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I'm based in N. Ireland but I need to get a Beetle gearbox transported from Bishops Storford in Herts (postcode CM22, between Luton and Stansted airports) to a company called Cogbox which is in Northolt, postcode UB5 (near Wembley). It's on a pallet but it isn't wrapped up or tied on. Don't know whether the oil has been drained out of it but I can find out. Can anybody recommend a transport firm that will do this without charging me an arm and a leg? Anyone willing to do it themselves for a fee?
Cheers
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andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ...
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Have you tried volkszone (www.volkszone.com/VZi)? There's a Movers & Shakers section where you can ask for help like this....
DB
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Came home today to find oil tank topped up with 500litres.
The oil man had filled my tank instead of my neighbours, despite her joking remark regarding to be sure not to do this when she placed the order ( as it happens we both use the same supplier ). We were both out so error not discovered until she came home; an urgent phone call resulted in her getting her oil and me getting both an answerphone message and a note to ring the office.
Now I won't rock the boat and will pay for the oil, though I intend to drive a hard bargain ;-), but I am intrigued as to the legal position, is this the same as receiving unsolicited goods in that I have to retain them for collection but am not obliged to pay for them.
I am sure if I didn't pay the tanker would come round and suck it out again but what would they do with the stuff? I know they offer a pump out service for tank changes but surely they wouldn't want to resell my oil in case of contamination.
As I said it is a decent company, and I will be nice because I am, but what might Paddy from the trailer park do?
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One mans junk is another mans treasure
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Steptoe 500 litres back in to a holding tank and mixed would be resold without any worries on their part ,at least it was the correct oil so no problems there
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steptoe tread carefully here
a friend of mine signed for 2000 litres and he trusted the driver
he got delivered nearly zilch
do NOT sign any incriminating paperwork
i got dun the same way with cubed concrete
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They cannot get their oil back. It is irretrievably mixed with your oil. You have not obtained their property dishonestly, it was their mistake, which cannot be undone. If you feel like it, you could pay them something. They are not entitled to take your oil from you.
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They cannot get their oil back. It is irretrievably mixed with your oil.
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This is brilliant!!! Wish I'd thought of that.
However when I phoned this morning I was directed to their sweetest sounding girl, her voice could have sculpted stone, so I was like putty in her hands and offered her 30p per litre, which she instantly and gratefully accepted.
If I had not been dealing with this firm for many years, they are generally the cheapest in the area, I may well have taken a harder line.
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One mans junk is another mans treasure
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There is loads of different mp3 players out there now. On play.com you can get a 1gb one for £16.99 delivered.
Can anyone recommend a good one for under 20 quid?
Cheers.
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I bought one of these from 7DayShop:
www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=77...4
You need a Secure Digital card to use it, but the sound is surprisingly good through the supplied headphones for its incredibly low price. Used to be sold as the original manufacturer's model by e-Buyer for nearly £20 at one time.
Can also be used as an SD/MMC memory card reader/writer.
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I bought one of these from 7DayShop: www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=77...4
Does it support ID3 tagging? I'm tempted but wonder if I'd end up in the same situation as with the in car MP3, where I need to make sure all the file names are just how I want them so the tracks play back in the right order. Still very tempting at that silly price!
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>>where I need to make sure all the file names are just how I want them >>
Best way is probably to create a folder and drag and drop the individual files into it in the required order.
The bigger the SD card capacity the more tracks can be loaded - SD cards are as cheap as chips now and especially from the same source...:-)
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Any roofers here, I am constructing a hipped roof over a garage to convert to a bedroom, I am ready to cover it with the under -felt prior to fixing the latts and laying the slates. I have managed everything else ok but is there a special way to finish off the felt on the four corners of the hips.
I have Googled but can not find any info.
Just in case you are wondering why I am doing it I had to sack a firm of roofers who started the job, you would not believe the mess they made, it cost the firm £1500 in compensation and replacement of the roof trusses which they ruined due to their lack of skill and knowledge.
Mal.
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Just carry it around the Hip and over lap it. You should be using a breathable felt membrane which will be as light as air and thin so overlapping shouldn't cause any problems.
Best regards...............MD
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Hi Martin, thanks, but do I create a fold and take it to the next corner or do I cut it and overlap on each corner by a few feet I am surprised I have not been able to find any books or info anywhere, plenty on a ridge roof with gable ends but not hips.
Thanks, Mal.
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This link may help,look about half way down page.
www.practicaldiy.com/general_building/roofing/batt...p
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rustbucket (the original)
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Thanks rustbucket never found that site before.
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Good Evening Mal, Just overlap by the minimum of 2 rafters. Under felting is not a weather protection. It is to help to ensure that the tiles/slates are not sucked of by the passage of air above.
Ensure that you use the correct batten fixings and also the correct fixings for the tiles or slates. Don't listen to the Barrack room Lawyers, (idiots) at the pub!
VBR MD
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Everything is in hand Martin, breathable felt, treated battens, fixed by galvanised nails, then traditional blue grey welsh slates fastened by aluminium nails. The only bit I am not 100% sure of what I am doing is where the corner of main cottage roof intrudes into the corner of one of the hips I have formed a valley about 2ft long and am assuming the lead is stepped up ad over the batten ends.
I might add that I am quite capable of doing most building work once I know how,I even drew up my own plans for past extensions on the cottage.
I love this site, lots of helpful people
Thanks to all, Mal.
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Another request for comment and information! Bearing in mind the fact that most of the players, at international level play both one day and five cricket, what explains the enormous dispartity in scoring rates? I know there are complicated rules about field placings etc but some teams are scoring more runs from 50 overs than they can in 1.5 days of boring Test cricket! Knowing me, in my dotage, there is probably a simple explanation but I can't work it out!
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One reason (as you mention) is the rule for non-defensive field settings for a certain number of overs in one day matches. The other is that each bowler has a limited number of overs, so you can't have Shane Warne bowling from one end for a whole session. However, I think the batsmen know they have to hit out in one day, as wickets are less valuable. Some batsmen will slog more frequently, and get out sooner, but it doesn't matter as someone else will come in and the overs are ticking off. There is no point protecting your wickets, scoring 20 runs an hour, then running out of overs. If you did the same in a test match, the other team would have a few days to make the same runs playing more conservatively.
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And there is me thinking Erudite is some sort of glue! Thank you Brill for your erudite explanation which clarifies things enormously. I had overlooked the fact that bowlers only have a certain numbers of overs each and I follow your explanation of the tactics involved. I may not be any wiser but I am much better informed - thanks!
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However I think the batsmen know they have to hit out inone day
Its a pity you didn't personally inform the England skipper of that principle in our 'quarter-final' against South Africa - letting Pollock bowl several overs outside the off stump without offering a stroke - 20 balls to get off the mark!
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I'm familiar with the American Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) material identification symbol consisting of a number in a triangle (which is often accompanied by an abbreviation of the material ~ PET, HDPE etc), and I'm familiar with the "suitable for recycling" symbol consisting of two arrows chasing each other in a circle.
However there is one marking which has got me stumped. It looks like a round tub with the lid open at an angle of about 30 degrees, and to the right of it either 12M, 24M or 36M ~ although there may be other variations of the number. Can anyone explain this marking?
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L\'escargot.
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After opening, use within x months?
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See here for information
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6M
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rustbucket (the original)
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Thanks rustbucket. But since (as far as I know) the coding hasn't been publicised I wonder how many people are aware of it.
--
L\'escargot.
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Just a quick follow up re. water damage to asbestos roof.(concealed by newer plasterboard ceiling).
The insurers were happy to leave the old ceiling in-place, and simply renew the damaged plasterboard ceiling then skim and repaint.
Many thanks for the replies, good result all-round.
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Hi all
Interested in hearing other BR's views on noise cancelling headphones. I do a lot of flying in my job and occaisonally would like to get 40 winks, are these worth it, and does anyone have any recommendations.
Cheers
Paul
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Without a shadow of a doubt they cancel the noise.
I would ask though whether it is noise that stops you sleeping or the whole position, movement, vibration thing. For my way of sleeping a couple of glasses of red wine and the radio work better.
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Hi - They are excellent. A real boon on long haul flights. You will find you can reduce the volume on an MP3 player by about 50%.
Good for sleeping also with just the phones switched on, although you have to keep your head in an upright position. You can now get in-ear ones which will help this. Dolphin Music (google search) have a good selection.
Regards DougB.
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Hi. I've got a pair of in-ear Sony ones which I have had for about 6 years now. They work well, but they certainly don't cancel all the noise - they reduce the background rumble/base noise quite a lot, but don't expect total peace and quiet! They certainly make listening to music easier, and improve the quality of the sound for an in-flight film also.
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\"Archie\"
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Bought a pair if BOSE five years ago, wilst they worked, the quality v. cost were poor. They have been now been replaced by a pair of foldable Sennheiser PXC150. Work perfectly well for a fraction of the cost. Perfectly adequate, totally portable and a better build quality. Don't get me going on BOSE customer service.
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I have a set of Plane-Quiet that I bought in the USA 4 years ago that were supposed to be as good as Bose.; similar bulky design. Whilst they work quite well they are not a patch on the latest Bose. I have also tried the smaller Sony headsets and was not impressed.
American Airlines have given out Bose headsets to their First Class passengers on Transatlantic trips for some years, and have just changed to the the latest model that are far less bulky and work brilliantly. I can't speak for their long term build quality, but they certainly look well made.
P.S.
Didn't know how to include the travel First Class bit without sounding flash! I travel to the USA a lot and as a high tier Frequent Flyer get a lot of upgrades - I only ever pay for Coach!! Paying for a First Class trip costs enough for a small car.
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I echo Mark's position/movement/vibration remark.
I fly long and shaut haul frequently with my work and invested in a pair of Sony in-ear jobbies.
They work very well indeed, cutting out the low rumble and general background noise whilst purposely allowing the spoken voice to cut through. As normal earphones they are very good too, with more than acceptable fidelity.
Because of position/movement/vibration however, even Business Class I find that a few glasses of red wine and a film or music work just as effectively, if not more so.
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Cardew - I'm about to fly coach to Miami for a hideous two day meeting where everything about the whole thing is nickle&dime - what are your top tips for getting an upgrade?
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Cardew - I'm about to fly coach to Miami for a hideous two day meeting where everything about the whole thing is nickle&dime - what are your top tips for getting an upgrade?
Unless you are an 'Elite' member of the Frequent Flyer scheme of the Airline you are flying with, your chances are so slight to be negligible if you are travelling on a deep discounted ticket.
The subject of getting upgrades is discussed with religious fervour in the Frequent Flyer forums. An international 'Op-Up' (operational Upgrade = free no strings upgrade) is very rare even for elites.
I had my first Transatlantic Op-Up last week, also wife and daughter, most of mine have been using accrued miles. I have had lots of internal USA Op-ups.
With all airlines there are very strict rules these days; generally:
Firstly the Coach section must be full.
Then passengers flying on a full fare flexible ticket.
Then Frequent Flyers with highest tiers first.
The Gate agents are supposed to stick rigidly to that list of priorities; and can be audited. That is not to say that the Ralph Fiennes approach won't work!
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With all airlines there are very strict rules these days; generally:
Firstly the Coach section must be full.
Then passengers flying on a full fare flexible ticket.
Then Frequent Flyers with highest tiers first.
The Gate agents are supposed to stick rigidly to that list of priorities; and can be audited. That is not to say that the Ralph Fiennes approach won't work!
The first, most rigid, and unbreakable rule is aircraft balance and centre of gravity.. which to be fair is only on flights that have empty seats.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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The first most rigid and unbreakable rule is aircraft balance and centre of gravity.. which to be fair is only on flights that have empty seats. ------------------------------ TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
Not sure of the point you are making with regard to upgradesTVM.
Clearly Centre of Gravity is a very important issue(First and most rigid is perhaps questionable)
This has again been discussed at length in Frequent Flyer forums with pilots and flight engineers contributing. From their input ----
In almost every case balance is achieved by movement of cargo and distribution of fuel. Seating of passengers is very rarely an issue.
In the few cases where this has occured it has entailed passegers being moved to the back of the plane. I have read a couple of threads where people have complained about being moved to the rear for C of G reasons.
In forums where any instance of being moved forward to First Class is posted triumphantly, I have never read of a case of an upgrade for C of G reasons.
I have been on many flights where the rear cabins were full and yet the front cabins half empty.
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I've been on chartered aircraft on numerous occasions when there have been perhaps 20 to 30 passengers on the flight and, before take-off, we have been directed to various seats around the plane by the cabin staff rather than allowed to sit in two or three large groups.
Once under way we have been able to sit where we wished.
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I am thinking of buying a four 1950's four bed detached house in Hinchley Wood, Surrey and I need a full structural survey. I've been on the RICS website and got a list of local surveyors, I now want to make an informed choice so that I get a good one. Are there any surveyors out there who could advice me which pertinent questions to ask?
Thanks in anticipation.
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Surely a person of the intellectual standing of a BR member doesn't need a surveyor. If it's structural matters that concern you then get an engineer - they will be far more knowledgable about subsidence, roofspread, landslip and so on. £200 tops.
You can tell if the basins are stained where the taps dripped and so may indicate signs of a dodgy washer (Yes, I read this in one surveyor's report).
Look at where the electrics come in (under the stairs usually) - white plastic wiring is all you want to see. The highly paid surveyor will only say go and get a specialist to check anyway.
Lift a carpet (surveyors never do) and sniff for a musty smell. If the paint isn't peeling or bubbled at low level or the paper isn't lifting it's not damp. You can look for slipped tiles on the roof and for rotten window frames. If damp or rot bothers you get a free survey, watch the guy doing it and talk to him - then don't have any work done.
I now claim my £500 survey at a distance fee.
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>>...in Hinchley Wood, Surrey
>>... a list of local surveyors..I now want to make an informed choice so that I get a good one.
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I would trust one local Estate Agent - MP - to suggest a surveyor ( even if you are buying from them)
House prices vary a lot depending on which quadrant of H/W you buy in.
According to the book " Cr*p Towns. The 50 worst places to live in the UK" H/W came no 49.
It is also unusual that it proved not possible to run the ONLY pub for 5000+ rich residents ( except me).
Hence the world famous RAM 500 day action ( Residents against MacDonalds)
I like H/W , my home patch, even though it does not have a pub closer than half a mile.
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>> It is also unusual that it proved not possible to run the ONLY pub for 5000+ rich residents ( except me). Hence the world famous RAM 500 day action ( Residents against MacDonalds) I like H/W my home patch even though it does not have a pub closer than half a mile.
I have been in prisons that were more welcoming than that pub - The HW Hotel!
It was a pub in a legal sense only.
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Bit of a strange one, this.
One of our cats had a bladder issue a month or so ago, which has now been sorted out thanks to stuffing pills down her throat morning and night....
I've started to work from one of the spare rooms, where the missus had previously set a nice display of cuddly toys on a chair - they're from both our childhoods. Unfortunately, the cat, whilst having problems, appears to have used the pile of toys as a convenience....
How on earth do I get the smell out of the toys? I don't think I can put them in the washing machine - some are over 30 years old.....
Thanks!
DB
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DB - this may help or it may be 'Smoke & Mirrors' only costs £5
www.stinkypets.com/
A car valet might be able to help or perhaps specialist dry cleaning. If it is an un-neutered tom you will find getting rid of this pong very difficult indeed. Perhaps you could get him neutered if it is a tom? If it was my cat it would have a big needle from the vet issue!
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Here is a link to another industrial wee pong remover. www.urine-off.co.uk/urineoff.html
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Not a tom, just a girly cat with a urinary infection.....
I will give some of these a whirl - thanks.
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Pets at Home shops sell a trigger spray disinfectant/ deodoriser for litter trays which seems to get rid of odours and IIRC you can use it on fabrics?. Its a pale blue liquid, I think 500ml for about £4. But I couldnt find it on their website.
The website has this stuff, I have not tried this one though: www.petsathome.com/invt/13152 . .
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Sorry to be pessimistic but I think what ever you do on a warm day there'll always be the faintest hint of eau de chat.
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i agree if they wont go in on the regulo 30 for a paddle then i would bin them,
or nostalgia will reek of something.
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Try Neutradol, Oust, Morrison's Odour Neutraliser or similar first.
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All but one (delicate 65 year old) went for a paddle in the washing machine yesterday. Apart from looking a little shocked, no adverse effects.
Not sure what to do about "Toffee" - no way is it getting binned...!
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No wonder the CPS is regarded as a complete joke. Please read and comment - this nonsense cost £8000!
tinyurl.com/2h2tj7
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No wonder the CPS is regarded as a complete joke. Please read and comment - this nonsense cost £8000! tinyurl.com/2h2tj7
We only have the evidence of a story in the telegraph. It may be a misjudgement or on the other hand the lad may have been a right royal pita. Do any of the articles elsewhere in the press suggest he was known to the local plod?
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Yes. In this case, the personnel who did the deed should, IMO, have been censured. This sort of thing does not help anyone - it does make some people look rather stupid/vindictive, though, IMO
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Good Morning. I have just bought a new digital camera. It has come supplied with the correct battery charger and two batteries; one is the Nikon battery for the camera and the other is a 'compatible' made by Uniross. According the handbook, a new or fully discharged battery should fully charge in 2 hours. Neither of these batteries will fully charge (Light on charger steady) in 12+ hours. Is this likely to be one faulty charger or two faulty batteries? Ideas welcome!
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I would say one faulty charger! Even my cheap battery from Taiwan stops charging after a couple of hours.
I should imagine the store want the whole lot, camera and all, for an exchange anyway. Sorry.
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Mike Farrow
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"faulty charger"
Sounds most likely - my Canon takes at most one hour in the Canon charger, though I would suppose it depend on the mAh of the batteries - mine are 1300 mAh. For my fuji I use Uniross AA size 2300s which do take about 2 hours or so in a non camera specific charger.
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Phil
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Further thought - have you tried the batteries in the camera - there is often a "battery condition indicator" light or scale you can see in the viewfinder - this would tell you whether the charger is charging or not - might just be a faulty indicator light on the charger????
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Phil
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Sounds like a dodgy charger. Might be worth popping into your local battery emporium and getting another Uniross onw to confirm.
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Many thanks for the replies to date which confirm my thought that it is either a faulty charger or a faulty warning/charging light. I don't know what life to expect from the batttery as the camera is new. The other day I took about 60 pictures and was then told "Battery exhasted" but it recovered after about 10 minutes and took quite a lot more photos. The battery, when in the camera, does not display the low symbol. Regrettably the deal was an offer, of which all stock has sold out, so an exchange is not a possibility although a refund could be.
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You can buy a "fast" battery charger which will complete the charging cycle in an hour or not much longer for £10 to £15.
In fact there are some which will fully recharge batteries in 15 minutes, but they are obviously somewhat more expensive.
A handy accessory for a battery charger (if it didn't come with one) is a connecting lead for a car's cigar socket - recharging takes the same time as from the mains and can be useful if you are out for the day or at a social event such as a wedding.
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Ultra Fast charger and four 2700mAh rechargeables for £12.99 including car lead:
www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=77...2
I don't know if this link will also be of interest:
www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=77...2
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Thanks stuart, these batteries are not the hi capacityy AA size you refer to and which I use in my older camera.The Nikon one is like a small memory card.
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"an offer, of which all stock has sold out,"
but would Nikon help out - must be a pretty standard type of charger and they are a very reputable company?
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Phil
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If you bought in a real shop, take it back, you might get an upgrade !
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I would advise you to stop using the charger if the batteries are Li-Ion. From personal experience, if the charger is not capable of recognising that the battery is fully charged it will continue to pump juice into it, and these batteries do not tolerate this - given that I found a smoking battery to hot to touch one morning after the charger logic "crashed".
Also, if you're had both batteries on this charger for 15 hours straight, consider them both knackered too and ask for replacements along with your charger.
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After all the comments the one that really covers it, I think, is DH's. The batteries have been used and get recharged but the charger doesn't know when they are fully charged and keeps working on them, to their disadvantage. Please regard this one as closed and thanks for the help. I will present your thoughts to the supplier and hope for the best.
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Good Morning. I have just bought a new digital camera. It has come supplied with the correct battery charger and two batteries [which don't seem to charge].
Is it new, or new to you? If it's really new, I should talk with purpose to the supplier. If it's a second-hand bargain, check the charging O/P with a meter whilst the batteries are connected.
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I don't know who introduced these or when (early on Saturday?) - they are really really useful! Thanks
{See "New look to website." thread for details - DD}
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I'll second that. Really useful.
JH
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We're off to Antibes this summer, and since Easyjet & Ryanair are actually quite expensive to Nice area in August, thought we might try Steel Wheels instead - anyone know any good websites for cheaper rail tickets ?
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One of our children has special needs and finds dogs extremely frightening. As hard as we try to avoid them, in our local parks especially, we have a problem when inconsiderate owners either let their dogs chase him or jump up at him, ignoring our pleas to call the animals off. I recently spotted an ultrasonic device in Maplin which claims to deter dogs without actually harming them and am wondering if this would be a practical solution to a very real and awkward problem. We don't want to cause any harm but have found that a fair proportion of owners are either plain inconsiderate or simply so attached to their animals that they can't accept a child might be petrified of them. Any advice feedback/advice gratefully received.
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My little God daughter was terrified by dogs (which makes visiting here a nightmare !) but she had therapy to resolve it, she is also Special Needs, she is now more tolerant of dogs, however it is still a position of heavily armed neutrality between her and my mad Springer. But she does get on with our pet Cocker which she wouldn't approach let alone touch before.
Buy it and try it I would say
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Therapy not an option for our little'un sadly but have checked up on the gizmo and apparently it only has a range of 5m or so so wouldn't unduly affect other dogs in the vicinity and that was my main concern. It's only £13 so I'm going to give it a try and see how it goes. Cheers.
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the ultrasonic device may well work. if it doesn't try a waterpistol.
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A riding crop, or some similar deterrent - perhaps even a rolled-up newspaper.
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What's your most hated phrase/sentence in a letter/memo you receive?
Mine is "Thank you for your co-operation/attention in this matter" ~ and it's always sent to me before I've had a chance to do any co-operating/attending.
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L\'escargot.
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Misuse of the phrase "yourself/myself" or even "your goodself" I now routinely delete and won't respond to e-mails with any misuse of the above. They'll soon learn.
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Misuse of the phrase "yourself/myself" or even "your goodself" I now routinely delete ........
Every time a colleague received a form which included "delete as applicable" he used to delete the words "as applicable"!
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L\'escargot.
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L
not one that gets me on the grounds of grammar, but; "by the end of today". I think you can work out why!
JH
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"In the interests of improving your levels of customer service..."
As used in a letter telling me that my 1% CC cashback was declining to 0.5%.
V
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Perhaps not hated - but strange:
"Thank you for reluctantly accepting our unilateral concession."
The joys of doing business in China
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Expressions such as "At this moment in time" rather than "Now" or "I, myself, me, personally thinks that.."
Extremely irritating, however, is the constant use of "You know" - footballers are particularly prone.
If we knew we wouldn't ask.
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Not sure that "you know" gets written into memo's, letters or e-mails.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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"sorry, must have lost that in the noise" - have seen this hideous expression a couple of times, it is used as a lame excuse for not having followed previous email trails properly
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Any phrase suggesting it's my job to track through their raw data rather than summarising it properly, as in "it is used as a lame excuse for not having followed previous email trails properly"
:-), I hasten to add, despite that being one of my pet hates as well.
V
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:-) Yes, bad summarising on my part, I should have said "lame excuse for not reading any preceeding emails"
Another pet hate in emails - text talk sign offs eg "Rgds" - why bother?
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Not sure that "you know" gets written into memo's letters or e-mails.
It does, you know!
--
L\'escargot.
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Arriving somewhere or other the other day, a small and young Muslim woman dressed all in black, with headscarf but face uncovered, approached me in the street and asked if I knew where the 'hair event' was.
'Hair event?' I asked.
'Yes, hair event.'
I was tempted to put on a face of thunder and cry: 'Wretched woman! Do you mean to drive men mad with sexual desire and become for those poor fellows what we ex-Catholics used to call an 'occasion of sin?'
But I didn't. She was adorably pretty and obviously sweet-natured as well, or anyway she looked it. So I just said I didn't know where the hair event was.
My question is - perhaps someone's wife can help (mine can't) - : what's a 'hair event'?
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>>... what's a 'hair event'?
here is one example:
www.aylesbury.ac.uk/?_id=875&page=9
Aylesbury College to Host a Glamorous Hair Event
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What's a hair event?
>
>>>>>>
they call it lamping up here
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they call it lamping up here
I think those are probably rabbits bb, rather than hairs...
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She was adorably pretty and obviously sweet-natured as well, or anyway she looked it.>>
You'll find that is the case with many, many young Muslim women - some of them are particularly stunning and all have, in particular, the most beautiful eyes.
I worked for nearly 30 years with members of the Asian community (they made up about a third of a 600 strong workforce); the vast majority are warm, helpful and friendly and certainly not averse to hard work.
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>>the vast majority are warm, helpful and friendly>>
I meant to include the fact that all of us got along famously - it's only in recent years that the wrong perception of Muslims has sadly arisen overall in some areas, because of the activities of a comparative few in other parts of the world.
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My eldest daughter works as a waitress on Saturday eavenings at the local pub/restraunt.
The landlord is a tightwad to the extent that he hoovers up all the tips that are left by diners, insisting that they go in the till along with the bill payments. He is known for this among the locals and whilst he does provide good meals, few of the regulars leave tips because they know that none of the paid staff will see any of them.
I have worked for a hotel many years ago and the tips were collected and divided between all the staff. Hence people who never came into contact with the customers got the same share as the waiting staff. Since everyone contributed to providing the customer with the service that he appreciated by tipping I think this was a vary fair way of doing it. However I do feel that my daughter is being robbed.
Questions:
Is it common for the landlord/owner of the establishment to keep the tips?
Is it legal?
If my daughter was given and kept a tip that was very obviously meant for her, what would the legal position be if the landlord took action, ie dismissed her or tried to take it out of her wages?
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It is common and I am not sure if it is legal - someone who knows will come along soon. I am also not sure what the tax position is, as income tax should be paid on tips now. I do know that I have to take extra cash to tip my hairdresser/shampooist now as they do not accept tips on a card.
When we ran hotels we insisted that tips were pooled (a tronc) and shared between everyone APART from management - we reckoned that we paid the managers enough and they got perks too! As we did a lot of large weddings and conferences, tips were substantial. We actually gave the care and distribution of tips to the Head Chef, a fair man liked by all, who ensured 'casuals' also got a pro-rata share of tips. As you say, those behind the scenes earn the tips too - if the rooms are dirty and the food is poor, then nobody gets tips, just as if the front-of-house staff are rude or badly trained.
The only exception was when a member of staff was tipped for something that did not involve anyone else - carrying luggage for instance, or taking initiative by removing and entertaining a screaming child from the restaurant (with the parents permission and pre-present day child protections rules) - then they kept the tip.
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How could the landlord easily account for the extra money in the till, assuming that all bills are printed off by the till? It's entirely possible that it is pocketed without being accounted for.
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Waitresses generally do a good job but the most important member of any catering staff is the chef (or chefs) - without good ones the whole business would suffer and they should get their fair share of any tips.
However, my personal view is that tipping is an anachronism - it was important for certain workers who were in lowly paid jobs in the past, but why should anyone be tipped these days merely for doing the job for which they are paid for anyway?
Yet bar staff, taxi drivers, waitresses etc seem to regard a tip as a right rather than a reward.
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>However, my personal view is that tipping is an anachronism - it was important for certain >workers who were in lowly paid jobs in the past, but why should anyone be tipped these days >merely for doing the job for which they are paid for anyway?
When did it stop being low paid then?
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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.. When did it stop being low paid then?
there seems to be some legal debate about whether tips are or are not part of wages since the minimum wage laws came in to effect.
see
www.weeklygripe.co.uk/arc259.asp?cID=89729
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>>When did it stop being low paid then?>>
There is no excuse for employers to expect part of the wages to be made up in the form of tips - I'd rather pay slightly more for the food and the staff be paid an appropriate wage for their work.
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My personal interpretation is that the landlord is guilty of theft. A tip is not part of his invoice for drinks or food, so he is taking money that is not his. A quick word with Citizens Advice should confirm this.
Get her to tackle him directly and point out his greed is hurting those who need it most. He will also find his employees would be happier and would work better.
If your daughter (or anyone else) cannot get her fair share of the tips then a discreet call to the Inland Revenue would be in order as I feel sure he would not be declaring this extra income.
--
Roger
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
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Thanks for that post Roger.
I have to say I agree with what you say, but here's the crunch.
My daughter is not quite 16. Although she does not need the job it pays per night and it is 100% flexable around her other activities/committments. The money is basically pocket money for her. What she earns she keeps, we don't ask for 'keep' etc. She can spend it how she wants, or save it for future or foreign trips. She's due to go to China with her school in June.
It's a great way of teaching her the value of money. She has stopped asking for things that she doesn't need now. She even offers to help with the cost of her extra curricular activities. Whilst we appreciate the gesture, we meet the cost of these in full (apart from spending money for foreigh trips).
My take is that she is unlikely to have a job that is much worse. Any other job that she takes in the future is likely to be better ;) Despite her moaning about the tips she chooses to carry on working there.
If she tackles him about the tips his response will be "If you don't like it you know where the door is".
Another pub has has planning permission granted to open a restaraunt. The landlord is a likeable chap and I would be keen for her to talk to him when he is to open it. By then she'll have waitressing experience.
As for the rest of the staff, most of the people that work there are the landlord's family.
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i think that your daughter is working illegally hugo
you know this
the landlord knows this
so there aint much you can do
i personally think the owner is guilty of theft and as said how is it accountable via till receipts?
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