GRIPES

[red750]

I've had a less than satisfyng experience with Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme, or at least the arrangements for returning empty bottles to claim the deposit refund.

 

There are recycling machines located in shopping centre carparks, but you need to have an app on your phone, open an account and the refunds would be credited to your bank account. That's a lot of trouble for a couple of dollars, two or three times a year. We don't use that many bottles or cans you can recycle under this scheme. We used to use more but when my son got a Sodastream machine, they started producing their own soft drinks.

 

Before the machines werre installed a recycling depot was set up in a building in Nunawading where you could take your bottles and get the refund in cash. I had been there a couple of times before the Sodastream.

 

Fast forward to just after Christmas. We had about 25 bottles looking untidy around the place, so I took the up to the centre during the week after Christmas. There was a sign saying "Sorry, no cash today, app only", so I took them home again, and left the two shopping bags with bottles in the boot. I went up again after new year, and the queue was around the wall and out the door. Back home again. 

 

Then I went up again yesterday and there were only 4 or 5 customers waiting. I went inside and the same "No cash" sign was stuck on the wall. I stuck my head through the serving window, and asked "When will you have cash?" The girl said, "Only on Wednesdays." I went back again today, and the queue was all around the wall again. I decided to wait -- about half an hour! A guy at the servery window was loding bags throuh the window (see photo). He had already put 2 or 3 through, and still had nine on the floor to put through.

 

In addition, another customer in the queue had 5 large black garbage bags full, another man had a trolley with six large cartons of bottles and cans and a woman had two trolleys with bags and boxes. They must have been collecting from places like the MCG, or running a bar or restaurant.  They all appeared to be using the app and getting their refund in their account.

 

I finally put through my 25 bottles, collected my $2.50 and left. The queue behind me was even longer. I reckon I probably spent the $2.50 on petrol going back and forth. Why they let those with commercial quantities go there on the only day they pay cash refunds beats me.

 

 

This bag is stuffed with the dozen or so empty bags he had put through the window.

 

[facthunter]

They are not very "Fair Dinkum" about it are they? Nev

[spacesailor]

I wouldn't even try,  

I let the " bag people " raid my recycling bin .

But if they make a mess , tipping the contents out, onto the road ! . I give them a mouthful . 

Crazy me , I sweep  my gutters  ( kerbside ) .

spacesailor

 

Edited Thursday at 03:42 AM by spacesailor

[facthunter]

As long as you don't  SHIRTFRONT them. Nev

[pmccarthy]

Or hold their hose.

[facthunter]

T A Bot said  He was going to do THAT to Putin. I think it Pushed Putin "over  the Edge". Nev

[nomadpete]

6 hours ago, facthunter said:

T A Bot said  He was going to do THAT to Putin. I think it Pushed Putin "over  the Edge". Nev

What ?

 

On 16/01/2025 at 4:39 PM, pmccarthy said:

Or hold their hose

Did T Abbot offer to hold Pootin's hose?

[Marty_d]

I'd prefer someone pushed Putin out of a window.  Preferably above the 10th floor.

That would have the benefit of being both a traditional Russian firing, and poetic justice.

[Jerry_Atrick]

Gripe of the week - Me!

 

I have been under the pump at wirk for the last few weeks.. and I have been skimming rather than forensically reading emails. Unf, I bloody-well agreed to something that I didn't want to, because I thought it was about something else.

 

When my manager questioned if I had responded to the request, I had let her know that I hadn't even received the request. She insisted the team responsible for sending it had. As we were speaking the team member who sent the request responded they were delighted I had agreed. I hurriedly found the original email, and realised it was cunningly cloaking the subject of the email - not intentionally. You see, a similar request was being made of a subordinate, and the descriton of the person was generic and I assumed, as I was managing that and expecting the request of me to come in later, that it was about him. Confirmation bias.

 

F! Now I have to do soemthing I don't want to, wasn't mandatory, and now I have to attend sessions that I really, really, want to avoid.

 

In my younger days, I would have spotted that very quickly.

 

My gripe; Getting old!

 

 

 

[facthunter]

Better than the alternative, unless someone can inform me to the contrary.   Nev

[nomadpete]

3 hours ago, facthunter said:

Better than the alternative, unless someone can inform me to the contrary.   Nev

Well, Nev, the afterlife must be really great because nobody has ever come back to complain about it, or to ask for their money back.

 

 

Except Spacey, of course.

[facthunter]

Since spacey came back He's been most happy when he's unhappy. Nev

[spacesailor]

But ! .

Up there was " cold , damp and the music awful ".

 

I just wanted to be with my relies down there , hot , great music , & parties for Eternity  .

Now I'm here , old & missing those parties .

spacesailor. 🤪

Edited Saturday at 07:53 AM by spacesailor
Mucked up a word

[pmccarthy]

You might be like Lazarus. Once brought back, he was condemned to walk the earth forever. Or so one story goes.

[spacesailor]

2052 .

That should get me the " oldest person " record .

French lady was 120ish . But disputed by Russia .

I like to think she should be left with her record .

spacesailor

[Marty_d]

I don't think she'll care 

[facthunter]

It Ain't necessarily SO.  The Things that your liable to read in da Bible, Dey ain't necessarily so..   Nev

[red750]

I need a small loan of about $3,500. I thought I'd check around.

 

You've probably all seen those annoying commercials with that idiot in blue springing out calling "You need Wallet Wizard!"

 

I looked at their website, the Costs page. Fees looked good -

 

Wallet Wizard Smart Loan
Wallet Wizard Smart Loan Fees - $500 to $8000
Annual fee:    $0
Service fee:    $0
Credit Limit Increase fee:    $0
Over Limit Fee:    $0
Manual payment fee:    $0
 

Then I checked their interest rate. Talk about loan sharks!  This is a straight copy from their website.

 

What is your interest rate?
The annual variable interest rate for new loans effective from 08/12/2016 is 47.8%.

[Marty_d]

Yeah - any sort of non-bank player offering small loans are sharks.  "Payday" lenders get people who really can't afford them into a world of debt.

Two words for you Peter... "reverse mortgage"

[onetrack]

Peter, I trust you realise that no-one will lend you money on a personal basis, once you're over retirement age. They'll lend it to your company structure, but only with asset security.

You wouldn't even get a new credit card now, at your age. If you do have a credit card, the easiest way to source some funds is apply for a credit card limit increase.

A reverse mortgage is a possibility, but watch the application fees and other hidden charges, such as steep monthly account fees.

 

But even if you have a credit card, I'm not sure that they'd increase your limit by another $3500, if you do still happen to have a card. Most credit cards are about 14%, but be aware that cash advances on a credit card can incur interest rates of 20-25% - plus a cash advance fee of around 3%.

 

I kept my credit card with Community First Bank (formerly CFCU) and I have a $10,000 limit, and the interest rate is only 8.99%. Best of all, I can get a cash advance anytime, at no cost, and the interest rate on any cash advance is still only 8.99%. That's the advantage of doing business with customer-owned banks or credit societies.

 

EDIT - I was just discussing this with SWMBO and she brought up the fact you can get a free loan from Centrelink, provided you meet the necessary criteria.

You can borrow up to $2000 from Centrelink for essential goods and services. These include household appliances, car expenses, beds, computers, and home repairs.

The loan has to be repaid over 24 mths.

 

https://womeninstem.org.au/free-centrelink-loans-for-pensioners/

 

Edited Sunday at 11:06 AM by onetrack

[red750]

1 hour ago, onetrack said:

But even if you have a credit card, I'm not sure that they'd increase your limit by another $3500,

I have a credit card with a credit balance (owe zero) with a limit more than that, and a credit rating of 1000/1000.

 

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

I can spot a gap in the market, here. Will have to look up the APRA regs sooner or later, so may start now.

 

Reverse mortages are just long term bridging loans; the interest compounds daily over time, and you will find even a small loan will eek out a lot from your estate if it goes for more than three years. And, while I don't know the regs in Aus, over here, they haircut to the value of the property is huge such that if you live too long, you're in a right mess before you die as the financer owns the lot and can turf you out.

 

Whe nlending, the most imprtant risk factor is your income over your basic living costs, today, and estmated in the future. However, a lender can somewhat mitgate it by locking in longer dated swaps; the rate being higher than shorter dated ones.. which will account for a slightly higher interest charge. Also, the charge on the property will cost as there will be legals involved. Unsecured, it will be very tough to get a loan unless you are free of debe and own your property outright.

 

Again, I don't know Australian law, but over here, before the beneficiaries of a will get their hands on the estate, all debtors must be paid out. If the law is the same in Australia, as long as all the necessary rgulations in originating the loan are complied with, the lender will get their grubby profits.

 

As I said, this looks like a gap in the market. Maybe I will set up Aussie Pensioner Loans.

 

Edit.. I have had to borrow to finish the house, and it is moving nicely to the poitn where I am not sure I want to sell. I spoke to my broker, and I am close to retirement age.. and they say they have no probs fudning me on a 25 year mortgage.. and the pension pot is not quite as high as I would like, yet.

Edited Sunday at 06:35 PM by Jerry_Atrick

[ClintonB]

A bank that plays a lot of ads on tv for business purposes is not much better than wallet wizard on rates. Think eating cake from a box in office.

i bank with them ( and have for 25 years) and needed a boost up to move everything and get going again. Would have to sell my kidneys and take a month of work to do the paperwork. Funny thing is I have around $700k plus in equity on a commercial property that they have the mortgage on, 150 k was too hard for them to look at.

they would rather sponsor Mardi Gras, and make sorry statements than do the business of banking.