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Touch the Sky
Posted on May 28th, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
I bet you’re all bored of my moaning at Sky.
Just incase you’re not, here’s the latest and last letter to them before I make a claim
Three Customer Service
Posted on May 28th, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
So I telephone Three Customer Service back and give them a run down of the power issues on my mobile and that it is exactly the same after repairs they charged me for and I want to take them up on the offer last time I telephoned of a replacement handset and can they let me know what models I am entitled to if they are no longer stocking my model due to these faults.
I am then told there is no record on their system of this offer and if there is a fault then my mobile must be sent in for repairs.
I calmly explain that I have already done this and my mobile has come back in exactly the same state and if their engineers could not fix it before, then I fail to see how me going into the Three store and having my mobile sent off for another week is going to make any difference other than inconvenience me further.
All I kept getting in a heavily Indian accent is the same line over and over of “if there is a technical fault then it must go in for repairs”.
OK, let’s say I book it in and it comes back in the same state again. How many times I am going to have to do this before you admit I simply have a broken handset?
“if there is a technical fault then it must go in for repairs”.
And next I say I want a reimbursement of the £35 repair bill they charged me before, as this obviously wasn’t the issue after all if the problem is still exactly the same
“The engineers would fix any faults they find from user error that is affecting the telephone handset”
“Yes, I’m fine with that - however I was told the damage I apparently caused was the cause of the problems. This is not the case”
“Yes, but if they find any other problems then they would need to fix them also”
“But the letter I received stated clearly the damage reported was due to the liquid damage I had apparently caused, which is why I went ahead. Are you telling me there was another problem I was not aware of (either cause or symptoms) that your engineers fixed and led me to believe it was for the original problem?”
“If our engineers find any other problems then they would need to fix them also”
“Yes, you already said that. OK then, can you tell me exactly what faults were repaired by your engineers?”
“It was moisture or liquid damage”
“Yes, but what problems was it causing? What exactly needed fixing that I was not aware of?”
“If our engineers find any other problems then they would need to fix them also”
What the hell is it with companies these days? I’m not taking the piss here wanting compensation or a free upgrade to a latest handset, I just want my mobile to work - if they can fix it fine (but they can’t) if it is my fault it’s broken and I have to pay, then fine (which I did and it turned out it wasn’t my fault), if I have to have a different replacement handset because mine is no longer stocked, then fine (which they’re gone back on).
To anybody who works in the service or support industry - if ever you wonder why so many customers phone up and are hostile - then it’s because the norm for service these days is at the standard above and so many people are just used to putting up with this shit every time they call a support desk. It really is a rarity now not to just get good service, but just an average service.
Until more companies raise their game and start treating customers as humans, then this level will stay the norm. It’s only when the shit companies are highlighted as being shit compared to the competition will anything ever change.
Will this ever change? Probably not. As long as the majority of companies are consistently terrible then we better get used to it…
And so it rained.
Posted on May 28th, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
I remember the weather this time last year, where we had a few sunny weekends and then at the end of May it started raining.
And it never stopped…
Looking at the five day forecast where it is rain, rain, rain, rain and rain - I’m hoping we’re not going to have a repeat. Especially as it’s getting to the stage where it’s getting too expensive to fill the car up with petrol. Whilst we all joke that after two or three sunny weekends in April and May we need to prepare for winter, it’s seeming uncannily accurate.
We finally have a lawnmower and strimmer now, so can cut our lawn which is getting in dire need of some TLC. Just need to wait until the ground has a chance to dry out a bit.
My broadband is still shit, however I got some useful advice from the unofficial Sky forums that help me narrow down the potential problems. The forums are very good as it’s the normal Sky staff that go on them, but not the single-cell amoebas from their first line support but their second and third line guys, where they can help you without being hamstrung by their internal policies. Even so though, they’ve just confirmed what I’ve been saying for six months anyway - that it’s a wiring or exchange fault and not my set-up.
Need to phone Three up again as well. I lost it with them before which is unlike me, but my patience is so thin when I’m having to complain every other day to various companies, and when I’m speaking to someone in Delhi who is more interested in a call script than just listening (what a lost art listening is these days) then it’s enough to send me postal.
My mobile battery is dying after 10 hours, even on standby with no calls or other usage. They blamed me before and gave me a repair bill that I payed, but it done F all and came back in the same state. I’m now battling to get my repair bill back as it wasn’t my fault after all and also get a replacement handset. I really, really want to make their noses come out of the back of their skulls when they try to bullshit me and say it’s because I’ve been playing too many games on it. The Indians also pretty much called me a liar denying I had ever sent Lisa’s phone off for repairs (which I done via the Three store at the same time as mine), yet they still would not accept it. Next time I’m in Notts I’m going to tell the sales rep’s in there what their Indian friends are saying about them.
Ah, what fun
You asked me once, what was in Room 101. I told you that you knew the answer already. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world.
Posted on May 27th, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
We went to Somerset for two nights this weekend.
We stayed in a Travellodge that was pretty cheap, but we then found out why - as it was a “family” room so it was pretty tatty with children’s vomit stains on the furniture and other signs of ware and tear from dodgy lights to mucky finger prints on the walls. The room was rather aptly numbered 101.
Anyway, it was a pig to get to Somerset but that is to be expected on the bank holiday weekend on the M5. It took just under five hours to get from Nottingham to Taunton with several traffic jams on the way (usually with some guilty caravaner’s at the front trying to overtake each other despite only going 0.1mph faster and end up blocking off two lanes of the motorway). We had the advantage of travelling in comfort in a very big, newish Vauxhall Vectra anyway, that the insurance company provided whilst our car is in for repairs.
Saturday was spent mainly going to the Wildlife Park at Cricket St. Thomas to see the animals we “adopted” previously (Lisa has a cheetah, I have a Lemeur), Sunday was spent going to Sherborne and visiting the castle and Monday was firstly a trip to the Cider Mills to stock up on a few more litres of scrumpy and then a doomed trip to Westen-Supermare with the intention of getting some fish and chips at the coast, but in the end having to give up and get back into the car due to the severe rain and wind (bank holiday weather!). There was the normal pubs and meals along with some drive-arounds inbetween.
All in all, a nice getaway for two nights despite the crappy weather.
Photos uploaded to the usual http://photos.supple.co.uk
Sky - The saga continues
Posted on May 27th, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
I lost my patience in the end last night and called Sky.
After ten minutes telling their first line Support how to do their job (sounds like they outsourced to an overseas call centre for the bank holiday), I was finally put through to their “Customer Solutions” team again in the UK.
Explained my issues to their Support guy (sold a service guaranteeing me speeds of 10Mbps+, never got more than 5, dropped down to 3 and now 1.5, ongoing for five months, not getting anywhere etc. etc.)
And here’s the money shot: Their Support guy made some changes and put me back up from 1.5Mbps to 3Mbps. When I said I needed it four times that as per the agreement with Sky, I got (quote):
“Well, everything here says the fastest speed you will ever get is 3Mbps”
What!, says I? I’m under 500 metres from the exchange, I’ve had 5Mbps last week, I was sold a service for upto 16Mbs, I cancelled a 4Mbps service with Virgin to come to Sky, how can you say I’m now only ever going to get 3Mbps?
Suffice to say, he couldn’t answer.
I’ve wrote another letter outlining all my issues that I’m going to post and fax today and try their Customer Services line, however I think Sky are forcing me to take them to the small claims court.
Utter, utter arseholes
Sky Broadband - liars and idiots
Posted on May 26th, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
I really am beginning to fucking hate Sky
For five months now I’ve been to and fro with their retards in Support, Customer Services and Customer Solutions with the simple request of: Provide me with the broadband speed you have sold me, or admit that you can’t.
I’m only 400 metres from the exchange and according to Sky I should easily be reaching their top 16Mbps speeds. I’m not particularly bothered about 16Mbps and 10Mbps would suffice, however they’ve yet to provide me with speeds reaching 6Mbps.
I’ve now had to give up emailing them as they just don’t take you seriously, and after a long ‘phone call last week they apparently fixed it. I checked and my speed was down further to 3Mbps, so on the telephone again on Friday. I just checked now and lo and behold, I am now on a whooping great 1.5Mbps. I am really not in the mood to phone them again now and listen to their bullshit, so I will call tomorrow and give them one last chance.
What I really fucking despise is their idiotic Support team. It consists of sending stupid standardised responses to all queries. They make no effort to read what you have put, even when you reply pointing out that you have already done what they have suggested as you stated in black and white in your original email, and then they reply with he same again!
It’s no different when telephoning. You have to go through first line and their intelligence is some of the lowest I’ve encountered in human beings. They have a call script to run through and if you say anything they deviates from this, then they just err and umm in confusion as they lack even common sense. Every time I telephone and explain that I’ve had an ongoing issue and already performed all their tests, they come back asking me to do them again - and cannot answer me when I ask why.
I am seriously considering having to go back to Virgin Media, which I don’t want to do for the cost - but if I do then I’m going to have to see about taking Sky to court to reclaim all the fees they’ve charged me.
I really don’t want or need to be having to devote so much of my time to companies like this. I’m turning into one of these people who every evening is shouting at a Support or Customer Services team somewhere. The thing is, I don’t have huge expectations and I let a hell of allot go - but the service is just so diabolic in the UK now I’m left with no choice.
Right, let’s see if this actually posts or if my broadband connection is down again
Need more POWER
Posted on May 23rd, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
Can somebody rich please buy me this
I will give you sexual favours in return, irrespective of your gender.
More oil and grease
Posted on May 19th, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
It took allot of time and effort, however the remaining major job is now finished and I have working suspension again
That’s the front wheel off, the forks removed and repaired of any blemishes and dints, the fork oil replaced and a new set of seals. End result= I now have stable steering, I can go over a bumpy road and not feel like I’m riding a horse and there’s no more fork oil leaking onto my tyres and brake discs!
This was also the only area it would have failed an MOT on, so that’s good to know.
And whilst we were at it, I replaced the handlebar grips as my last pair were so soft that they just meted in the sun and were disintegrating in a rubbery mess
Also on the agenda this weekend was draining off some excess engine oil and repairing some final bits of the fairing to make sure it’s all bolted down.
A much improved ride now and allot safer and stable. Woo hoo!
I know Kung-Fu
Posted on May 15th, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
Whilst I’ve been contemplating this for many years, I’ve decided it’s finally time to get some advanced riding qualifications.
This is purely for my own benefit, as I am a very strong advocate in that the best performance and safety modification you can make to a vehicle is the ability of the rider/driver, however it will give me the added bonus of lower insurance premiums.
Out of all the places I’ve seen, the best looks to be just down the road from me in Long Eaton as that does an Advanced Riding course to the RoSPA standard (that’s the civilian version of the Police Roadcraft method, so is the highest qualification you can get short of joining the police which may be rather drastic)
At the end of the course I will get to take a test conducted by a Police Advanced certificate holder who will grade me and tell me if I’m a twat or not, and hopefully if I’m not a twat then I get awarded with either a RoSPA Gold, Silver or Bronze rating. The Gold is the highest civilian riding standard available to the public, so that would be nice.
So then, money - the drawback for most aspects of my life 
A one day course is £180, however if you’re ‘going for gold’ then you’re advised to have a full three day course which is getting expensive. Methinks I will have to start putting some money aside if I’m going to afford this.
In other biking news I found out last night that I have *another* fucking oil leak in a different place this time. I could really have done with this happening earlier in the week as I’m going to Chetenham on the bike tomorrow, not to mention the ball-ache of taking all the fairing off again despite only recently fixing it and securing it after sorting the leaking rocker cover. GAH! I think this bastard is the oil pump/crank seal this time.
My clutch oil is very low as well, so I suspect a problem there as well.
I know from having a bike this old and one that was standing for so long then I’m going to keep finding faults for the first six months at least, however still a right pain.
Hardened Criminal Scum
Posted on May 14th, 2008 by ray.
Categories: General Blog.
I was riding to work today and there was another bike about 4 or 5 car lengths ahead of me. We were both filtering through the traffic as it was pretty stationary being rush hour. I noticed a police car pull out and join the traffic. Perfectly normal, however I had that slight “spider sense” feeling I tend to get when something is about to happen that has never failed me yet.
I got stuck at a red light so the lead bike disappeared in the distance, however when I finally got going again I saw the police car on the horizon with it’s lights flashing. I just knew it would be involving the other bike, and I wasn’t let down as I got closer. The police car had pulled the other bike over.
Now I don’t know the exact reason this bike was pulled over. It could have been stolen for all I know and the police done a spot-check on it, but I have to wonder if it was because he was filtering through the traffic and the police took exception to it, as from experience there is a significant amount of police who don’t actually know the laws they are trying to enforce, and the civilians who fall foul of this aren’t clued-up either and make the fatal mistake of thinking “He’s a policeman/doctor/teacher/official looking person so he must be correct”
For the record, filtering through traffic on a motorcycle is perfectly legal providing:
1 You don’t cross over or straddle a solid centre white line system.
2 You don’t overtake after a “No Overtaking” sign.
3 You do not overtake the lead vehicle within the confines of the zigzags of a pedestrian/pelican crossing as it may have stopped to allow pedestrians to cross.
4 No danger is caused to other road users and no vehicle is caused to alter course or speed.
A problem is not only are some police not fully aware if the law, or vastly exaggerate their view of what constitutes undue care or dangerous driving - but many civilians don’t know that filtering is legal either, and I have really lost count of the amount of times cars deliberately swerve to the right to try and stop me going past or as happened on occasion actually try to crash into me or sandwich me between the side of their van and a traffic island or bollard (uncontrolled road-rage when they haven’t fully realised that they could kill someone or at the least cause a serous crash)
I was going to pull up and stick my oar in, however police generally take allot of offence to that and I didn’t fancy being done for parking illegally or having a fine-tooth comb check being performed on my bike, so carried on and wished the other rider good luck if he was just unlucky.
Although it is very fashionable to dislike the police these days, I still get mightily fucked-off at how a bike “seemingly” doing nothing wrong in rush hour traffic of about 15mph gets the wrath of the law and pulled over straight away, whereas when you’re on a motorway with dip-shits tailgating you or driving home at night and having drivers blatantly drunk swerving across the roads after driving home from 10 pints and the long arm of the law is nowhere to be seen.
As mentioned before though, I don’t know the full story so I will not make too many assumptions. I just wish the police were this “on the ball” when it came to other crimes, traffic related or not.
The cynic in me puts this down to the target-chasing culture and going after soft-targets to bump up their figures