RANT CORNER

[Derek27]

Or the andropause? That's been my goto excuse for being lazy and forgetful since I heard about it last week.

Now I remember, I need viagra.

I'm just impressed that you have managed to get appointments, missed them and still are able to get another.
Where I am. phoning for an appontment is pointless. You redial until 10am then you get through and are told there are no appointments and they don't prebook, so you basically have to crawl down to the surgery (which is only open a few days a week, the alternative is 2 miles away via a circuitous bus journey) and hope a doctor may be available before you keel over.

I used to have a surgery where you phone at 8:00, complete discrimination against people who don't get up that early. Current surgery allows booking in advance but it's about 2 weeks to see a doctor, less for nurses, routine blood tests, etc.

[greenmark]

Now I remember, I need viagra.

I'm just impressed that you have managed to get appointments, missed them and still are able to get another.
Where I am. phoning for an appontment is pointless. You redial until 10am then you get through and are told there are no appointments and they don't prebook, so you basically have to crawl down to the surgery (which is only open a few days a week, the alternative is 2 miles away via a circuitous bus journey) and hope a doctor may be available before you keel over.

I used to have a surgery where you phone at 8:00, complete discrimination against people who don't get up that early. Current surgery allows booking in advance but it's about 2 weeks to see a doctor, less for nurses, routine blood tests, etc.

Tried the "hit the redial as soon as the surgery opens". It doesn't work, it's a lottery that I have never won. My luck here is (touch wood) I have survived my problems without my GP. God (if there is one) help people that are between 999 and their surgery's response.

[Derek27]

I can understand somebody serving a life sentence being allowed out early on good behaviour, but 36 life sentences, eligible for parole after 30 years!!

Good behaviour should half his sentence to 18 life sentences!

[Derek27]

You're not a magic time tree.

I think I'll use that next time I'm late.

[Derek27]

It's national HIV testing week, as Spotify keeps reminding me. If you have HIV you can get treatment. If you don't, you can carry on taking precautions. But whatever you do, book your test now!

[Derek27]

FFS Spotify, I'll have my HIV test this week. I know it's anonymous and nobody will know about it!

[Derek27]

It's quite uplifting to hear the words "it's party time" or "it's drinking time", but nobody needs an email from your credit card company merrily saying "it's statement time"!

[ShaunWhite]

It's quite uplifting to hear the words "it's party time" or "it's drinking time", but nobody needs an email from your credit card company merrily saying "it's statement time"!

Credit card company? I wish.

They won't touch anyone of "independent means" but say you've got an insecure job or other debt and they can't give you one quick enough. They're worse than the GC.

[Derek27]

It's quite uplifting to hear the words "it's party time" or "it's drinking time", but nobody needs an email from your credit card company merrily saying "it's statement time"!

Credit card company? I wish.

They won't touch anyone of "independent means" but say you've got an insecure job or other debt and they can't give you one quick enough. They're worse than the GC.

There are some credit cards for people with poor credit ratings. They do charge high rates of interest but it doesn't matter if you intend to settle the bill every month and after 6-12 months they increase your credit limit. It's convenient but most important for me is consumer protection in case I buy anything expensive, there are so many fake companies out there.

[greenmark]

It's quite uplifting to hear the words "it's party time" or "it's drinking time", but nobody needs an email from your credit card company merrily saying "it's statement time"!

Credit card company? I wish.

They won't touch anyone of "independent means" but say you've got an insecure job or other debt and they can't give you one quick enough. They're worse than the GC.

There are some credit cards for people with poor credit ratings. They do charge high rates of interest but it doesn't matter if you intend to settle the bill every month and after 6-12 months they increase your credit limit. It's convenient but most important for me is consumer protection in case I buy anything expensive, there are so many fake companies out there.

Credit cards are useful, but as you say only if you don't pay their interest. I have never asked for my credit limit to be increased but they have doubled it over the years. I think that's pretty despicable and confirms they want people to overstretch their short-term finances. My view has always been if you haven't got the money to buy something, you shouldn't be buying it. Credit cards are only better than payday loan companies and loan sharks. It's a sad aspect of capitalism, but I know well paid people that have no control and rack up whopping credit card bills. It's a curious phenomenon.

[Derek27]

Credit card company? I wish.

They won't touch anyone of "independent means" but say you've got an insecure job or other debt and they can't give you one quick enough. They're worse than the GC.

There are some credit cards for people with poor credit ratings. They do charge high rates of interest but it doesn't matter if you intend to settle the bill every month and after 6-12 months they increase your credit limit. It's convenient but most important for me is consumer protection in case I buy anything expensive, there are so many fake companies out there.

Credit cards are useful, but as you say only if you don't pay their interest. I have never asked for my credit limit to be increased but they have doubled it over the years. I think that's pretty despicable and confirms they want people to overstretch their short-term finances. My view has always been if you haven't got the money to buy something, you shouldn't be buying it. Credit cards are only better than payday loan companies and loan sharks. It's a sad aspect of capitalism, but I know well paid people that have no control and rack up whopping credit card bills. It's a curious phenomenon.

I would have thought debt relief orders would make them more cautious. Especially with the cost of living crisis and people using credit cards not for holidays and luxuries but for food and paying their bills. If people get heavily into debt, as long as they haven't been grossly irresponsible, those debts could be written off.

[ShaunWhite]

I've got a prepayment card but even the cards for poor credit won't touch you without a (legit) income. I know people play the system but I'd rather not do that. I don't need one but it's handy.

[greenmark]

There are some credit cards for people with poor credit ratings. They do charge high rates of interest but it doesn't matter if you intend to settle the bill every month and after 6-12 months they increase your credit limit. It's convenient but most important for me is consumer protection in case I buy anything expensive, there are so many fake companies out there.

Credit cards are useful, but as you say only if you don't pay their interest. I have never asked for my credit limit to be increased but they have doubled it over the years. I think that's pretty despicable and confirms they want people to overstretch their short-term finances. My view has always been if you haven't got the money to buy something, you shouldn't be buying it. Credit cards are only better than payday loan companies and loan sharks. It's a sad aspect of capitalism, but I know well paid people that have no control and rack up whopping credit card bills. It's a curious phenomenon.

I would have thought debt relief orders would make them more cautious. Especially with the cost of living crisis and people using credit cards not for holidays and luxuries but for food and paying their bills. If people get heavily into debt, as long as they haven't been grossly irresponsible, those debts could be written off.

Well these companies operate in ways I don't understand. A knew someone that died stone broke with a £15k credit card bill. And with months and months of mail demanding payment and threatening legal action. So they clearly aren't as ruthless as we think.

[ShaunWhite]

Well these companies operate in ways I don't understand. A knew someone that died stone broke with a £15k credit card bill. And with months and months of mail demanding payment and threatening legal action. So they clearly aren't as ruthless as we think.

They know there's no point taking someone to court who's broke. Go to court and they get nothing, keep pestering and they might get something.

[Derek27]

Credit cards are useful, but as you say only if you don't pay their interest. I have never asked for my credit limit to be increased but they have doubled it over the years. I think that's pretty despicable and confirms they want people to overstretch their short-term finances. My view has always been if you haven't got the money to buy something, you shouldn't be buying it. Credit cards are only better than payday loan companies and loan sharks. It's a sad aspect of capitalism, but I know well paid people that have no control and rack up whopping credit card bills. It's a curious phenomenon.

I would have thought debt relief orders would make them more cautious. Especially with the cost of living crisis and people using credit cards not for holidays and luxuries but for food and paying their bills. If people get heavily into debt, as long as they haven't been grossly irresponsible, those debts could be written off.

Well these companies operate in ways I don't understand. A knew someone that died stone broke with a £15k credit card bill. And with months and months of mail demanding payment and threatening legal action. So they clearly aren't as ruthless as we think.

Yes, that's another way to clear your debts. I never thought of that.