I like things to be as they should be. I hate seeing people do a bad job, and I hate it when - by not getting feedback - people continue doing so entirely oblivious to the frustration and fury I feel, especially if I’m being taken for granted.
So I’ve started getting a bit more of a bee in my bonnet for a while now about both the little things, and the big things. I thought it might be a good idea to collate some of them I’ve already written about, but also to list some of the more minor items which I haven’t, but have resulted in responses or improvements.
In no particular order, I’ve made an issue to MP’s, councils, companies and governments about the following:
complained to Glasgow council about unfinished road works.
Participated in a local campaign to stop a warehouse development.
A letter to my MP regarding Making poverty history. I received a detailed response indicating he was involved and campaigning for it. Good on him. Keeping your MP abridged of your opinions is what a representative democracy is all about.
E-mailing Glasgow council regarding electoral registration. After a long delay, a follow-up e-mail (questioning, I might add, their adherence to e-governance standards) produced a response.
Complaining to Heinz about an entirely suspect tin of soup I had the misfortune of eating over the weekend. “Chicken and Leek” couldn’t have been further from the truth. “Plastic and carrot” was more like it. I’ve just received a £3 voucher. I am looking at the other tins I’ve got lined up for lunch in the future (when I can’t be bothered to make some of my own) with some trepidation.
Complaining to Select Service Partner for the truly atrocious, overpriced and cold meal we had the misfortune of eating at Luton Airport a couple of weeks ago. They have a “money back guarantee if you’re not entirely satisfied”. So I’m still awaiting a reply. They’ll be hearing more from me on the matter if I don’t get my money back, as it was that bad…. In the meantime, treat “food” purchased from the counter at Luton airport with extreme caution.
Glasgow council ask us to “pay up for Glasgow”, as payment of council tax is very low (probably because it’s very high for the size of the city). Trying to do so, I keyed the reference code into my bank account bills payment form, and it showed it was too long (there’s a limit the inter-bank payment system can cope with). An e-mail to their finance department a week ago now has (so far) gone unanswered, so I’m gearing up to send some more gibes about e-governance (“electronic delivery of priority services by 2005″ - Surely council tax payment is a priority for councils!?). I’m minded to complain to my councillor on this matter to ensure people are appropriately brought to account on this matter. Why is e-mail considered a second best communication medium by Glasgow Council?
The war in Iraq. I wrote to my then MP, Bridget Prentice explaining how I felt, and that she should campaign for a diplomatic and UN sanctioned process. She sent me I don’t know how many pages of photocopied Government produced rubbish that implied she was a nodding dog yes-girl with her eyes set on a cabinet position. Still, being part of the 2 million people anti-war march was one of the most constructive things I’ve done (and I have some great memories).
On the whole, the response when you do actually put pen to paper to make your feelings known may not always be what you want, but it does actually bring frustration to the attention of people that can do something about it. When it’s in large enough numbers, it’s rewarding and exciting. It certainly puts my frequent frustrations to good use, and helps me (and hopefully them) to get something positive out of them. I’d suggest more people do something about the frustrations they feel rather than just bottle it up.
We should also take time out to thank people who have done a good job, whether it’s a quick “thankyou” to the Bus driver, or writing a letter to express your appreciation for something. I don’t do enough of it myself, and that’s something I intend to rectify.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 13th, 2005 at 3:25 pm and is filed under Glasgow, Personal, Politics, Rants, Scotland, The world. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
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April 14th, 2005 at 4:07 pm
Well, Glasgow Council have at last responded to my query, in about the sort of time I’d have expected for a written reply. They seem to have confused the Friday, 8th April date of my letter with the 11th April, but given I e-mailed at 4pm, it’s perhaps forgivable.
Transpires the reference as printed on the bill just needs to have the last few digits dropped, thus:
NN NNNNNNNNNNNN /NN/X
Becomes, simply,
NN/NNNNNNNNNNNN
And there’s some indication (given I’m such a geek for such things) they use a ticketing system for such enquiries, although quite why an auto-response wasn’t forthcoming to at least acknowledge receipt of the e-mail, I don’t know.
April 15th, 2005 at 6:52 pm
Good for you, Richard. A mature democracy needs active citizens - whether is is complaining to authorities or companies who let us down, thanking those who serve us, attending consultation meetings, or even just posting comments to blogs!
August 16th, 2005 at 8:17 pm
[...] Call me cynical if you will, but there’s a laughable hole in the ground (with what looks like some kind of sculpture or art or piece of advertising (is there much of a difference remaining when it comes to public installations these days?) on the corner of Hope Street and Argyle Street that’s been sat looking awfully scruffy for six weeks now. And closer to home I’ve had cause to complain before. So I have little optimism of any council related effort. [...]
February 7th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
help
i just finished my graduation from university. i got weekend job at asian shop. i was not paid for one day. next day i worked 8 hrs and i got ony 25 pound.
shopkeeper told me to come for work as usual for next week. suddeny he called and told me that he doesnt require me. ……….
please help me where i can give my complain and put this problem
thanks