Room 101 open for deposits.....

[mickthemaverick]

In actual fact that may be a trifle hasty bobins! The journo was referring to the Europa Cup Final which had Normal time first half and second half followed by extra time with first half and second half, so there were indeed four 'halves' in the game, odd though that may seem!!

[bobins]

I'm sorry, you can't have four halves in one game You can have two halves, or you can have four quarters, but you can't have four halves.
By all means have four halves - just not in one game, and by all means have four sections in one game if that's what you want. But four halves in one game doesn't add up

I remember many years ago the BBC was somewhat overwhelmed by the number of complaints they had when someone on Blue Peter referred to dividing something into 'two unequal halves' Oh dear.

[mickthemaverick]

I doth protest!! In a game of Rugby Union each side have a fly half and a scrum half. Thus with two sides playing you would indeed have four halves in one game!!

[bobins]

Four halves.... I'd rather have two pints. BTW, whose round is it ?

[mickthemaverick]

Now there I must agree!! Have a couple with me

[Gibbo2286]

My neighbour left her car window open after chatting to her husband, a bird used it for target practice and crapped right across both front seats.

[mickthemaverick]

The tyre industry marketing morons!!

From the day I started driving I had to buy tyres for the car. Then some years ago they introduced summer and winter tyres so when you went to buy tyres they asked "summer or winter sir?" Now in their infinite wisdom they have introduced 'all season tyres' and I've just seen an ad for 'four season tyres'.

So I guess that means we will soon be back to buying tyres!! What a major scam that was!!

[GiveMeABreak]

I'll retrieve 'All Season' Tyres from the locker as I use Michelin CrossClimate+ tyres all year round. As they are a summer tyre with winter certification ('3 Peak'), they are amazing in snow and ice too - which if you have enhanced traction control (Grip Control as an example), will provide good grip and traction, which is what I need here on very steep hills in the country.

You can leave the '4 seasons' tyres in there though, as that's just another word for all season!

I can't be bothered with the hassle of changing summer tyres to winter tyres and back again, as the cost of doing it that twice a year when you may not need winter tyres is not worth it in the UK and of course winter tyres wear out a lot more quickly as they have softer rubber - so yet more expense.

[mickthemaverick]

I agree Marc but my deposit wasn't the tyres, it was the morons that dreamed up the plan to try and get us all to have two sets of tyres!!

[GiveMeABreak]

Oh, by all means that lot can remain behind bars

[GiveMeABreak]

In case they've been reincarnated after previously being dumped in Room 101: British Gas Electricity.

For arbitrarily raising my direct debit £40 a month when we are already in credit! Worse, they have put a block on your ability to change the DD back to anything under the new recommended amount - so that me to the point that I cancelled the DD.

They then go on about reviewing usage of the next year to justify it, and yes, they are using figures that are already out of date as the EPG will be incorrect. And to add insult to injury, they then spam me at the top of my online account and in emails, telling me the energy prices are falling in July! You couldn't make this crap up.

A few rants later and they agreed it was stupid of them to have done this and blamed it on the DD reviews (without taking into account prices falling).

Had to go back online with another agent to reinstate it today after they agreed to revert it back to the original amount (but still had to spew out all the rubbish about the EPG and use over the next 12 months.

I told them I'd been through all this last week and that it has all been agreed, I'm not 2 years old and don't need a lecture - just do as you're told.

All done again, and can't wait to move from these idiots as soon as there are deals to switch to again in the next few months.

[myglaren]

While I have never had a problem, my eldest daughter has with Scottish Power. They would fit smart meters for her a couple of years ago, electric OK but couldn't do the gas, but they think she has smart meters. Seems that not receiving data from them doesn't get flagged. Daughter has tried sending in readings but as the existing gas meter and the smart input option conflicts she can't, so the readings are just estimated.
She has tried to contact them countless times to resolve it but just gets chatbots with very limited options.
And they have just increased her direct debit by £90. By £90, not to £90.
At the same time they want me to decrease mine to £75.
And talking to my eldest granddaughter and her partner, who recently bought a house together, they are having similar difficulties, British Gas for them.
It seems all energy suppliers are in something of a turmoil.

[GiveMeABreak]

British Gas and EDF are the worst apparently for doing this and have come in for some heavy criticism.

'Smart' meters can also be deposited as far as I'm concerned as there's nothing smart about them apart from trying to outsmart you.

[Gibbo2286]

I'm with Shell Energy and they've been excellent since they took over from the previous owners..............but it's just been announced they're selling off their UK domestic energy and broadband businesses.

[CitroJim]

I'm with Skittish Power and have had absolutely no problem with them. Last year when it all went a bit silly, my combined gas and 'lekky DD went up to the astronomic figure of £235 a month from around £80 and stayed there whilst I built up a huge credit balance... I'm a bit economical with my use of heating!

A couple of days ago I got an email to tell me I needed to review my DD. When I did, they recommended a drop to £37 a month! I chose to pay £100 a month instead to maintain a big credit 'comfort buffer' for the coming winter...