RANT CORNER

[Derek27]

Got myself into hot water at the dinner table when I mentioned, "litter trays in schools for pupils who want to identify as cats", triggering an almighty backlash in which I was outnumbered!

Perhaps it should be, politics, religion, and anything mildly controversial that shouldn't be discussed at the dinner table.

[Archery1969]

What a state boxing's in. Didn't realise there's now four world championships. First undisputed heavyweight for 25 years and he may have to lose one if a rematch goes ahead.

Where you been Derek, there has been 4 different world title belts since 2004. WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC.

I stopped watching boxing towards the end of the 1980s. I'd like to have watched that fight, but I would pay to watch it on TV. I'd expect a ringside seat for what they charge!

Agreed but far cheaper than flying there, hotel and ticket.

I remember staying up to watch the Tyson fights and they weren’t cheap all those years ago on NTL or whatever that channel was called.

[Derek27]

Where you been Derek, there has been 4 different world title belts since 2004. WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC.

I stopped watching boxing towards the end of the 1980s. I'd like to have watched that fight, but I would pay to watch it on TV. I'd expect a ringside seat for what they charge!

Agreed but far cheaper than flying there, hotel and ticket.

I remember staying up to watch the Tyson fights and they weren’t cheap all those years ago on NTL or whatever that channel was called.

I remember watching the Ali fights. They probably weren't live, but I would have been too young to know or care.

[conduirez]

I stopped watching boxing towards the end of the 1980s. I'd like to have watched that fight, but I would pay to watch it on TV. I'd expect a ringside seat for what they charge!

Agreed but far cheaper than flying there, hotel and ticket.

I remember staying up to watch the Tyson fights and they weren’t cheap all those years ago on NTL or whatever that channel was called.

I remember watching the Ali fights. They probably weren't live, but I would have been too young to know or care.

A lot of Ali fights were live and on the main TV, I remember watching him going up against Smoking Joe Frazier in a pub on a 26" Television. The pictures then were crap mind you.

Sometime in the 1970's someone come up with the idea of pay to view, and they started showing live fights on screens in cinemas and theaters, I think the rumble in the jungle was one of these, but I stand to be corrected.

[Derek27]

flipping sick of people stopping me on the street to ask if I've got a spare cigarette. Drivers have five tyres, need four, making one of them spare. Nobody buys a pack of cigarettes and decides to smoke 19 of them!

[Derek27]

Just paid cash at the self-service checkout. I gave it the odd change, hoping to get a fiver back, but no! It gave me back my change plus more change!

[Derek27]

Screenshot 2024-05-23 164620.png

[conduirez]

It's funny how you never hear of a casino manager going up to a person and saying "That slot machine you were playing on was faulty and should have paid you out £1million, come over here and let me give you your winnings.

We always here stories like this though.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compani ... ngNewsSerp

[Archery1969]

Are they being serious, no politician has the right to tell people what to do. WTF.

"The next government should consider proposals to ban smartphones for under-16s within its first year, a committee of MPs has said."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjmm0zgx9zno

[Derek27]

Are they being serious, no politician has the right to tell people what to do. WTF.

"The next government should consider proposals to ban smartphones for under-16s within its first year, a committee of MPs has said."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjmm0zgx9zno

Better idea. Ban it for under tens, then increment the age limit each year.

[Derek27]

Blind people. Why not apply for a job at Asda's self-service checkout? All you need to do is stand around and not notice customers requiring assistance!

[Derek27]

A Nicki Manij superfan doesn't seem bothered about wasting his weekend and all the money he spent just so that Manij can have one or two joints before the gig. All he's concerned about is that she's all right, and not too upset about having her drugs taken away.

[Derek27]

Watching Trevor Phillips On Sunday, I can't hear a flipping work his guests says - the dickhead keeps talking over their voices!!

[weemac]

Virgin Media contract ends next month. Current £80pm goes up to £114 pm. Spend 10 minutes going nowhere with initial help desk. Finally get put through to retentions.

Me: I need a better deal or I leave.
VM: I see you'll be paying £122 from next month(!). I can offer a special deal of £89pm.
Me: I need a better deal or I leave.
VM: I have a very special deal at £67pm.
Me: I need a better deal or I leave.
VM: (after very long delay) How about £65.25?
Me: (that's a vey specific amount) Awwww.......OK then, but that blows my budget.

Same tedious rigmarole every 18 months, but if you're uber patient, ultra polite and totally persistent, you'll get your deal.

So 18 months have passed and the dreaded contract renewal (which usually takes me an hour to wangle the best deal) was due today. But there's a difference; because I got on so well with the guy I spoke to last time, he had put some kind of 'Gold VIP customer' tag on my account, so without even asking I got offered what I already have, plus maximum broadband, plus Sky Cinema, plus Everything in HD, along with unlimited landline, TNT Sports, Premier Sports, extra TV channels, for £69. Actually, I don't think it's possible to get any more than I now have.

So all that niceness stuff paid off, but I'll need to have sharp wits in another 18 months - the renewal monthly price is £192.99.

[greenmark]

Virgin Media contract ends next month. Current £80pm goes up to £114 pm. Spend 10 minutes going nowhere with initial help desk. Finally get put through to retentions.

Me: I need a better deal or I leave.
VM: I see you'll be paying £122 from next month(!). I can offer a special deal of £89pm.
Me: I need a better deal or I leave.
VM: I have a very special deal at £67pm.
Me: I need a better deal or I leave.
VM: (after very long delay) How about £65.25?
Me: (that's a vey specific amount) Awwww.......OK then, but that blows my budget.

Same tedious rigmarole every 18 months, but if you're uber patient, ultra polite and totally persistent, you'll get your deal.

So 18 months have passed and the dreaded contract renewal (which usually takes me an hour to wangle the best deal) was due today. But there's a difference; because I got on so well with the guy I spoke to last time, he had put some kind of 'Gold VIP customer' tag on my account, so without even asking I got offered what I already have, plus maximum broadband, plus Sky Cinema, plus Everything in HD, along with unlimited landline, TNT Sports, Premier Sports, extra TV channels, for £69. Actually, I don't think it's possible to get any more than I now have.

So all that niceness stuff paid off, but I'll need to have sharp wits in another 18 months - the renewal monthly price is £192.99.

For sure entering negotiations with Virgin/Sky etc without knowlwdge of the alternatives is fairly pointless.
The genuine wlll to cancel without an option is powerful.
But most (ie me) can't bear the thought of weeks without my media fix. And the media suppliers know that.
I was quite good at this back a few years, but it's such a pain in the arse to trawl through the options. Ping pong between suppliers "they've offered me this, what can you do?". I think I'd rather bang my head against a wall.