The Night Mail

[AndyID]

Winter has returned - well it is still February. 27F this morning and snow expected tonight. It may be necessary for me to head for the hills this week.

[New Haven Neil]

Indeed - Mrs NHN recently had dealings with a professional here in the govt. tax office, who gave her totally incorrect advice and also bunger £8k on to her tax code - because she did not know her job.  Worse, she was teaching a new starter too, who was sitting in.  Mrs H had to speak to a higher manager the next week and get it all sorted out,  superannuation lump sums are tax free, their own website even states that.  Much growling was heard.

 

Back in my NHS HR days I worked closely with payroll, and found most payroll officers to be very good, with a small handful deliberately obstreperous looking for any reason they could think of to delay a payment or otherwise cause trouble where a simple query could resolve an issue.  Luckily the big boss was very good.

[TheQ]

We had a classic with payroll when I worked for GEC, . The payroll was produced on several paper tapes, it then was passed through a terminal to actually pay it....

 

The paper tape broke...  Did they repair it? 

 

No!!

 

The just put the next tape on and ignored the problem...

 

Several hundred people had no money appear in their accounts that week...

[Winslow Boy]

I have had quite a few experiences with both accounts and solicitors and I'm afraid that has how I have come to have a low opinion of them. There have been one or two individuals who I think we're helpful but on the whole I found most to be varying from , as Jamie said cummudgerly to frankly verging on the dishonest.

 

There were occasions when payments of quite considerable amounts of funds, we're talking 50-80k, weren't processed because the 'only' person who could process it was 'off'. To then have to deal with the contractor wasn't the accounts problem. Likewise contract documentation that would sit in someone's in tray thereby delaying the start of a contract because the following day they were on holiday, does not inbeau the contractor with a helpful demeanor when you require something done.

 

So yes I've no doubt there are some good ones out there, but they do seem to be in the minority. Apologies if that doesn't sit comfortably with some of my fellow RMwebbers.

[AndyID]

In our limited dealings with the UK Pensions people in Newcastle we have always found them to be very courteous and helpful 😀

[Northmoor]

20 minutes ago, Winslow Boy said:

I have had quite a few experiences with both accounts and solicitors and I'm afraid that has how I have come to have a low opinion of them. There have been one or two individuals who I think we're helpful but on the whole I found most to be varying from , as Jamie said cummudgerly to frankly verging on the dishonest.

 

There were occasions when payments of quite considerable amounts of funds, we're talking 50-80k, weren't processed because the 'only' person who could process it was 'off'. To then have to deal with the contractor wasn't the accounts problem. Likewise contract documentation that would sit in someone's in tray thereby delaying the start of a contract because the following day they were on holiday, does not inbeau the contractor with a helpful demeanor when you require something done.

 

So yes I've no doubt there are some good ones out there, but they do seem to be in the minority. Apologies if that doesn't sit comfortably with some of my fellow RMwebbers.

In the defence of accountants and solicitors, I'm struggling to think of any occupation where I have never experienced someone an inability to delegate.  You can only assume that many such people are paranoid that delegating shows they can be replaced.

 

I have even (sorry @iL Dottore) known senior specialist medical staff who have booked leave despite having a full diary of appointments arranged months earlier.  If you are genuinely the only person capable of doing something it is even more vital that you clear your diary early.

[polybear]

7 minutes ago, AndyID said:

In our limited dealings with the UK Pensions people in Newcastle we have always found them to be very courteous and helpful 😀

 

Assuming you don't lose the will to live whilst waiting on the phone for them to answer....

[AndyID]

Just now, polybear said:

 

Assuming you don't lose the will to live whilst waiting on the phone for them to answer....

 

We used the special ex-pats hotline 🤣🤣🤣

[Mike Bellamy]

9 hours ago, SM42 said:

Mrs SM42 has to fill in a monthly time sheet detailing extra hours over and above contract, in decimal time, allowing for breaks etc. 

 

When I worked in the Partnership office at the University, we had very flexible working hours, with most staff coming in early as our overseas partners were ahead of us by several hours. As this meant an earlier finish, a couple of staff found it better to come in later due to child care commitments so that the office was always manned (am I allowed to say that ?) during normal office hours. All worked well until the manager went on maternity leave and after complications with her pregnancy, didn't return.

 

Eventually a new manager was appointed who wanted to understand and record the start and finish time for us all, rather than the flexibility and trust we had enjoyed in the past. After entering everything into a spreadsheet, she made one member of staff alter her finish time to 5.01pm rather than 5.00pm as the spreadsheet proved that she was working 5 minutes less than everyone else - of course this wasn't true as she was one of the hardest working staff in the office, almost always in early and staying later. A prime example of how to get staff on your side - or not ! Caused a lot of resentment amongst the staff including me. We never worked well together and eventually she complained to HR about me. A senior member of another area investigated and was very much on my side - so much so that as soon as the manager went on holiday, I was moved to another department and she lost one of her most experienced staff !

.

[DaveF]

I think I have been lucky with HR and solicitors.  At one time I was trustee for a not very close relative who was unable to mange his own affairs owing to a health issue, the family solicitor made it easy and didn't charge too much.  The local solicitor who helped me sort out Mum's estate and then wrote my will was very efficient, the will came to me for checking with no errors at all.

 

As for HR having been a teacher for many years that meant the council staff, I never found any problems.  The only time they managed to get my salary wrong for one month after a temporary promtion ended I was simply told to keep the overpayment.

 

Later when my school became an academy I found our HR duo very helpful which was important as after I retired from teaching my working hours as a consultant were somewhat notional, I just sent them a note of what I had actually done each month and they arranged for anything over the previously contracted hours to be paid without question.  Perhaps I should mention that I managed to save them about six times what they paid me as I advised on staffing numbers as well as my official IT functions.

 

David

Edited February 27 by DaveF

[Canal Digger]

A tale of woe ...

Last week (Wednesday) the cooker (main oven) failed tripping the mains, soon reset. Decided that the element had probably fused, so given age , a new cooker required. SWMBO done the research and decided that we were going to a certain, national electrical goods supplier (hint: Indian food). Local shop limited display, so off to Bristol we go [where someone went into the back of our car = minor dent], found the one that fitted requirement best and paid the extra for delivery/ installation on Friday as Saturday we were going to Sandown Racecourse Swapmeet (a good day out). Friday morning and new Dual Fuel cooker delivered and installed, only to find that one of the burners wouldn't light, OK we say and fault got reported up the chain, cooker disconnected from gas main for safety. Today, Service Engineer from manufacturer arrived, to find that the installation guys had taken the gas hose away with to make sure that we didn't use any of the 3 working burners and no he didn't have a spare hose.

Spent about 50 min on phone being passed around various desks (retailer, manufacturer, retailer), to get a new cooker sometime, currently awaiting a call ... . Another night out.

I feel a compensation claim building ...

 

    

 

[4630]

I really can sympathise with your circumstances and experience with this particular outfit @Canal Digger
 

They are one of the very few ‘retailers’ (and I use that word with caution for them) that after several less than happy purchases I no longer use.  And I’ve made a point of recommending all my family and friends that they do like wise.
 

Price doesn’t come into it.  

 

Good luck in resolving your current issue to your satisfaction.  

 

 

[pH]

2 hours ago, AndyID said:

In our limited dealings with the UK Pensions people in Newcastle we have always found them to be very courteous and helpful 😀

Completely agree. However - the rules they have to administer? 😡🤬

[AndyID]

1 minute ago, pH said:

Completely agree. However - the rules they have to administer? 😡🤬

 

Ah yes, we better not go into that 😁

[DenysW]

2 hours ago, AndyID said:

In our limited dealings with the UK Pensions people in Newcastle we have always found them to be very courteous and helpful 😀

Same for the US pensions people dealing with (to them) ex-pats and ex-resident aliens now in the UK. Exactly the same as the IRS: desperate to give you not-a-penny-more but also not-a-penny-less than you are entitled to, The US State pensions also arranged for the money to go to Ireland (presumably so that one centre did all the EU) and then get electronically converted to £ and moved to my bank account in the UK. My US company pensions gets posted to me as a $ check. Much less impressed.

[Flying Fox 34F]

I have two recollections of pay related matters.  One company I worked for in my late teens, (a long long time ago), would adjust everyone’s pay packet in December as a bonus, but the January pay was adjusted to recover it!

The other time was approximately twenty years ago.  Word got round that no-one working for Railtrack was getting paid on the usual pay date, due to an error????  And as it was a Friday, high management decreed nothing could be done until the Monday.

Doncaster Signalman promptly started bringing trains to a stand at various places and advised local management, if no money was to be paid, they would book off duty and not return until money was in their bank accounts!  This caused a major panic as more and more trains came to a stand.

Within a few minutes, staff were informed that all payments would be completed by lunchtime.  They agreed to remain on duty and the service was restored, but it was a close run thing.

 

Paul

[New Haven Neil]

3 hours ago, AndyID said:

In our limited dealings with the UK Pensions people in Newcastle we have always found them to be very courteous and helpful 😀

 

Agree - although it's in Longbenton, but Newcastle is close enough!

 

I also don't have to moderate my accent when dealing with them, although last time the guy was Italian, we had a good laugh about accents.  They understand exactly the issues dealing with us in a Crown Dependency, unlike the one that actually lives here.  

 

As for the electricals dealer with the spicy name, they are worse than useless here.  They're good at fiddling with their phones instead of helping folk though.  Stock? No chance, no warehousing here despite having a huge place.  Two deliveries a week they say, it'll be here on Tuesday - aye, like the cheque's in the post mate.  I'll not mention the other line.

[SteveyDee68]

My job requires me to do various training courses, some of them annually, and when I first got the position I was immediately sent a list of about a dozen that needed to be completed immediately. One of those was a truly mind-numbing course all about data protection, sharing blah blah blah.

 

So, having done all that required training, I was quite surprised when my contract arrived via email with somebody else’s name attached to it. Indeed, the further I read the more I realised that I hadn’t been sent my contract but instead a colleague who had also just started (along with another half dozen people).

 

I contacted HR to inform them of the mistake and asked what I should do. Their response was bin the email/attachment as they were sending my contract forthwith.

 

Now, I know I shouldn’t have, but they had just made me do that damned GDDPR (or whatever it’s called) training so I innocently asked whether my contract had been sent to my colleague.

 

They replied of course not, but (curse this Devil’s Advocate mentality!!) I then asked whether they were going to notify GDPR of the breach? After all, they had sent me a colleague’s home address and all sorts of other information without his consent or knowledge … as I politely pointed out.

 

Never got a response to that message … I wonder why? I also learnt later that all the Council’s HR activities are provided by an external (private) provider - doesn’t that just reassure you that your private data is being well looked after…

 

Steve S

[PhilJ W]

5 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

Indeed - Mrs NHN recently had dealings with a professional here in the govt. tax office, who gave her totally incorrect advice and also bunger £8k on to her tax code - because she did not know her job.  Worse, she was teaching a new starter too, who was sitting in.  Mrs H had to speak to a higher manager the next week and get it all sorted out,  superannuation lump sums are tax free, their own website even states that.  Much growling was heard.

 

Back in my NHS HR days I worked closely with payroll, and found most payroll officers to be very good, with a small handful deliberately obstreperous looking for any reason they could think of to delay a payment or otherwise cause trouble where a simple query could resolve an issue.  Luckily the big boss was very good.

We had two in the office that were like that, the first was a young lady not deliberately awkward but not very bright. Some of the other ladies in the office helped her but in the end HR moved her to a lower position. The other was a lazy so-and-so who if he could get away with it would pass his work on to others. For the most part it was the 'clients' who were the awkward ones.

 

49 minutes ago, Flying Fox 34F said:

I have two recollections of pay related matters.  One company I worked for in my late teens, (a long long time ago), would adjust everyone’s pay packet in December as a bonus, but the January pay was adjusted to recover it!

The other time was approximately twenty years ago.  Word got round that no-one working for Railtrack was getting paid on the usual pay date, due to an error????  And as it was a Friday, high management decreed nothing could be done until the Monday.

Doncaster Signalman promptly started bringing trains to a stand at various places and advised local management, if no money was to be paid, they would book off duty and not return until money was in their bank accounts!  This caused a major panic as more and more trains came to a stand.

Within a few minutes, staff were informed that all payments would be completed by lunchtime.  They agreed to remain on duty and the service was restored, but it was a close run thing.

 

Paul

That would be a management c0ck up, payroll would be the ones who have to clean up the mess. Christmas was usually a difficult time and we moved heaven and earth to get as many people paid as possible before Christmas. With this in mind the payroll manager issued a timetable stating the last dates we can receive things such as time sheets. There was one supervisor in one department though who told her staff that overtime worked in the week leading up to Christmas (including Christmas Eve) would be paid before Christmas. We were just putting the Christmas payroll to bed when the HR manager came in demanding that the people be paid. The payroll manager stood his ground and there then ensued an almighty row which ended in the payroll manager telling the HR manager where he could stick the job and walked out slamming the door behind him. I then pointed out to the HR manager that it was too late for payments (BACS) to go through for Christmas anyway. He went away rather crestfallen anyway and cash advances were made to staff who had been promised payment before Christmas (but not by payroll). I don't know what happened the following year as by then I had retired.

Edited February 27 by PhilJ W

[Dave Hunt]

My most memorable contretemps with administrators was when a squadron I was on was changing squadron number on the first of a month. Some numpty in MoD duly deleted all reference to the squadron on the 31st of the previous month so come the first of the next month there was no squadron to renumber, at least in the main computer system. The big issue as far as I and all the other squadron personnel were concerned, though, was that when the squadron was deleted all reference to us for pay purposes was also deleted and as far as the pay system was concerned we no longer existed. It took several days before the mess was sorted out and MoD had to compensate quite a few people for charges that had been made for going overdrawn etc.  but the ramifications went on for ages. 

 

Dave 

[Tony_S]

I haven’t had a report frm the Cincinnati Zoo hippos recently but have just received one. . Today’s hippo fact was that the collective noun for a group of hippos is “a bloat” 

[Dave Hunt]

There are some things that are incredibly appropriate, aren’t there?

 

Dave

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[AndyID]

2 hours ago, Tony_S said:

I haven’t had a report frm the Cincinnati Zoo hippos recently but have just received one. . Today’s hippo fact was that the collective noun for a group of hippos is “a bloat” 

"on the landscape" springeth to mind 🤣

[Oldddudders]

For some weeks now, Sherry has had a swollen ring-finger, and as advised by the NHS she had consulted the pharmacist, who thought a steroid injection might help. A fortnight ago, she had rung her surgery, prompt at 08.30, to discover she was 52nd in the queue - yes, really. When she finally got through, she explained the circs to the receptionist, who was sympathetic and said she would get back to her. So Sherry got a txt from an Advanced Practitioner (not a real doc) saying that she would be put on a list for such an injection. Bless. The txt was signed by a Mr (?!) somebody or other. Does anyone sign themselves Mr?

 

Roll on a couple of weeks and the swelling and discomfort had got worse, so today another 8.30 assault on the phone-queue. Only 23rd this time - hey! Upshot was a call-back from a doc who didn't seem very bright, but eventually recommended A&E. So I dropped her at Torbay A&E, where she was triaged in a short time, and after less than two hours seen by someone senior, though maybe again not a full-blown doc. Ring removed by cutting, and x-ray revealed it's just arthritis. Sigh. She mentioned having had a brain-scan three weeks ago, but still awaiting a result. Immediately chap called up the scan, looked at it and told her that it confirmed a minor stroke, as had been feared. After-treatments are available, so back in the queue tomorrow to get the docs to get their arse in gear. 

 

Not for the first time, Torbay Hospital get 10/10 for effort and attitude, local surgery pathetically inept. 

 

Torbay Trivia - the hospital was designed by Charles Holden, of London Transport fame.