Category Archives: Consumer rights
Retailogeddon in Tonbridge
Imagine if the only thing lending a smidgeon of sanity to your provincial existence was the local branch of Burton, and then it suddenly closed down. Such is the plight of this poor mite from Tonbridge, Kent. A truly heartbreaking … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Local tedium
Petrol prices: the penny drops
It is a truth universally acknowledged that there is nothing more satisfying than successfully filling up with petrol to a precise pound. However, a conspiracy is afoot (or is it a leg?). The people of Greater Manchester are being systemically … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Letters to the Editor
Call him Mr Vader, call him Mr Wrong
This is certainly a case of a salesman using too much ‘Force’. I love this reference to the ‘Winsford woman’s answerphone’. I think it’s the new ‘middle England’. Winsford Guardian, 22 September 2010 (story): ‘Darth Vader’ man found guilty A … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Sensational headlines, Upstanding locals
A timetable for bus withdrawal
You wait ages for a news story about bus timetable uproar, and then two come along at once. Just look at these ANGRY seething raging locals in Scotland, with their arms folded like an evil troupe of school dinnerladies: Barrhead … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Heartless bastards
Taxing questions
Welcome to the aptly named town of Mytholmroyd, near Halifax, where primary school playground myths and irrational schoolgirl fears about taxation are worthy of news coverage. Halifax Courier, 9 July 2010 (story): Nine-year-old Anna’s second letter to PM A NINE-YEAR-OLD … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Getting oneself in the paper
Mattress misery
Some couples might feel embarrassed to find they get through more mattresses than the average porn studio, but then again, some might want to shout it from the rooftops. Croydon Guardian, 21 July 2010: Mattress misery An 18-stone man and … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights
Into the Dragons’ Den
Reader mistakes Huddersfield Examiner letters page for pitch in the Dragons’ Den shocker! Thank you to Anna Holden. Huddersfield Examiner, 24 June 2010: A tissue, a tissue? AN Examiner motoring column recently praised a vehicle for the provision of cup-holders … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Letters to the Editor
Know your onions
You hear a lot of scare stories about buying goods from backstreet dealers but, frankly, there’s rarely anything to worry about. Ealing Gazette, 25 May 2010 (story): Bargain laptop turns out to be bag of onions A SCAM victim thought … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Heartless bastards
Fish and loaves-ing in, er, Durham’s Millennium Place
Thank you to Michael Laverick for this story which proves adults will go to great lengths to find excuses to eat food aimed at children. Sunderland Echo, 24 May 2010 (story): The miracle of the fish-finger sandwiches Hungry shoppers were … Continue reading
Filed under Celebs in the 'hood, Consumer rights
Delight at return of post box
When mindless thugs (aren’t they always?) carried out a senseless act of vandalism (aren’t they always?) upon an innocent post box (aren’t they always?) last summer in the small market town of Wokingham, Berkshire, they probably didn’t appreciate the true … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Heartless bastards, Justice, Sensational headlines
‘Got to put it away now’
Many newspapers would pass up the opportunity to run a story like this. Thankfully the Lancashire Telegraph is not so picky, and delves into the matter with great gusto. Lancashire Telegraph, 12 April 2010 (story): Blackburn shop calls security over … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Heartless bastards, Moral outrage, Upstanding locals
All in a lava
The nether regions, twinned with GrammarBlog, is always up for a spot of spelling and grammar pedantry. When that’s mixed with regional newspaper coverage, the pleasure is almost too much to take. Everyone should be ideologically opposed to levels of … Continue reading
18-30s hell
It is a constant source of amazement how often the regional media are willing to hand over column inches to whinging attention-seekers. Although anyone of any age with something vaguely resembling a brain would return from an ’18-30s’ holiday describing … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Getting oneself in the paper
On the Buses
Newsflash: senior citizens are only capable of keeping time when the big hand points directly down. Halifax Evening Courier, 12 March 2010: Why can’t bus leave at 9.30? Dear sir, IS there a legal requirement or is it petty mindedness … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights
