Random Irritations

Colonel Bogey

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It's not raining; the sun is out; I have a day annual leave; and I am not playing golf.

But putting that aside...my son has popped in for the day and the day off is to help him sort out the mess of his finances - unpaid council tax; water bills, and what a Debt Collection firm is after him for - and that we as yet don't know ..:(

Such is life when you are scraping a living while working in the glorious UK gig/zero hours economy, with no guaranteed income month-to-month, week-to-week - and no guarantee of having any money in his pocket day-to-day for food and for putting into the electricity meter.

That's very saddening.
 

SwingsitlikeHogan

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That's very saddening.
It is - and as I added - many months his choice has been Rent or Council Tax - and Rent always has had to win out. But Council Tax non-payment could see him in jail - so contacting the Council today is #1; then the Debt Collection Firm. He works his backside off - but for little and only when he is given the work.

And I listen to the politicians and their boasts about the economy and the numbers in work - and how great it will be once we leave the EU - and I think - they haven't a mucking clue what it's like down there. And I don't absolve any politician from that accusation - many may be close to it - few if any have had to live it.

And Johnson has the gall and affront to tell us that maybe the austerity measures (that his party was responsible for and that he supported) were a bit harsh.

(apologies - that irritation turned into a bit of an anger)

btw (Mods also) - 'mucking' is an Aussie thing - and a word used extensively by authors such as Nevil Shute in novels when he needed a character to express an emotion without using a wee sweary :)
 
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Wolf

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It's not raining; the sun is out; I have a day annual leave; and I am not playing golf.

But putting that aside...my son has popped in for the day and the day off is to help him sort out the mess of his finances - unpaid council tax; water bills, and what a Debt Collection firm is after him for - and that we as yet don't know ..:(

Such is life when you are scraping a living while working in the glorious UK gig/zero hours economy, with no guaranteed income month-to-month, week-to-week - and no guarantee of having any money in his pocket day-to-day for food and for putting into the electricity meter. And so start of many months - his choice - Rent or Council Tax. Well it has to be Rent. And Council Tax goes unpaid. Problem with that is that too much unpaid Council Tax can find you having B&B at Her Majesty's pleasure..
Whilst I sympathise with your sons predicament on unpaid bills and debts causing stress, surely it would be more wise to realise by staying in a role whereby he has no guarantee of income and moaning about the zero hours economy causing the never ending cycle of needing assistance with his debts from you that it's more wise to go out and take a role even if Nat minumum wage to help pay those debts and bills and have some form of security even if it's not a lot it's better than the continuing cycle of having nothing and not knowing where the next penny comes from. He could continue to do gig work on the side until things are more settled.

As I say sympathise and am not digging him or you out as it's good parenting that your doing in helping him, I just feel in these circumstance there is a choice to at least try and get some other work to help him break his own cycle, we can all complain its the economy fault but there are choices we can make to improve our own circumstances and this time of year there are so many employers seeking temp workers that would go a long way to aiding him with his plight.
 

williamalex1

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Whilst I sympathise with your sons predicament on unpaid bills and debts causing stress, surely it would be more wise to realise by staying in a role whereby he has no guarantee of income and moaning about the zero hours economy causing the never ending cycle of needing assistance with his debts from you that it's more wise to go out and take a role even if Nat minumum wage to help pay those debts and bills and have some form of security even if it's not a lot it's better than the continuing cycle of having nothing and not knowing where the next penny comes from. He could continue to do gig work on the side until things are more settled.

As I say sympathise and am not digging him or you out as it's good parenting that your doing in helping him, I just feel in these circumstance there is a choice to at least try and get some other work to help him break his own cycle, we can all complain its the economy fault but there are choices we can make to improve our own circumstances and this time of year there are so many employers seeking temp workers that would go a long way to aiding him with his plight.
Fortunately his sister is now a qualified Financial Adviser :p
 

USER1999

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I have been looking (or trying to look) at a Rolex Skydweller. The one I like lists at 11,100, and Mapin and Webb have one available for delivery tomorrow.
I can buy a second hand one, identical, for 18,000. This is bonkers. I would understand it if there were none in stock anywhere, but there are.

That apart, I would like to see one, but no one near me has one in stock.

Oh, and I don't presently have 11,100 either, so it is all a bit pointless.
 

mikevet

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It's not raining; the sun is out; I have a day annual leave; and I am not playing golf.

But putting that aside...my son has popped in for the day and the day off is to help him sort out the mess of his finances - unpaid council tax; water bills, and what a Debt Collection firm is after him for - and that we as yet don't know ..:(

Such is life when you are scraping a living while working in the glorious UK gig/zero hours economy, with no guaranteed income month-to-month, week-to-week - and no guarantee of having any money in his pocket day-to-day for food and for putting into the electricity meter. And so start of many months - his choice - Rent or Council Tax. Well it has to be Rent. And Council Tax goes unpaid. Problem with that is that too much unpaid Council Tax can find you having B&B at Her Majesty's pleasure..

I would suggest that he pops into the local Citizens Advice. There he will receive initial information, help and advice, especially on dealing with any priority debts in the first instance, and can be referred to a debt specialist. CA can contact his creditors with his authorisation and arrange a hold on any legal action, request freezing of interest, etc while he is sorting things out; the fact that CA are involved is normally helpful in such cases.
They will also advise on maximising income by running a benefits check to see what entitlements he may have - he can run one himself from home, using the websites entitledto.co.uk or turn2us.org.uk
 

TheDiablo

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I have been looking (or trying to look) at a Rolex Skydweller. The one I like lists at 11,100, and Mapin and Webb have one available for delivery tomorrow.
I can buy a second hand one, identical, for 18,000. This is bonkers. I would understand it if there were none in stock anywhere, but there are.

That apart, I would like to see one, but no one near me has one in stock.

Oh, and I don't presently have 11,100 either, so it is all a bit pointless.

My 2007 Sub Date costs more second hand than a new 2019 one does. Pretty standard across the board for Rolex.
 

SwingsitlikeHogan

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Whilst I sympathise with your sons predicament on unpaid bills and debts causing stress, surely it would be more wise to realise by staying in a role whereby he has no guarantee of income and moaning about the zero hours economy causing the never ending cycle of needing assistance with his debts from you that it's more wise to go out and take a role even if Nat minumum wage to help pay those debts and bills and have some form of security even if it's not a lot it's better than the continuing cycle of having nothing and not knowing where the next penny comes from. He could continue to do gig work on the side until things are more settled.

As I say sympathise and am not digging him or you out as it's good parenting that your doing in helping him, I just feel in these circumstance there is a choice to at least try and get some other work to help him break his own cycle, we can all complain its the economy fault but there are choices we can make to improve our own circumstances and this time of year there are so many employers seeking temp workers that would go a long way to aiding him with his plight.

I appreciate the words of sympathy but - sorry - I am wondering what world of employment that you are living in - it's a harsh employment landscape out there if you don't have a stable and, at least, reasonably well paid job - as most in work on here will have. There are an awful lot of folks out there whose only option is zero hours work or working in the gig economy - possibly millions I suspects. And many of them will be in a similar predicament to my son. And yet the government talks up and lauds employment statistics that includes jobs in the zero hours gig economy - and talks of these jobs in glowing terms. Might as well tell him to get on his bike and look for work. And btw - he asks for and gets absolutely NO help from the state. He is trying to make things work - and indeed they might well pan out eventually - but it is a seriously hard slog.
 
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SwingsitlikeHogan

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I would suggest that he pops into the local Citizens Advice. There he will receive initial information, help and advice, especially on dealing with any priority debts in the first instance, and can be referred to a debt specialist. CA can contact his creditors with his authorisation and arrange a hold on any legal action, request freezing of interest, etc while he is sorting things out; the fact that CA are involved is normally helpful in such cases.
They will also advise on maximising income by running a benefits check to see what entitlements he may have - he can run one himself from home, using the websites entitledto.co.uk or turn2us.org.uk

He has spoken with CA in the past - but has recently been speaking with both Step Change and Business Debt Line - the latter being most appropriate as he is self-employed. He is very reluctant to sign-on for any benefits. It is a complete nightmare when he has variable income. Some weeks £zero - others weeks £500.
 

Wolf

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I appreciate the words of sympathy but - sorry - I am wondering what world of employment that you are living in - it's a harsh employment landscape out there if you don't have a stable and, at least, reasonably well paid job - as most in work on here will have. There are an awful lot of folks out there whose only option is zero hours work or working in the gig economy - possibly millions I suspects. And many of them will be in a similar predicament to my son. And yet the government talks up and lauds employment statistics that includes jobs in the zero hours gig economy - and talks of these jobs in glowing terms. Might as well tell him to get on his bike and look for work. And btw - he asks for and gets absolutely NO help from the state. He is trying to make things work - and indeed they might well pan out eventually - but it is a seriously hard slog.
That bit in bold is categorically wrong!

As I said I wasn't digging him but saying there are other choices and despite your statement trying to say there is no options I say again you are wrong!

Yes there are zero hour contracts etc however he does have a choice to work in other industries rather than continuing in the gig industry with zero income to help him prevent his debts getting worse or at least help with them start paying some off,. Your son correct me if I'm wrong lives in the Sheffield area, a quick search on indeed alone brings up 100s of temporary working opportunities in other areas such as warehouse work, customer services, retail especially at this time of year. You can dress it up blame the government all you like but it is not the government that stop him from making a choice of trying something different even if its a job he doesn't like.

I myself was made redundant start of year with no payout which I posted about in this thread and had to get temp work in warehouse on a lot less money to tide me over until I sorted myself back into what I'm doing because I had bills to pay. I didn't want to and it wasn't a good job but it was money.

As I said in my first reply I wasn't digging him out but understand why you've taken it personally, but to suggest he has no option but to work in the gig industry is not true whichever way you wish to dress it up. He does have a choice to look for work in other areas and to say he doesn't is I'm afraid simply a lie. Yes there will competition for other jobs that's no different in any industry but he can try to do something different to earn an income.

I'm not going to go any further than this reply as I've said before wasn't digging him out merely suggesting that move away from his current industry for time being to help him even if it's not the job he wants to do as trying to get an income elsewhere is surely better than continuing to struggle and not moving forward.

I wish him the best with his struggles and hope he can find someway to help get him out of this situation
 

TheDiablo

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It is, but normally only if there is a waiting list. Currently up to about 5 years for a hulk sub.

Yeah that's true. My old man has a Hulk sub. Rumoured to be discontinued from next year so will go up even more. Always see them pop up on places like Kettle Club for sale but massively inflated prices.
 

MegaSteve

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The fools that keep going on and on and on about single use bags :mad:...
Yea! we've got the message (y)...
How about turning you attention to all the other unnecessary single use plastics we really don't need :cautious:...

Why on earth does every bit of meat need to be encapsulated in plastic?
Much of which can't or is unlikely to be recycled...
 

Blue in Munich

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I have been looking (or trying to look) at a Rolex Skydweller. The one I like lists at 11,100, and Mapin and Webb have one available for delivery tomorrow.
I can buy a second hand one, identical, for 18,000. This is bonkers. I would understand it if there were none in stock anywhere, but there are.

That apart, I would like to see one, but no one near me has one in stock.

Oh, and I don't presently have 11,100 either, so it is all a bit pointless.

As an Arsenal supporter Murph, wouldn't a Cavedweller be more appropriate? :)
 

SwingsitlikeHogan

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That bit in bold is categorically wrong!

As I said I wasn't digging him but saying there are other choices and despite your statement trying to say there is no options I say again you are wrong!

Yes there are zero hour contracts etc however he does have a choice to work in other industries rather than continuing in the gig industry with zero income to help him prevent his debts getting worse or at least help with them start paying some off,. Your son correct me if I'm wrong lives in the Sheffield area, a quick search on indeed alone brings up 100s of temporary working opportunities in other areas such as warehouse work, customer services, retail especially at this time of year. You can dress it up blame the government all you like but it is not the government that stop him from making a choice of trying something different even if its a job he doesn't like.

I myself was made redundant start of year with no payout which I posted about in this thread and had to get temp work in warehouse on a lot less money to tide me over until I sorted myself back into what I'm doing because I had bills to pay. I didn't want to and it wasn't a good job but it was money.

As I said in my first reply I wasn't digging him out but understand why you've taken it personally, but to suggest he has no option but to work in the gig industry is not true whichever way you wish to dress it up. He does have a choice to look for work in other areas and to say he doesn't is I'm afraid simply a lie. Yes there will competition for other jobs that's no different in any industry but he can try to do something different to earn an income.

I'm not going to go any further than this reply as I've said before wasn't digging him out merely suggesting that move away from his current industry for time being to help him even if it's not the job he wants to do as trying to get an income elsewhere is surely better than continuing to struggle and not moving forward.

I wish him the best with his struggles and hope he can find someway to help get him out of this situation

I am not blaming the government for the zero hours jobs and gig economy - but I do accuse them of not having a clue what it is really like to be struggling along on a very low income - and feeling good that so many are so employed.

My son should be OK - and I suspect/hope/pray that a more stable base income will come along sometime soon. He has something that could convert into a £1000/month salary - but again it is likely to be 'seasonal'. I am simply noting that when you don't know how much money is coming in week-to-week, month-to-month - it is very hard to budget - and indeed to pay your rent, council tax and bills.

But your thoughts are appreciated (honest :) (y))
 

AmandaJR

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The fools that keep going on and on and on about single use bags :mad:...
Yea! we've got the message (y)...
How about turning you attention to all the other unnecessary single use plastics we really don't need :cautious:...

Why on earth does every bit of meat need to be encapsulated in plastic?
Much of which can't or is unlikely to be recycled...

Agreed. I just opened a pack of pastry slice thingies. Was going to put both bits of plastic in the recycling and then read "tray widely recycled, wrapper not recycled" - why?! Talk about confusing.

So much fruit and veg in plastic bags too.
 

IainP

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B&Q website & stock check.
It's my own fault, I know it's pants. It's let me down before & recently, but with hope I give it another chance.
Fail ☹
 
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