Comments for The Rant ... railing at modern life http://lickspittle.wordpress.com We are being overrun by the nanny state and we've had enough Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:32:31 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Why you should never fly Ryan Air by Mike http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/why-you-should-never-fly-ryan-air/#comment-418 Mike Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:32:31 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/?p=188#comment-418 I agree with you wholeheartedly. I flew recently from London to Pisa and paid the extra fee for a second bag on the website. Although it was my fault for not reading the details about it on the site (as I never would have thought it could be possible), they told me at the check-in counter that although I had paid for an extra bag, that did not include extra weight...???????? What is the point of paying for an extra bag if it is empty? Completely absurd. I was told that I would have to pay 300sterling to travel with the extra bag, or abandon it. When I asked to speak with a supervisor about it, he was completely unsympathetic, smug, and rude. I ended up sending my bag home via courier, which cost 100sterling, but in the end that company lost it. Thank you Ryanair, for nothing! I agree with you wholeheartedly. I flew recently from London to Pisa and paid the extra fee for a second bag on the website. Although it was my fault for not reading the details about it on the site (as I never would have thought it could be possible), they told me at the check-in counter that although I had paid for an extra bag, that did not include extra weight…???????? What is the point of paying for an extra bag if it is empty? Completely absurd. I was told that I would have to pay 300sterling to travel with the extra bag, or abandon it. When I asked to speak with a supervisor about it, he was completely unsympathetic, smug, and rude. I ended up sending my bag home via courier, which cost 100sterling, but in the end that company lost it. Thank you Ryanair, for nothing!

]]> Comment on David Wilshire – below the radar but still milking the electorate by David Wilshire … the noose tightens « The Rant … railing at modern life http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/david-wilshire-below-the-radar-but-still-milking-the-electorate/#comment-399 David Wilshire … the noose tightens « The Rant … railing at modern life Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:50:52 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-399 [...] Posts David Wilshire - below the radar but still milking the electorateIn the name of vanityThe great BT Rip-offExploding the Scientology mythOld slapper of the year - [...] [...] Posts David Wilshire – below the radar but still milking the electorateIn the name of vanityThe great BT Rip-offExploding the Scientology mythOld slapper of the year – [...]

]]> Comment on Michael Savage: a vile man laden with hate by garbo69 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2009/05/08/michael-savage-a-man-laden-with-hate/#comment-384 garbo69 Thu, 21 May 2009 11:18:02 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/?p=194#comment-384 Quite agree with you, Tony. I can only base my opinion of this man absed on the little I've read about him, which has come out of the ban imposed on him entering the UK, and the article you've posted here. Michael Savage (boy, does that surname seem to fit !) seems to become a parody of himself when he opens his mouth. He acuses Barack Obama as a "Muslim lover", presumably based on the fact that new President wishes to build bridges between the new US executive, and by extension the West, and Islam in all its many applications. It wasn't all that long ago that any white person supporting the civil rights movement would have been called a "nigger lover". I wonder if Mr. Savage would dare to use this disgusting term. He refers to Europeans as "vermin" - which must include me as I'm British - because we have "sponged" off the US for so long. Is he aware of a squat Austrian corporal with a silly moustache referring to his fellow Europeans as vermin during the 1930s, I wonder ? Does he know that Europe was engaged in two wars, with millions being slaughtered on the battlefields, in the air and sea, in their own homes, or in the death camps, all of which in both cases went on for several years before America was forced into the conflict ? Has he been informed that the UK - which lost more lives in each of both World Wars than the US - has paid back the financial debt, with interest, for the last seventy years ? And least be clear on why the US put money, troops and a vast array of military hardwar, as well as an arsenal of nuclear weapons, into Europe. We were their platform for any conflict against the Soviets. He did make a curious statement, again shooting himself in his own foot, when he was told he was wanted coming here. He used the same tired old stereotype about Britons having bad teeth, warm beer, and perpetual rain, and then pondered as to why he would want to come here anyway. Well, Mr. Savage, why the hell did you want to come here ? The BNP invite you, did they ? Quite agree with you, Tony. I can only base my opinion of this man absed on the little I’ve read about him, which has come out of the ban imposed on him entering the UK, and the article you’ve posted here.
Michael Savage (boy, does that surname seem to fit !) seems to become a parody of himself when he opens his mouth. He acuses Barack Obama as a “Muslim lover”, presumably based on the fact that new President wishes to build bridges between the new US executive, and by extension the West, and Islam in all its many applications. It wasn’t all that long ago that any white person supporting the civil rights movement would have been called a “nigger lover”. I wonder if Mr. Savage would dare to use this disgusting term.
He refers to Europeans as “vermin” – which must include me as I’m British – because we have “sponged” off the US for so long. Is he aware of a squat Austrian corporal with a silly moustache referring to his fellow Europeans as vermin during the 1930s, I wonder ? Does he know that Europe was engaged in two wars, with millions being slaughtered on the battlefields, in the air and sea, in their own homes, or in the death camps, all of which in both cases went on for several years before America was forced into the conflict ? Has he been informed that the UK – which lost more lives in each of both World Wars than the US – has paid back the financial debt, with interest, for the last seventy years ? And least be clear on why the US put money, troops and a vast array of military hardwar, as well as an arsenal of nuclear weapons, into Europe. We were their platform for any conflict against the Soviets.
He did make a curious statement, again shooting himself in his own foot, when he was told he was wanted coming here. He used the same tired old stereotype about Britons having bad teeth, warm beer, and perpetual rain, and then pondered as to why he would want to come here anyway. Well, Mr. Savage, why the hell did you want to come here ? The BNP invite you, did they ?

]]> Comment on Why you should never fly Ryan Air by garbo69 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/why-you-should-never-fly-ryan-air/#comment-383 garbo69 Thu, 21 May 2009 10:40:20 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/?p=188#comment-383 Also, have you noticed that as you go through the pages to book a flight, you have to specifically un-check the travel insurance button, otherwise you're going to pay an additional cost if you don't notice it. Even when you do that, it flashes a dialog box when you confirm the booking which uses primary colours red, which some people who are not Internet savvy may feel is indicating an error, and click the insurance to "be on the safe side". It also fails to tell you that, if the passenger is over 70, the travel insurance isn't worth the paper it's not written on, because a lot of the conditions generally associated with the older OAP age group will not be be included, issues like heart problems, blood pressure etc. Also, if you are taken gravely ill, the insurance underwriters will insist on bringing you back to the UK, even if the journey is potentially life-threatening in itself. A second problem is when you actually confirm the booking. The "final price" is bumped up nearly another £5 after you've hit the confirm button because an additional charge is made because you are completing this transaction with a credit/debit card ! Also, most recently - and I know this because I've just booked a return flight for my mother-in-law (God bless her !) to Ireland for a week. The confirmation screen informs us that there are no taxes. Now, surely this is rubbish as the tax from both airports used in the UK and Ireland do, in fact, impose landing tax. So I'm guessing that Ryanair are still playing fast-and-loose with their version of whatever it is they perceive as truth. I can't make my mother-in-law (give me strength !) understand that what she sees on the screen may be - how shall I put this - crap. The taxes must be coming out of the extra charges Ryanair have invented and imposed. Also, have you noticed that as you go through the pages to book a flight, you have to specifically un-check the travel insurance button, otherwise you’re going to pay an additional cost if you don’t notice it. Even when you do that, it flashes a dialog box when you confirm the booking which uses primary colours red, which some people who are not Internet savvy may feel is indicating an error, and click the insurance to “be on the safe side”. It also fails to tell you that, if the passenger is over 70, the travel insurance isn’t worth the paper it’s not written on, because a lot of the conditions generally associated with the older OAP age group will not be be included, issues like heart problems, blood pressure etc. Also, if you are taken gravely ill, the insurance underwriters will insist on bringing you back to the UK, even if the journey is potentially life-threatening in itself.

A second problem is when you actually confirm the booking. The “final price” is bumped up nearly another £5 after you’ve hit the confirm button because an additional charge is made because you are completing this transaction with a credit/debit card !

Also, most recently – and I know this because I’ve just booked a return flight for my mother-in-law (God bless her !) to Ireland for a week. The confirmation screen informs us that there are no taxes. Now, surely this is rubbish as the tax from both airports used in the UK and Ireland do, in fact, impose landing tax. So I’m guessing that Ryanair are still playing fast-and-loose with their version of whatever it is they perceive as truth. I can’t make my mother-in-law (give me strength !) understand that what she sees on the screen may be – how shall I put this – crap. The taxes must be coming out of the extra charges Ryanair have invented and imposed.

]]> Comment on Mohamed Fayed: total git by Gary http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/mohamed-fayed-total-git/#comment-381 Gary Wed, 20 May 2009 09:55:29 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/mohamed-fayed-total-git/#comment-381 Unfortunately he can't go back to Egypt as they will throw him straight to jail. He was tried in absence for fraud and found guilty, but because an extradition treaty did not exist between the UK and Egypt at the time of the crimne, he cannot be arrested and deported. I worked for Harrods in the IT department for 7 years, and know things that still haven't been reported in the press. The man is a complete bastard. He pays next to no tax, hides his money, passes it between seperate businesses (a lot from the store found its way into the Fulham FC's accounts, contravening UK companies law), has a fully justified reputation as a sexual predator to young women working for him, rules Harrods like his own private fiefdom, and has done nothing but lie about the non-existent Diana-Dodi affair, because part of the blame lies by default at his door. No one did anything working for him unless they were specifically told to; if that driver was driving fast it was because he had been told to. And as for Dodi - the man had been handed a couple of successful business, including a Ferrari sales franchise, which he drove (no pun intended !) into the ground. He was also heavily into cocaine. Fayed epitomises the concept of corruption. Unfortunately he can’t go back to Egypt as they will throw him straight to jail. He was tried in absence for fraud and found guilty, but because an extradition treaty did not exist between the UK and Egypt at the time of the crimne, he cannot be arrested and deported.
I worked for Harrods in the IT department for 7 years, and know things that still haven’t been reported in the press. The man is a complete bastard. He pays next to no tax, hides his money, passes it between seperate businesses (a lot from the store found its way into the Fulham FC’s accounts, contravening UK companies law), has a fully justified reputation as a sexual predator to young women working for him, rules Harrods like his own private fiefdom, and has done nothing but lie about the non-existent Diana-Dodi affair, because part of the blame lies by default at his door. No one did anything working for him unless they were specifically told to; if that driver was driving fast it was because he had been told to. And as for Dodi – the man had been handed a couple of successful business, including a Ferrari sales franchise, which he drove (no pun intended !) into the ground. He was also heavily into cocaine.
Fayed epitomises the concept of corruption.

]]> Comment on In the name of vanity by Morin http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/in-the-name-of-vanity/#comment-380 Morin Tue, 19 May 2009 22:32:15 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/in-the-name-of-vanity/#comment-380 THe problem it's you except if you like tigers, this woman is UGLY THe problem it’s you except if you like tigers, this woman is UGLY

]]> Comment on In the name of vanity by CROman http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/in-the-name-of-vanity/#comment-378 CROman Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:17:18 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/in-the-name-of-vanity/#comment-378 aaaaaaaaaaaah I am scared aaaaaaaaaaaah I am scared

]]> Comment on The great BT Rip-off by John O http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/the-great-bt-rip-off/#comment-374 John O Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:03:05 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/the-great-bt-rip-off/#comment-374 There is definitely something very unpleasant with the BT Zeitgeist - senior managers suckled on the milk of "there is no society" Thatcherism I expect. Re the deceased situation how utterly despicable, and re the debt collection saga you couldn't write a more fantastic story - like a lot of the utilities they now send out debtors letters at the drop of a hat. They are an utterly dreadful company who don't desrve the epithet "British" not least because they use Indian call centres, but because in my view they indulge in sharp practice. In my case, I was unemployed for a while and ran into difficulties paying bills - I actually managed to pay an outstanding bill when I got a new job but the payment which i made via their payment card reached them two days past the payment dealine (their processing problem) - they disconnected my phone and thus it remained for as couple of weeks whilst I sorted myself out financially. In the meantime I wrote to their complaints section detailing the problems I had had and pointing out that I had made payment - I have never jhad a response - and by the way do you know that you cannot complain to Oftel until they respond up to a period of three months. Anyway to cut a long story short they eventually reconnected me subject to a £50 up front payment which I assumed would be offset against my first bill - not a bit of it. I get my first bill and naturally ring to query why my up front £50 was not included (which would have left me £10 in credit) and was told by some wallah in Mumbai that they will hang on to the £50 for 6 months!!! They didn't mention that when asking me for payment - I will be pursuing this with them obviously. As if this isn't bad enough when I was behind with my bill payments they charged £7.50 interest which would have represented an eye watering return even by the avaricious standards of banks!! In addition I am charged the infamous non direct debit levy of £4.50 despite the fact that i pay in cash using their payment card, so all in all yes I think BT are complete*rs*h*l*s as well!!! There is definitely something very unpleasant with the BT Zeitgeist – senior managers suckled on the milk of “there is no society” Thatcherism I expect. Re the deceased situation how utterly despicable, and re the debt collection saga you couldn’t write a more fantastic story – like a lot of the utilities they now send out debtors letters at the drop of a hat. They are an utterly dreadful company who don’t desrve the epithet “British” not least because they use Indian call centres, but because in my view they indulge in sharp practice. In my case, I was unemployed for a while and ran into difficulties paying bills – I actually managed to pay an outstanding bill when I got a new job but the payment which i made via their payment card reached them two days past the payment dealine (their processing problem) – they disconnected my phone and thus it remained for as couple of weeks whilst I sorted myself out financially. In the meantime I wrote to their complaints section detailing the problems I had had and pointing out that I had made payment – I have never jhad a response – and by the way do you know that you cannot complain to Oftel until they respond up to a period of three months. Anyway to cut a long story short they eventually reconnected me subject to a £50 up front payment which I assumed would be offset against my first bill – not a bit of it. I get my first bill and naturally ring to query why my up front £50 was not included (which would have left me £10 in credit) and was told by some wallah in Mumbai that they will hang on to the £50 for 6 months!!! They didn’t mention that when asking me for payment – I will be pursuing this with them obviously. As if this isn’t bad enough when I was behind with my bill payments they charged £7.50 interest which would have represented an eye watering return even by the avaricious standards of banks!! In addition I am charged the infamous non direct debit levy of £4.50 despite the fact that i pay in cash using their payment card, so all in all yes I think BT are complete*rs*h*l*s as well!!!

]]> Comment on Barclays chairman hoist by his own cost cutting by megafarce http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/barclays-chairman-hoist-by-his-own-cost-cutting/#comment-371 megafarce Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:45:25 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/barclays-chairman-hoist-by-his-own-cost-cutting/#comment-371 Is it only me that gets a bad deal from Barclays Wealth?I doubt it.I was coersed into placing my pot of savings with the then called Barclays Investments and for the last ten years Ive let their management do as stated in their literature;manage my fund.100k and ten years down the line it now stands at 85k. What happened to the Wealth element?Are the stockbrokers so incompetent they cant do their job?May be its the fact they have heavy dealing charges and annual fees for managing that they dont bother with the customers expectations of a fair return.If the market goes down dont they move to cash to protect the customer, or is the stockbrokers fees more important?I cant ge tmy head round this.Any answers out there? Is it only me that gets a bad deal from Barclays Wealth?I doubt it.I was coersed into placing my pot of savings with the then called Barclays Investments and for the last ten years Ive let their management do as stated in their literature;manage my fund.100k and ten years down the line it now stands at 85k. What happened to the Wealth element?Are the stockbrokers so incompetent they cant do their job?May be its the fact they have heavy dealing charges and annual fees for managing that they dont bother with the customers expectations of a fair return.If the market goes down dont they move to cash to protect the customer, or is the stockbrokers fees more important?I cant ge tmy head round this.Any answers out there?

]]> Comment on BT’s call centre rethink by Dave (The Void) http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/bts-call-centre-rethink/#comment-366 Dave (The Void) Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:20:34 +0000 http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/?p=170#comment-366 <I>using underpaid and undertrained staff thousands of miles from where the callers are based, and all for saving a few pounds, is not the way ahead.</I> No, but underpaid and undertrained staff <I>dozens</I> of miles from where the callers are based are of course a completely different kettle of fish! You've had no indication that training and wages will have improved, you just assume that Ireland is better than India. Isn't that a bit racist? using underpaid and undertrained staff thousands of miles from where the callers are based, and all for saving a few pounds, is not the way ahead.
No, but underpaid and undertrained staff dozens of miles from where the callers are based are of course a completely different kettle of fish! You’ve had no indication that training and wages will have improved, you just assume that Ireland is better than India. Isn’t that a bit racist?

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