What a day I am having thus far, dear readers!
On Friday of last week, I was expecting delivery of a new Home Hub from BT, my ISP, in order that we could benefit from free evening and weekend telephone calls using VoIP instead of the standard telephone line. I was assured that this service would be active on Friday 7 July, and that the Hub would also be delivered on that day. Annoyingly, by 16:15, it became quite clear that the delivery wasn't going to be, despite being assured of this earlier that day. At 16:30, I contacted BT to ascertain the whereabouts of my order, explaining that I had to turn down a day of work to take this delivery. Explanations were offered, none of which seemed acceptable, although a thorough investigation was promised. I then registered this as a legitimate complaint via BT's website.
On Saturday, the next day, we returned from our errands to find a message from BT explaining how saddened they were at my need for complaint, adding that an investigation would occur. Having not heard anything at all since then, I took the liberty of contacting BT this morning to try and discover what, if any, developments were afoot. Having been cut off twice and passed from one department to another - each offering varyingexcuses explanations - all conflicting with the others offered, I must add - I am still no further forward. Eventually, one bright spark agreed that another Home Hub should be dispatched with immediate effect. Why this was not done on Friday is beyond me. More news as and when, as hopefully, I will have a shiny new and exclusive telephone number for VoIP calls (which are also compatible with my minicom/textphone!!).
In other news:
Yesterday evening was spent with Wifeage™ in the divine company of the Lovely Lisa™. Having recently lost her mother after a period of serious illness, it was agreed that a complete night off from domesticity was in order. A menu was agreed upon the previous day, ingredients bought and stored until needed.
The first job was to install a new CD Writer for Dan, Lisa's son, as an early birthday date gift, thus removing the need to share Lisa's external CD Writer, which had developed a fault anyway (more news further in this blog). Hardware duly installed, it was back to the kitchen, where food was cooked, salad prepared and drinks poured. This led to great music, ranging from Erykah Badu to Robin Guthrie and Spirit to Lynyrd Skynrd and back to Spirit again. The conversation was as stimulating as ever, and a great time was had by all. Marvellous!
Having arrived back at Eldritch Boulevard HQ after washing the dishes (I did say a complete night off for Lisa), said CD Writer was tested. The USB cable was okay, as was my spare multi-voltage power adapter, indicating that the fault lay with the existing power adapter. Having priced up a new one via the manufacturer's website, and even via eBay type sites, nothing was immediately forthcoming without considering the price of a new CD Writer for a few pounds more than the price of a new adapter. A new DVD Writer was considered until I realised that the system in question might not run such a peripheral. The solution presented itself to me earlier this afternoon after a visit to a local computer sales and repair type emporium. This place is a real Aladdin's Cave and a geek's dream. It would make a great musuem, but after today, I would not hesitate to call it a chamber of horrors.
Having explained what I needed, I was reassured to be told that what I needed was in stock 'somehwere' and that such an adpater could be made anyway. Although initially intrigued, I was horrified when the chap returned with a replacement equivalent adapter with the previous plug (CD Writer end, not the mains bit) merely taped on using electrical LX type insulating tape. The look on the man's face was one of smug self-satisfaction as he explained that although it was 'agricultural' it would be fine. I showed this bastardised repair to Wifeage™ and she admitted to feeling 'quite sick'. I proffered that this wasn't only 'agricultural' but down right dangerous. He then added that the atached wire 'won't be going anywhere', implying its 'secure' anchorage. In shock and horror, I simply removed the existing plug from the cable with a mild yank, and turned to leave the store. I then had the remains of his power adapter thrown in my wife's general direction (not mine), in a very petulant manner, with the words 'oh, take the thing'. This was followed by a very sarcastic 'Thank you very much' and a resounding 'harumph'. Although I tried to calm the man down, I realised I was wasting my time and continued on our way, still rather shocked by what we had just witnessed and experienced.
In time, I may return to the store and endeavour to explain the errors of his 'repair'. One would hope he was already abundantly aware of the risks involved here, and not just to equipment but to life and limb also. In the event of a fire (highly possible), there would be no legitimate claim for insurance, and in the worst case scenario of lost life, it would be me that would take the rap (and rightly so) for said death, not the man in the store. This is why I acted in the way I did. I am still deciding whether to contact the Health and Safety Executive and/or Trading Standards with regard to this. I would hate to think that this is normal practice for this business. If so, his little empire of wires and such going up after a spark would make 1666 look like a barbecue in comparison.
It was then that I realised the solution to this problem, as not only were we still without a replacement power adapter, the existing one had been cannibalised in the other store. That solution was good old trustworthy Argos. A mere £7.99 later and the CD Writer works again. Extra Marvellous! But what a fiasco to get to that point.
All I need now is that BT Home Hub....
Have a superb week, one and all!
Rachael.... ♥
On Friday of last week, I was expecting delivery of a new Home Hub from BT, my ISP, in order that we could benefit from free evening and weekend telephone calls using VoIP instead of the standard telephone line. I was assured that this service would be active on Friday 7 July, and that the Hub would also be delivered on that day. Annoyingly, by 16:15, it became quite clear that the delivery wasn't going to be, despite being assured of this earlier that day. At 16:30, I contacted BT to ascertain the whereabouts of my order, explaining that I had to turn down a day of work to take this delivery. Explanations were offered, none of which seemed acceptable, although a thorough investigation was promised. I then registered this as a legitimate complaint via BT's website.
On Saturday, the next day, we returned from our errands to find a message from BT explaining how saddened they were at my need for complaint, adding that an investigation would occur. Having not heard anything at all since then, I took the liberty of contacting BT this morning to try and discover what, if any, developments were afoot. Having been cut off twice and passed from one department to another - each offering varying
In other news:
Yesterday evening was spent with Wifeage™ in the divine company of the Lovely Lisa™. Having recently lost her mother after a period of serious illness, it was agreed that a complete night off from domesticity was in order. A menu was agreed upon the previous day, ingredients bought and stored until needed.
The first job was to install a new CD Writer for Dan, Lisa's son, as an early birthday date gift, thus removing the need to share Lisa's external CD Writer, which had developed a fault anyway (more news further in this blog). Hardware duly installed, it was back to the kitchen, where food was cooked, salad prepared and drinks poured. This led to great music, ranging from Erykah Badu to Robin Guthrie and Spirit to Lynyrd Skynrd and back to Spirit again. The conversation was as stimulating as ever, and a great time was had by all. Marvellous!
Having arrived back at Eldritch Boulevard HQ after washing the dishes (I did say a complete night off for Lisa), said CD Writer was tested. The USB cable was okay, as was my spare multi-voltage power adapter, indicating that the fault lay with the existing power adapter. Having priced up a new one via the manufacturer's website, and even via eBay type sites, nothing was immediately forthcoming without considering the price of a new CD Writer for a few pounds more than the price of a new adapter. A new DVD Writer was considered until I realised that the system in question might not run such a peripheral. The solution presented itself to me earlier this afternoon after a visit to a local computer sales and repair type emporium. This place is a real Aladdin's Cave and a geek's dream. It would make a great musuem, but after today, I would not hesitate to call it a chamber of horrors.
Having explained what I needed, I was reassured to be told that what I needed was in stock 'somehwere' and that such an adpater could be made anyway. Although initially intrigued, I was horrified when the chap returned with a replacement equivalent adapter with the previous plug (CD Writer end, not the mains bit) merely taped on using electrical LX type insulating tape. The look on the man's face was one of smug self-satisfaction as he explained that although it was 'agricultural' it would be fine. I showed this bastardised repair to Wifeage™ and she admitted to feeling 'quite sick'. I proffered that this wasn't only 'agricultural' but down right dangerous. He then added that the atached wire 'won't be going anywhere', implying its 'secure' anchorage. In shock and horror, I simply removed the existing plug from the cable with a mild yank, and turned to leave the store. I then had the remains of his power adapter thrown in my wife's general direction (not mine), in a very petulant manner, with the words 'oh, take the thing'. This was followed by a very sarcastic 'Thank you very much' and a resounding 'harumph'. Although I tried to calm the man down, I realised I was wasting my time and continued on our way, still rather shocked by what we had just witnessed and experienced.
In time, I may return to the store and endeavour to explain the errors of his 'repair'. One would hope he was already abundantly aware of the risks involved here, and not just to equipment but to life and limb also. In the event of a fire (highly possible), there would be no legitimate claim for insurance, and in the worst case scenario of lost life, it would be me that would take the rap (and rightly so) for said death, not the man in the store. This is why I acted in the way I did. I am still deciding whether to contact the Health and Safety Executive and/or Trading Standards with regard to this. I would hate to think that this is normal practice for this business. If so, his little empire of wires and such going up after a spark would make 1666 look like a barbecue in comparison.
It was then that I realised the solution to this problem, as not only were we still without a replacement power adapter, the existing one had been cannibalised in the other store. That solution was good old trustworthy Argos. A mere £7.99 later and the CD Writer works again. Extra Marvellous! But what a fiasco to get to that point.
All I need now is that BT Home Hub....
Have a superb week, one and all!
Rachael.... ♥
