Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

The trouble is we all know how the bonus systems work, they get bonuses even when the company is on its knees.

I still blame the watchdogs of all these companies, that is why they are there, and getting paid for doing nothing and letting these companies get away with it for years.

Private companies will always try to look after share holders, its up to the regulators to make sure the company is being run properly, and fairly, surely?

 

@ViewAhead Yes, but many of us have pension schemes which include shares in utility companies so we could protest by specifying no utilities in our portfolio or standing up at share-holders meetings and complaining, tho that would have to be done and a large, organised group to get anywhere.

@pete - a new management scheme would have to include outside auiting before any bonuses are paid and that can be done by appointed organisations rather than the ombudsman, most of whom are, as you say, at best ineffective and not working in the public/clients' interest.

 

A new management scheme would probably start to look like this management scheme in a few years time. New brooms and all that.

 

So ... run it as a non-profit. The money from bills would go on costs (staff wages, etc), supplying water services, and infrastructure.

Unfortunately, it is much harder to do this from the place we are at (companies with huge debt) than it would have been at the point of denationalisation.

 

I think its a case of we are where we are, you cant really go back without massive pay outs to buy it all back.
It should have worked but nobody has bothered until recently.

I'm not even sure the sewage in rivers is something new, its just that there is more testing going on these days.
I used to work near the Medway in the 70 and 80s and there was all kinds of stuff going down there, the only stuff visible was the rainbow effects of oil and diesel.

Its just people want to swim in it now, not sure why, but that's up to them.

More people, more pollution, get used to it.

 

Hmmm. VAT. I don't mind paying 20%, or even more, on things that are truly luxuries, that everyone could choose to do without or to replace only when broken/failed and uneconomical to repair (which is a whole different moan). I suppose the 5% VAT on fuel is a compromise - some travel and a certain level of domestic heating, lighting etc is essential but there's a point at which it becomes a luxury, and differentiating for the purpose of charging VAT would probably be impossible.

 

Not a moan but something a bit strange.
As I approached the checkout of our local chain small supermarket, an elderly man who didn't look the full shilling, reached it at almost the same time. I let him go first as he only had a single can of fizz. A younger man came from behind and handed him a phone with what looked like it might have been a loyalty QR code and a roll of notes. Not a huge amount, but definitely over £50. The man got the phone and the can scanned and handed over the fistful of notes. He got a single coin in change. The two men left the shop.
What might have been going on? Can you pay bills like that? Load credit?
If there was a nefarious transaction occurring, why do it at a shop checkout where there are obviously security cameras?

 

No idea, @BB3, but a supermarket transaction is trackable and traceable, so, as you say, unlikely to be anything dubious.

My moan - goodness, Trump does chunter on, doesn't he? Just been listening to a tirade. He'd never win a "no deviation or repetition" comp!

 

I've just watched that Scottish gardening programme. Can't remember the name ( my age)
Packed with information and no patronising or pets that I could see.
Much better than the crxp we get down here.

 

Do you think that you could muster the grey cells for the name, please? I might be able to get it on YouTube....Gave up on GW years ago!

 

Good Lord! 5% VAT on fuel? Here in France, 60% of the pump price is tax

 

Beech Grove?

 

Beechgrove I think. Have a look @noisette47

 

Will certainly do!