Natwest “Actionline” Telephone Banking

The automated menu took me through to somebody with whom I could talk about my existing borrowing. This person could neither close an account with a balance of zero (and no activity for about a year), nor even tell me how much it would cost to fully repay a graduate loan. She suggested I talk to the loans people, who won’t be in until eight a.m.

Just as I was about to get off the phone, she noticed that I have a personal banking manager (you know, because I’m so incredibly wealthy), and that all of these questions would therefore have to be routed through that person. I’m so special, it seems, that I can only be helped by one person. Marvellous.

Where’s my HSBC credit card?

Apparently, “We’ll send it to your branch.” means “We’ll send it to your home address”. I love it when a company can’t tell me the truth about something really simple.

BritSalsaFest Part I: The Metropole Sucks

After paying cash at the door for the Mambocity 5* congress last year, I decided to save myself money and hassle by booking as early as possible for future congresses. This has not worked as well as hoped.

Be Broadband Progress

The second light on my Be Order status page went green last night. Be emailed me, at an address I had to create to register with them, to say that my live date would be the 26th of January, and I should receive my modem on the 24th.

So, progress is being made. Perhaps there will be no more problems!

Trying to Get Faster Broadband

With a flat-wide consensus that the Pipex service was too slow, I was put in charge of finding a new provider. After reading Stef Magdalinski’s account of Be Unlimited’s 24 Mbps service, I thought I’d give them a try.