Hurdler's Race to be Mortgage-Free

Hurdler

I despair with Am4z0n... I ordered something and specified a delivery of Wednesday.
I was in town for a course yesterday and got a note saying "We're delivering on Tuesday" (So why suggest I could have any choice on the day?)
I got no notification of it being delivered, despite having instructions in my details to use the secure lock box, and instructions on my front door.
Nothing in the secure box... nothing telling me if it had been left with a neighbour.

Rang them up and complained and was told that because I bought direct from a different company and only fulfilled by Amazon they would give me a full refund. The details they got from the courier was "signed for by the resident" which was obviously a lie. They then rang the depot and said that their paperwork just says "delivered" not if it was signed for, and by whom.

My neighbour has just knocked on my door, hand me a soggy parcel that had been caught in not one but two bouts of rain that she just found when she returned home - contents, one ruined electrical item!

I left feedback about how terrible the suppliers were and got the usual "it's not us, it's the couriers we use"... just how is that my issue??

Hurdler

Quick update from me as it has been a bit of a torrid time. Last Monday i got a call from the paramedics saying that they had been called as my mother had a small stroke when she was at Boots for an eye test.

She was admitted in to hospital and she had a fall overnight as well. Her best friend has been keeping an eye on her, but told the hospital I was down to care for mum - I was going to be down that week for a wedding anyway, but somehow she managed to convince the hospital I was caring full time for her.

Thankfully she is in "the system" now and being assessed by the Stroke Rehab unit while her bestie continues to confound things - the latest being I arranged with her hearing aid company to come do a new assessment and bring some spares for a part she lost in her hearing aid. Best friend called them and told them it wasn't necessary and that she just needed the spares.

It is a worry having had to return to London as I had to have bloods done yesterday for my own health issues going on at the moment, and worryingly her best friend and I share enduring power of attorney over mum's affairs - will was drawn up after dad died. But her friend insists she needs to be packed off to a home away from Colchester where she lives, away from friends (including presumably this one) who could come see her... it's all a bit of a stressful mess at the moment.

On top of this - I got my BTL flat re-valued... hadn't been done since I borrowed against it to put down a deposit for the house. Minimum: £325K - not bad considering I bought it for £67.5K...and that I bought the house for £320K.

Anyway bit of an off-load but needed it.

Ta for reading.

Pushkin

Thinking of you Hurdler, it's so horrible seeing our parents get old and vulnerable.

gallygirl

Aw rats Hurdler . What was the thinking behind you both having power of attorney - would your mum consider changing it do you think?

Hope she's on the mend.

Hurdler

gallygirl wrote: »

Aw rats Hurdler . What was the thinking behind you both having power of attorney - would your mum consider changing it do you think?

Hope she's on the mend.

At the time her friend was very helpful (they had been on hols when dad died) and so she stayed a lot with mum etc. But recently she's been obviously enjoying her own life, and it seems like she feels guilty about not wanting the responsibility on checking on mum (although in fairness no-one has ever expected her to do it).

A few years back at her daughter's 40th, friend and her brother cornered me basically whining about mum messing up the TV remote and calling them to help (this was when she started getting quite forgetful) and friend's brother basically told me "you're single, move back home"... I was furious.

I took mum to the GP to go through all her meds and the GP gave her a priority of care leaflet for Welfare and Health decisions. But friend's influence is all around - for example Mum spent the first couple of days telling the care assistants who are coming round for 6 weeks that she'd miss me when I went back to London at the end of the week and I joked with her was she guilting me to come back more often and she said yes. I was really hurt by that. That sounded like friend saying that to her 100%.

I went to see a friend who's a counsellor when I got back, and pretty much everyone says friend is feeling guilty about having their own life and not wanting this self-imposed responsibility, and also possibly grieving themselves about her degradation, but pushing it all to me. My cousin talked to her and tried to reason with her pointing out that the last time I received a call like that my father had died in hospital, and that I was dealing with a new pressure situation on my own - but friend tends to talk over people and just gets her point over and doesn't actually listen.

I suspect Mum would go along with the Lasting Power of Attorney (the new one) with me and cousin to have the final say (with her intent) on welfare and health - and it means we don't have to have a messy showdown with the friend to remove her from the Joint Power of attorney over finances, because she has no access to mum's accounts - I have that. But she does have a say over property - which again is a little worying. Solicitor was happy to do a home visit so I might try and arrange than for when I do a longer visit at the end of this month.

gallygirl

That might be for the best. Does it need to be both you and your cousin, would it not be simpler for just you?

Hurdler

gallygirl wrote: »

That might be for the best. Does it need to be both you and your cousin, would it not be simpler for just you?

Solicitor said it is always worth having a back up just in case anything happens to me, or if I am away travelling

Hurdler

So mum update - she's taking her rehab exercises very seriously - and I am down this weekend and then for a longer weekend at the start of November.

Flat was valued at £325K, which is not bad for a place bought for £67.5K back in the day... But have been convinced not to sell, for now anyway.

Some dipping into the Emergency fund to pay for redecoration after rain got in and have to get some repointing down before the weather closes in.

Houses updated (and the annual statement is due soon anyway so a new year will beginneth. Four years! Unreal!

How do I reduce 70K into £2.50?

Houses



Vernon the Virtual Money Pig
I am going to use of some of Vernon's tummy to pay for the pointing and my car needs servicing as well, le sigh!

Hurdler

Seriouisly !!!!!! Amazon - second time in a row I have ordered something - I got an email while I was working upstairs saying it had been delivered posted in my letterbox - nothing, and nothing in my secure box outside.

F*cking shambles.

Hurdler

Rats.... got my adjusted payment and it is £350.07 next month... I was just 8p short of dipping below £350 a month!!!