Archive for the ‘General’ Category

I actually know people who aren’t on Facebook.  I know that is hard to believe but they are out there…

Some choose to ignore it, some dislike it, some are not technically minded, however unless living under a rock, most have heard of it!

I am sure that most of them think that Facebook is about telling people what you had for lunch.  Well, sometimes that’s exactly what it is. And the problem with that is? I mean, if I meet my mate for a pint at the local, I might talk to them about the latest job I’ve done, or about my rubbish network provider, my issue with foreign call centres or…what I had for lunch.

I think that is why I like Facebook. It is almost always instantly good for my emotional state and combats boredom without competition.

Some of my non-user friends prefer to call Facebook “mindless”. That’s actually not a bad thing either, sometimes it’s nice to relax and read trash. Some days my friends on Facebook depart from their role as uptight intellectuals and are all affect. Public feelings, as I call them, can be particularly powerful, precisely because they are directed not at any one observer but somewhere indefinitely “public” and that means you can catch them or not. (“It’s not about me.” Or, “This is so about me!” I like the dabbling, darting nature of address on Facebook. It’s only a direct hit if I want it to be.)

I also go on Facebook because I have a community there whose politics I may not always agree with but who can be counted upon to be suitably disagreeable when something unconscionable happens, some prefer to share and comment on my posts, some ignore, but all read!  They can be passionate, opinionated and irrepressible. I love that. Intemperate, even, it’s still an emotional response. If I’m disgusted with something whiny I’m reading on the internet or featuring in the news, well, I know someone will have a comment about it on Facebook. Even better, if I can’t bear to tune in to conventional news, I know on Facebook I will have a remarkably interesting slice through the day’s events, whatever those may be, and from a slant just slanted enough to be worth my time.

If it isn’t worth my time, something else is one click away. Facebook doesn’t come to me, I go to it. And that means I can leave, thank you, without any rudeness or guilt. There is no requirement to update, link, comment, or even like. I can peruse and stalk or participate away (I’m opinionated, what can I say? I do a lot of participating).

Is it possible in this so-called fragmented, decentralised, customising life of ours that some of these digital devices actually restore community that was lost in the post-War modernity?  Is it possible social networks like myspace, bebo, facebook and twitter put together the fragmented, alienated self? Not sure. But, mostly, it feels good – Sometimes. And, when it doesn’t, I leave the site and, of course, I go to the pub…

These are just a few mindless thoughts about Facebook on an evening where I’m waiting for a report to upload. So I take these ten minutes of luxury and see what my FB friends are up to.  Oh and to write this rambling post that, of course, I plan to share – on Facebook.

Why do YOU like Facebook? Or do you hate it? (In which case, why waste time reading about it?) In any case, I’d love to hear… who knows, it might inspire yet another mind-wandering ramble about my so-called Facebook life.

(P.S. Facebook really does creep me out, not just sometimes but a lot of the times, on issues of privacy and data mining.  So here’s to balancing the creepy factor against the warm and cosy human factor – Like a lot of life.)

On April Fools Day (aptly named) 01/04/2009 I was out in Barnsley with a friend. I had had a lot to drink and a very good night. At the end of the night there was some sort of altercation where I was punched, fell and sustained a head injury from the pavement. I was unconscious for 4 hours or more and had the rest of that night and the next in Barnsley Hospital.

As part of my recovery I had to go through periods of depression, slurred speech, headaches and unresolvable tiredness. Victim Support contacted me and advised me as a matter of course to enter an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for compensation despite there being no arrests or suspects to the assault.

CICA is the government body responsible for administering the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in England, Scotland and Wales. They form part of the Ministry of Justice and also provide a service on behalf of the Scottish Government.

I filled in the forms with the Victim Support and entered my injuries and mental afflictions sustained after the incident. It has been quite a lengthy process and the CICA asked me for supporting information also writing to the Police, the Hospital and my Doctor.

Today I received an offer for compensation of £1500 of which I am planning to accept after speaking to Victim Support. This covers the amounts that I failed to pay on time when I was depressed but no more. I didn’t do this for the money, however I am pleased with the result and the award by the CICA helps to soften the blow (excuse the pun) lol

I feel that I have recovered adequately now to carry on with life in a positive manner and look forward to going out again in Barnsley. I won’t be drinking quite so much and I think I will be a little more guarded about the people around me, however; the experience has, in my opinion, been an important one!

Useful links:

http://www.cica.gov.uk/ Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)

http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/ Victim Support National website

http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/ Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)

Forwarding viral videos isn’t really my thing, so when I make an exception you can be sure I’m either incredibly technically impressed or have just recovered from an incapacitating 20 minute gut-wrenching belly laugh.

This afternoon I was the victim of a little of both – stop what you’re doing and watch this.

Guy Ritchie’s Snatch (not to be confused with Madonna) is on my top 10 list of favorite movies, ever. Frequently when it comes up in conversation I am asked “Yeah, but have you seen Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels?” To which I usually reply with one of the following:

1. “No, Chief. I’ve been living under a rock for the last 10 years and actually don’t have a huge, all-encompassing obsession with British gangster movies. Enlighten me.”
2. “Yes, I stumbled across it last week while perusing your awesome and eclectic movie collection. It was right between Gladiator and Top Gun.”
3. “Piss Off.”

Snatch is by far the superior movie, and someone with an appreciation for the vocabulary of lead villain “Bricktop” comparable to my own has created a brilliant mashup using footage from Star Wars. Darth Vader’s dialogue is substituted for that of Bricktop and incredible hilarity ensues. For the love of God, do yourself a favour and enjoy this masterpiece: “You stop me again while I’m walking and I’ll cut your f**king jacobs off”

The marriage of specific scenes with dialogue is incredible, and you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Vader choke one of his Imperial underlings and then call them a “c*nt” for good measure.

He also appears to have a fondness for tea which I didn’t know about. What did you think?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDKiQfBs9lo

Recently I have been contacted by a debt collection agency (DCA) attempting to recover an old debt of mine. The debt is for over £1000 and is from when I was a student some 14 years ago! I once had a Student Barclaycard account and ran up the balance without paying it. When I left University I failed to give the company a forwarding address and didn’t hear a peep from them!

In actual fact I have a normal Barclaycard currently with a balance that is ok and payments are being made to the account. I am suprised that Barclaycard gave me a credit card with an old balance outstanding but they did.

I did some research and the findings were that if a company fails to collect on a debt for 6 years the debt is marked ‘Statute Barred’… This means that it is unenforceable and the payment of the debt is to the discretion of the debtor.

I contacted the DCA in question with a standard ‘Statute Barred’ letter requesting confirmation that the debt is indeed ‘Statute Barred’ and therefore Dead. Alas, they did not reply so I followed the letter with a phone call, they said that the debt was NOT ‘Statute Barred’ as I had made a payment in early 2008 therefore acknowledging the debt and restarting the 6 year timer. THIS IS A COMMON LIE used by DCA’s to convince you that you have to pay the debt. In actual fact once the debt is ‘Statute Barred’ it cannot be Unstatuated… Because there was a gap of over 6 years from when I finished and defaulted on the account to when I made payment in 2008 the debt remains Dead.

I asked for the previous payment amounts and dates with which they replied there aren’t any. Remember: It is up to the company to prove that the debt is NOT ‘Statute Barred’ not for you to prove it is! Stand by your guns and if you firmly believe there has been a 6 year gap with out you making a payment to the account or acknowledging the debt (in writing) then it is dead and you don’t have to pay it if you wish not to!

I have enclosed a copy of the ‘Statute Barred’ letter for you to cut and paste if you have a debt you believe should be dead from your past. Feel free to send it, and remember to send it Recorded Delivery. England and Wales has a 6 year period of silence and Scotland 5 years. The DCA will try all attempts to encourage you to pay and will lie to you, they may even fabricate payments to make you believe it is still live and enforceable. Don’t ring them, don’t acknowledge the debt and don’t pay them anything… Just send the following letter. If they continue to hassle you without sending proof that the debt is Open then you must report them to the Financial Ombudsmen for bad practice, they will investigate!

Once accepted a DCA may offer a last ditch attempt of an offer of say 50% of the balance! Do not pay, you don’t have to pay anything!!!

‘Statute Barred’ Letter: Request for proof of debt being live!

Your Name:
Your Address:
Date

To:

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Dear Sir/Madam

Account No:

You have contacted me/us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself/ourselves.

I/we would point out that under the Limitation Act 1980 Section 5 “an action founded on simple contract shall not be brought after the expiration of six years from the date on which the cause of action accrued”.

I/we would also point out that the OFT say under their Debt Collection Guidance on statute barred debt that “it is unfair to pursue the debt if the debtor has heard nothing from the creditor during the relevant limitation period”.

The last correspondence/payment/acknowledgement or payment of this debt was made over six years ago and no further acknowledgement or payment has been made since that time. Unless you can provide evidence of payment or written contact from me/us in the relevant period under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, I/we suggest that you are no longer able to take any court action against me/us to recover the alleged amount claimed.

The OFT Debt Collection Guidance states further that “continuing to press for payment after a debtor has stated that they will not be paying a debt because it is statute barred could amount to harassment contrary to section 40 (1) of the Administration of Justice Act 1970“.

I/we await your written confirmation that no further contact will be made concerning the above account and confirmation that this matter is now closed.

I/we look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully

(Your signature)

Source: http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/

The company I have had problems with and the trail of debt ownership is

Barclaycard > Lowell Portfolio > Buchananclark + wells

Please feel free to comment here of any problems you are having and I will do my best to help out if I have relevent information that might be of assistance to you in resolving debts to these Bully DCA’s… The National Debtline is very good and I would recommend you call them to discuss any issues!

Woo Woo UPDATE: I recieved today a letter from the DCA after sending them a second copy of the letter (this time recorded delivery) stating that the account has been closed with the DCA and sent back to the clients – they are not going to do this unless the account is indeed ‘Statute Barred’… Get in! Result! Wish you all luck in your pursuits!