Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

silvercar

I also got caught last night by a financial company locking me out because they have updated their computer systems, so I need to confirm an email address. But their system is overrun so the emails aren't being sent out!

Spent the afternoon sitting in DS2 & GFs rented flat waiting for Sky to install the mega MSE broadband deal I got them. Quite confused how the flat he shares with GF can be kept immaculately whereas his room is still a tip.

vivatifosi

Family research...

I don't think I've mentioned this but keep meaning to.

The excellent WDYTYA family tree research magazine is often available online for free on the Zinio for libraries magazine tool. You need a valid library card to log on, but once you have that you should be able to read about a year's worth of issues, as well as the new ones when they come out.

PasturesNew

vivatifosi wrote: »

Family research...

I don't think I've mentioned this but keep meaning to.

The excellent WDYTYA family tree research magazine is often available online for free on the Zinio for libraries magazine tool. You need a valid library card to log on, but once you have that you should be able to read about a year's worth of issues, as well as the new ones when they come out.

You hadn't.

I've never heard the word Zinio. Would that mean that is something I could read at home .... or is it something you have to inside a library to use? I assumed it was something I'd have to be inside a library to get, booked onto and sitting at a PC that's placed very badly for those with "people issues".... but then your wording reads as if this is something you can access from your sofa.

vivatifosi

Zinio is for using at home. You set up an account and log in through that, but will need to be a library member. The name itself is just a trademark for a tool to read mags online, lots of them, not just family history.

It works best on a tablet... that way you can read magazines that you've downloaded. However it can be used to read magazines on a desktop, they just can't be downloaded.

WDYTYA magazine has some really interesting articles in, but I tend to dip in and out rather than reading in one go, as I also find it a challenge to read something online from cover to cover.

You can also look at back issues if the current one doesn't have anything of interest. I tend to scan the front cover then decide whether to delve in.

bugslet

Pyxis wrote: »

This is why I tend to stay put.

My health would suffer and shorten my life so that I wouldn't get the benefit of any savings, after hassle like that!

That's my view and why I seem to reduce the amount of companies that I deal with. Haven't moved the bank account for over 30 years, never switched gas and electric. Just can't be bothered with the hassle.

Pyxis

bugslet wrote: »

That's my view and why I seem to reduce the amount of companies that I deal with. Haven't moved the bank account for over 30 years, never switched gas and electric. Just can't be bothered with the hassle.

I suppose apart from the stress, there's also the added expense of all the phone calls needed to put the matter right!

Even if the calls are free, you hang on for ages and so can't get down to doing anything else.

My bank......26 years. I must admit, I have had other bank accounts in the past, but didn't change as part of the current switchmania. With this one, I had to switch to it in order to get a special loan for graduating students. When I had a business account, I switched because I was unhappy with the rude service and the business charges for cheques.

Mobile account..... 23 years

Gas and electricity.... I've had the electricity for 30 years and added the gas to it about 10 years ago. Switching the gas was a lot of hassle, hence my current reluctance (no pun intended!).

Water and sewerage..... never changed.

Landline.... switched 3 years ago from BT when I got broadband with another provider.(Before that, I had had BT for ever!).

chris_m

bugslet wrote: »

That's my view and why I seem to reduce the amount of companies that I deal with. Haven't moved the bank account for over 30 years, never switched gas and electric. Just can't be bothered with the hassle.

My MAIN bank account I've also had for over 30 years, but I have others for various incentives like interest and cashback.

I call it my Main account, even though it's usually the emptiest, because a) it was and b) that's where my pension gets paid. I then shuffle money around between that and the other accounts to maximise gains - i.e. money for various direct debits gets fired off to Santander who give me cashback on the DDs, whilst most of my spending is on a Tesco Clubcard Debit card but I t/f money straight back into the account to keep it a few quid either side of £3K to maximise the interest.

Right old minefield of high(ish) finance, that's me :rotfl:

Utilities - I've changed gas/leccy three times in the last 30 years, one of those being because I also changed the premises. I have changed internet/broadband a few more times though.

GDB2222

I shouldn't speak for Michaels, but I think he has one or two bank accounts that he doesn't use for anything else except account switching to get the cash incentives. This limits his pain if anything goes wrong.

bugslet

I did open a TSB account for the interest, but for the small amount, it hardly seems worth it. I'd get more money if I ate less chocolate:p.

My mobile has moved accounts a few times, it's a work one. Stayed the same number; I now have drivers younger than my mobile number:rotfl:

chris_m

bugslet wrote: »

My mobile has moved accounts a few times, it's a work one. Stayed the same number; I now have drivers younger than my mobile number:rotfl:

Surely they are all younger than 7 billion plus?
:rotfl: