I have been having a total nightmare because of the thrice damned Royal Mail. I lost my debit card on the 23rd of May. I contacted the bank immediately and they dispatched a replacement, to be here “within 5 working days”. The 23rd was a Saturday, then Sunday, then a bank holiday Monday. OK, within 5 days, Friday or Saturday. I was desperately hoping for Friday so I could book a van. Friday and Saturday came and went. Nothing. I looked at the Enterprise website, “rentals must be on the renters named card”. So I couldn’t use Wendy’s even though it’s the same account. I even rang them to confirm it. Not on Wendy’s card, won’t take cash. Super. I wanted to pick the bike up Tuesday. I emailed the seller and told him. We delayed until Saturday. No mail Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Royal Mail are delivering parcels every day, but no mail. I contacted the bank on Thursday, mainly to see if they could bypass the RM by sending a card to branch for me to pick up. Nope. They are sending me a new card. I found a one horse company that would let me rent on Wendy’s card, but all they had was an electric van with a 150 mile range. I need to collect from Scotland. I was so desperate I even looked to see if I could buy a shed of a van. In the end I committed to a courier firm. It’s £240, but they wanted £85 for the van, plus £35 in cover, plus £65 for diesel. So I’m paying £55 over the odds. But getting it delivered to my door and not having to run around all day. Not terrible.
I booked all that in on Thursday night. Then I had to risk it and pay the seller by bank transfer. Sight unseen, just hoping he was trust worthy. He was. I got the ownership transfer notification off the DVLA, but it was a worrying couple of day. Friday was Wendy’s birthday so I drew a bunch of money out (using her card) the other day, and rode to an authentic Cornish pastie shop in Wales while she was at work to surprise her with a pastie tea. I got there and there and joined the queue, which gave me time to notice the sign “We are cashless”. Of course you are. DAMN YOU RM!
I got home and the RM had done a mail delivery. The first of at least that week, and we had seven items of mail. One of which was my card from the 23rd, 12 days (9 working days) later.
I took it to the shop to activate it. Nope. I contacted the bank, they said in issuing another replacement, that card had been deactivated. Super. So now I have to wait until RM deign to do another mail delivery.
What a farce. One of the conditions of the sale of RM was that they maintain a daily, universal delivery service. That clearly isn’t happening. Another sterling success for asset stripping privitisation.
Anyway. Now I’ve got the bike sorted, and I don’t have to stress about collecting it, I can wait for my card without freaking out.
For some reason they collected the bike today (Saturday) but aren’t delivering it until Monday morning.
Ho hum.
As soon as it’s safely in the shed I can relax and enjoy.
I’m trying not to let the RM harsh my buzz over the bike. It’s a £500 project that looks in brilliant condition. It’s a bargain.
My army pension money hasn’t been paid (again, 9 working days after my birthday) and my heart rate monitor results still haven’t been analysed. I rang them and they said it’s taking around 4 months. I may be thick as a whale sandwich at maths, but even I know 6 months is longer than 4 months.
It’s all been about, and remains about, the waiting. At which I am terrible. Not fun.
Come to me, Beryl, the yellow peril.
