a new wheeze? I've bought about a dozen houses over the years and never been asked.

I'm actually in the process at the moment, and had to provide copious proof of funds both to the buyer's agent (to show I can afford it) to and my solicitors (money-laundering), but nobody asked for a fee.

[NMNeil]

So if you do buy the hose will the 'fee' be deducted from the estate agents commission.
All two sided contracts are negotiable😁

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by NMNeil

So if you do buy the hose will the 'fee' be deducted from the estate agents commission.
All two sided contracts are negotiable😁

The fee Drivingforfun mentions is paid by the buyer. The agent's commission is paid by the seller, so no, no deduction!

[NMNeil]

Thanks, your system is different from ours.

[Rolebama]

Beautiful sunny day here today, Not a cloud in sight. So I should be sprawled out on my recliner sipping a cold beer, right? No, the wife decided I should empty our water features to clear out the accumulated silt. I feel I have lost two stone in sweat and burnt calories!

[Drivingforfun]

I didn't know whether to put this here or in the humour thread

A family member, a young adult, who is awful with money, has just been bailed out for the third time since he left home 2 years ago under the promise not to ever take out any more debts

Within 15 minutes of having his loans cleared, he mentioned that he was doing overtime to pay for a holiday and mentioned the fact that there was the option to pay over 3 months in instalments

🙄

[Mark07]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

A family member, a young adult, who is awful with money, has just been bailed out for the third time since he left home 2 years ago under the promise not to ever take out any more debts

Within 15 minutes of having his loans cleared, he mentioned that he was doing overtime to pay for a holiday and mentioned the fact that there was the option to pay over 3 months in instalments

I know someone like this.

[Drivingforfun]

I think it's common Mark!

I'm not trying to assume people do it on purpose - no one gets into debt instead of paying outright because they want to, it's obviously because they don't have the funds available immediately

The thing I don't understand is the amount of products people seem to need so much that it's worth getting into debt for - smartphones, holidays, TVs or whatever

There are loads of luxuries I want but don't have the funds for but, unless I can live in them or depend on them to earn a living, I don't want them enough to owe money on them!

[NMNeil]

Driving back from the store I started to hear a low rumble from the front of my truck.
Jacked up the front and gave the drivers side wheel a bit of a twist which revealed the cause, a wheel bearing was on it's way out (sealed unit). So I thought, well it's got over 200,000 miles on the odometer so maybe it's time to have a check of the rest of the front end.
I've just ordered this lot because they are all worn out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/15333464118...ss!85012!US!-1
As well as new brake pads and rotors, front and rear shocks along with upper and lower control arms (you can't buy the rubber bushings separately) because they are all on their last legs as well.
It never rains, but it pours, as the old saying goes.😭

[Rolebama]

I just forked out for a new timing chain and, as is always the way, other bits and bobs that were found that were worth doing at the same time. Apparently, because mine has the timing chain at the front of the engine, it's a cheap job.

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

I didn't know whether to put this here or in the humour thread

A family member, a young adult, who is awful with money, has just been bailed out for the third time since he left home 2 years ago under the promise not to ever take out any more debts

Within 15 minutes of having his loans cleared, he mentioned that he was doing overtime to pay for a holiday and mentioned the fact that there was the option to pay over 3 months in instalments

🙄

Over here Biden was trying to buy votes by 'forgiving' student loans, but the courts keep shooting the idea down.
So in a recent TV interview they had a student with $20,000 of loan debt and he was moaning and whining about what a burden the debt was and if it was forgiven he could buy a new car!!!
He can't afford to pay off a $20K debt but he can afford to take on the payments for a $40K car 😕

[Drivingforfun]

@NMNeil

I guess winning votes is not about what's right, but about what benefits the majority

I might be treading on dangerous territory by making this comparison, but I can't help but be aware of the most noteworthy time in history where a politician became very popular by convincing the majority, who were in debt, that the people they were indebted to were the bad ones...........

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

@NMNeil

I guess winning votes is not about what's right, but about what benefits the majority

I might be treading on dangerous territory by making this comparison, but I can't help but be aware of the most noteworthy time in history where a politician became very popular by convincing the majority, who were in debt, that the people they were indebted to were the bad ones...........

" The world today is ruled by harassed politicians absorbed in getting into office or turning out the other man so that not much room is left for debating the great issues on their merits "

Sir Winston Churchill

[Drivingforfun]

I occasionally buy the nice glass bottled real ales in the supermarkets, 4 for £7 (used to be 4 for £6) and you can pick 4 different ones, I chose one today and put it in my trolley without realising that the metal basket grille thing that forms the side of the trolley had several slats missing, so the beer came straight out and smashed on the ground

My brother perhaps had a worse day, he is a tree surgeon and cut the wrong tree down. He was supposed to cut down a council tree for the local council but ended up going onto someone's private land and cutting down a century old tree instead. Luckily he was "just following orders" so the buck stops with whoever told him to do it, but some trees are worth tens of thousands, and I imagine knowing the value (and potential compensation) the owner will suddenly say how much the tree meant to him and how he is devastated etc

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by NMNeil

Driving back from the store I started to hear a low rumble from the front of my truck.
Jacked up the front and gave the drivers side wheel a bit of a twist which revealed the cause, a wheel bearing was on it's way out (sealed unit). So I thought, well it's got over 200,000 miles on the odometer so maybe it's time to have a check of the rest of the front end.
I've just ordered this lot because they are all worn out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/15333464118...ss!85012!US!-1
As well as new brake pads and rotors, front and rear shocks along with upper and lower control arms (you can't buy the rubber bushings separately) because they are all on their last legs as well.
It never rains, but it pours, as the old saying goes.😭

It's now a torrential downpour because after getting all the front suspension apart I find that they sent me the wrong parts. 😤

[Rolebama]

I once decided to do a complete refurb of an engine of mine. Sent the crankshaft off for regrind, the block for a rebore, and the head for new camshaft bearings. All parts ready on the Thursday and I planned to rebuild over Easter weekend. So, on the Saturday I fitted balanced pistons to balanced con rods, then discovered the wrong bearing shells for reground crank. Complete weekend wasted. To be fair, after they had received a call on the Tuesday, they motorcycle couriered the correct shells straight away, so I had it rebuilt for the following weekend.

[Drivingforfun]

I didn't know which post to add this to, but was behind a boy of about 14 buying sweets at a shop. He needed just over £2 and went into his pocket, presumably to get a few coins, and out came a bundle of about thirty £20 notes

I didn't want to assume anything but do have some experience of a relative getting "adopted" as a kind of gofer for drugs gangs, the gangs offer them stuff like smartphones or nice trainers often at a time when their parents don't or can't offer the same and in return they are made to run packages around for the gangs

Just seemed suspicious but maybe that's inflation and a normal amount of pocket money these days... 🤔

[NMNeil]

@Drivingforfun When I first moved to the US the wife explained the EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card to me. It's so the recipients welfare money could be deposited directly and they use the card like a regular debit card.
The woman in front of me at the supermarket checkout tried to buy a bottle of wine with the card, which they can't as there are exclusions, so she apologized and pulled out her Platinum American Express card and paid with that. I then watched her walk across the parking lot where she got into her new Lexus.

[Rolebama]

FWIW: When benefits were first paid into bank accounts, most banks only gave ATM cards. I heard of a scam whereby these characters would 'buy' the ATM cards for cash. A one-off payment would be offered, and there were those vulnerable enough to fall into this trap. The odious reptiles who pulled this would get a few weeks or months use of these cards before someone (usually a friend or relative) realized what was going on.

[NMNeil]

What's giving me the hump, and it's been going of for a few weeks now is whenever I turn on the TV it's nothing but Donald Trump and/or Kamala 'giggles' Harris.
Whoever wins there will be the "Not my President" riots, just like 2020.
Worlds gone mad.

[Rolebama]

Went to Beds and Cambs yesterday to visit my daughters. No problems getting there, but doing the usual rounds of garden centres etc, we had a few detours because of flooded roads. The same roads that flood every time we have a spate of heavy rain. Is it really that difficult to sort out drainage?

[olduser]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

Went to Beds and Cambs yesterday to visit my daughters. No problems getting there, but doing the usual rounds of garden centres etc, we had a few detours because of flooded roads. The same roads that flood every time we have a spate of heavy rain. Is it really that difficult to sort out drainage?

It's all about funding, maintenance has been ignored for years add to that we are having more intense periods of rain, due to global warming, and no one wants to think about what changes are needed.