• OT: A sensible parking policy. Happy note to Orford, Suffolk.

    From Davey@davey@example.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 10:06:17 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    I wish to congratulate and thank you for allowing payment for parking
    at The Quay by cash or card.

    It is a most welcome sight to read that.

    A couple of years ago, a couple of relatives came over from Spain, and
    wanted to visit Harwich, where they had historical family connections.
    We travelled to Felixstowe by car, to catch the ferry across to
    Harwich. But the car park only used 'apps', for which I do not have a
    suitable 'phone. The pay machines had slots for coins and cards, but
    they were all blocked off. One of my companions used his Spanish
    'smart' 'phone, downloaded the 'app', and paid. What a kerfuffle.

    KEEP CASH AVAILABLE FOR USE !!

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Thank you for performing a public service.
    --
    Davey.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 10:08:12 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his
    life.
    (Jeremy Thorpe, 1962)
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Davey@davey@example.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 11:25:18 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it.
    All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.
    --
    Davey.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 11:30:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 10:06, Davey wrote:
    Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Yes. Its boloney.

    It just costs less to squeeze more
    --
    "Strange as it seems, no amount of learning can cure stupidity, and
    higher education positively fortifies it."

    - Stephen Vizinczey


    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Davey@davey@example.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 11:36:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:30:23 +0100
    The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 10:06, Davey wrote:
    Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Yes. Its boloney.

    It just costs less to squeeze more


    I have just read this on the Council website:

    "All East Suffolk Council off street car parks are equipped with at
    least one coin operated payment machine. From March 2026, all our car
    parks will also offer convenient contactless card payment."
    So they saw the error of their ways, and/or enough people complained.

    A win!
    --
    Davey.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 11:44:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 11:36, Davey wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:30:23 +0100
    The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 10:06, Davey wrote:
    Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Yes. Its boloney.

    It just costs less to squeeze more


    I have just read this on the Council website:

    "All East Suffolk Council off street car parks are equipped with at
    least one coin operated payment machine. From March 2026, all our car
    parks will also offer convenient contactless card payment."

    Statements of intent seldom match the desired outcome
    Like T Bliar;s statement that all people with degrees earned more so
    paying -u20k for a degree in advanced aromatherapy would be a gateway to
    a life of affluent suburban bliss.


    So they saw the error of their ways, and/or enough people complained.

    A win!

    just wait...

    Although it has to be said that there is an aroma of faint common sense
    in Suffolk, overall.
    --
    rCLProgress is precisely that which rules and regulations did not foresee,rCY

    rCo Ludwig von Mises

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 10:53:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it.
    All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF
    if you can read this, you're a nerd 10.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 12:31:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might not
    need to...
    --
    Karl Marx said religion is the opium of the people.
    But Marxism is the crack cocaine.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From David Wade@g4ugm@dave.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 14:35:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might not
    need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support for the
    Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still rises they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    .....
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Charles Hope@clh@candehope.me.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 13:45:05 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 11:08, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.

    I need cash to get my hair cut
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Spike@aero.spike@mail.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 13:49:09 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might not
    need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support for the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still rises they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    rCYDurhamrCOs 2026/27 Increase: What Actually Changed

    DurhamrCOs 1.99% increase stands out against a national backdrop where 125 of 153 English top-tier councils applied the maximum 4.99%.

    Durham chose to freeze the core council tax charge entirely and apply only
    the social care precept uplift.rCY

    HTH
    --
    Spike
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 14:49:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 14:35, David Wade wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might not
    need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support for the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still rises they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    .....
    That is probably true: mandatory social care is a huge fraction of
    council spending
    --
    In a Time of Universal Deceit, Telling the Truth Is a Revolutionary Act.

    - George Orwell

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joe@joe@jretrading.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 15:27:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 14:49:48 +0100
    The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 14:35, David Wade wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might
    not need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support for
    the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still rises
    they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    .....
    That is probably true: mandatory social care is a huge fraction of
    council spending


    And it's a central government mandate, and the funding should come
    entirely from general taxation. A council's job is maintaining the infrastructure of its fiefdom and where necessary, assisting with
    housing its own taxpayers' families.

    If a central government chooses to dump a large pile of cost in a
    particular area, the residents of that area should not have to fund it.
    And I seem to recall that a phrase justifying the creation of a central government welfare state was 'cradle to grave care'. Not 'as long as
    you're economically useful'.
    --
    Joe

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 15:29:28 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it.
    All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on top!
    With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 15:32:25 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 11:44, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    parks will also offer convenient contactless card payment."

    Statements of intent seldom match the desired outcome
    Like T Bliar;s statement that all people with degrees earned more so
    paying -u20k for a degree in advanced aromatherapy would be a gateway to
    a life of affluent suburban bliss.

    A "degree in advanced aromatherapy". ROTFLMAO!
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 14:49:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pt48$3es3c$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a >>>>>better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it. >>>All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves who money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for a >monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on top! >With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.

    Saves the council money of course. Since computers were invented tasks
    have been moved down the line to the consumer, it's part of that trend.
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    Those are my principles rCo and if you donrCOt like them, well, I have
    others.
    (Groucho Marx)
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 14:53:24 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 in message <nc66lm-304a.ln1@newsauth.orpheusnet.co.uk>
    Charles Hope wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 11:08, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.

    I need cash to get my hair cut

    I cut my own hair, this IS a DIY group after all :-)
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil but by those who
    watch them without doing anything. (Albert Einstein)
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Charles Hope@clh@candehope.me.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 15:00:06 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it.
    All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on top! With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.

    fitting a credit card terminal costs money and there's the line rental, too

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 16:56:39 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 16:00, Charles Hope wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote: >>>>>
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it. >>>> All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for a
    monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on top!
    With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.

    fitting a credit card terminal costs money and there's the line rental, too

    How is the app use paid for? I haven't got one on my mobile so I've no
    idea how it's used.
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Davey@davey@example.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 17:26:19 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 16:56:39 +0100
    Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 16:00, Charles Hope wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:
    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to
    provide a better service to customers. A lie if ever there was
    one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception
    is poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available
    when the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to
    manage it. All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of
    course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay
    for a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the
    parking on top! With a credit/debit card or cash there's no
    surcharge.

    fitting a credit card terminal costs money and there's the line
    rental, too

    How is the app use paid for? I haven't got one on my mobile so I've
    no idea how it's used.


    You have to have an account with the company, then your charges are
    added to your running total. I was able to get a RingCo account which
    doesn't need an 'app', I can use Text messaging.
    I have never used it, but it's good to have, and I still don't need a
    'smart' 'phone.
    --
    Davey.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From mm0fmf@none@invalid.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 17:59:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 17:26, Davey wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 16:56:39 +0100
    Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 16:00, Charles Hope wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:
    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to
    provide a better service to customers. A lie if ever there was >>>>>>>> one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception
    is poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available
    when the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to
    manage it. All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of
    course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay
    for a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the
    parking on top! With a credit/debit card or cash there's no
    surcharge.

    fitting a credit card terminal costs money and there's the line
    rental, too

    How is the app use paid for? I haven't got one on my mobile so I've
    no idea how it's used.


    You have to have an account with the company, then your charges are
    added to your running total. I was able to get a RingCo account which
    doesn't need an 'app', I can use Text messaging.
    I have never used it, but it's good to have, and I still don't need a
    'smart' 'phone.

    Snap. No app just an account. You can call the number on the notice
    board for the car park, the company recognises your registered phone
    number and asks for a 6 digit number that identifies the car park. It
    then states the registration number of the vehicle and time and date and starts charging your registered credit card. Works like a dream and no
    app faffing.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Bob Eager@throwaway0008@eager.cx to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 17:45:08 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:29:28 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com>
    wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it.
    All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on top!
    With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.

    And there's often a 'convenience fee'.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From nib@news@ingram-bromley.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 20:03:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 2026-08-15 18:45, Bob Eager wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:29:28 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com>
    wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote: >>>>>
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it. >>>> All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for a
    monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on top!
    With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.

    And there's often a 'convenience fee'.

    No fee here in MK (RingGo). And no need to register a payment card
    either, you can use Google Pay with whatever card you have it set to at
    the time.

    Also it's very convenient in that you can increase your parking time
    remotely (up to the maximum). So you can ask it to remind you just
    before it runs out and then if you're not back at the car yet you can
    add some more time. Not seen any cash or card payment scheme that makes
    doing that easy. Not having to worry about not buying enough time up
    front actually saves YOU money!

    nib
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 20:07:08 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 17:59, mm0fmf wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 17:26, Davey wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 16:56:39 +0100
    Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 16:00, Charles Hope wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:
    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey >>>>>>>> wrote:
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to
    provide a better service to customers. A lie if ever there was >>>>>>>>> one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception >>>>>>> is poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available >>>>>>> when the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to >>>>>>> manage it. All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of >>>>>>> course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay
    for a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the
    parking on top! With a credit/debit card or cash there's no
    surcharge.

    fitting a credit card terminal costs money and there's the line
    rental, too

    How is the app use paid for? I haven't got one on my mobile so I've
    no idea how it's used.


    You have to have an account with the company, then your charges are
    added to your running total. I was able to get a RingCo account which
    doesn't need an 'app', I can use Text messaging.
    I have never used it, but it's good to have, and I still don't need a
    'smart' 'phone.

    Snap. No app just an account. You can call the number on the notice
    board for the car park, the company recognises your registered phone
    number and asks for a 6 digit number that identifies the car park. It
    then states the registration number of the vehicle and time and date and starts charging your registered credit card. Works like a dream and no
    app faffing.

    How does the company you ring get paid?
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 21:45:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 14:35, David Wade wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might not
    need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support for the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still rises they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    Besides. Reform have their own load of "politically inspired bollocks"
    to impose.
    --
    Sam Plusnet
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 21:49:26 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it.
    All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on top! With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.

    Saves _the Council_ money.
    People vote for candidates who promise to cut costs - and now you are complaining about cost cutting.
    What else did you expect?
    --
    Sam Plusnet
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joe@joe@jretrading.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 22:04:30 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 21:45:10 +0100
    Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 14:35, David Wade wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might
    not need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support for
    the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still rises
    they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    Besides. Reform have their own load of "politically inspired
    bollocks" to impose.



    Politics consists entirely of people imposing their will on others.
    Would you have us abandon it as a means of government?
    --
    Joe

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joe@joe@jretrading.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 22:07:02 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 21:49:26 +0100
    Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:
    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide
    a better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception
    is poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available
    when the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to
    manage it. All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of
    course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay
    for a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the
    parking on top! With a credit/debit card or cash there's no
    surcharge.

    Saves _the Council_ money.
    People vote for candidates who promise to cut costs - and now you are complaining about cost cutting.
    What else did you expect?


    But *which* costs?

    'Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavours to
    live at the expense of everybody else.'
    --
    Joe

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Bob Eager@throwaway0008@eager.cx to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 21:18:09 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 20:07:08 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:

    How does the company you ring get paid?

    In my case, I have a credit card registered with them, on the app.

    There are apparently other methods.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Bob Eager@throwaway0008@eager.cx to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 21:19:46 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 20:03:50 +0100, nib wrote:

    And there's often a 'convenience fee'.

    My understanding is that it's up to the council.

    No fee here in MK (RingGo). And no need to register a payment card
    either, you can use Google Pay with whatever card you have it set to at
    the time.

    Not tried that, but I've been using it a long time.

    Also it's very convenient in that you can increase your parking time
    remotely (up to the maximum). So you can ask it to remind you just
    before it runs out and then if you're not back at the car yet you can
    add some more time. Not seen any cash or card payment scheme that makes
    doing that easy. Not having to worry about not buying enough time up
    front actually saves YOU money!

    I do that too with RingGo and a registered card. AS you say, very useful
    if I'm delayed somewhere.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 22:20:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 22:18, Bob Eager wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 20:07:08 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:

    How does the company you ring get paid?

    In my case, I have a credit card registered with them, on the app.

    There are apparently other methods.

    So they pay the council the parking fee and take a small percentage for
    their costs?
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 22:23:52 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 21:49, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote: >>>>>
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it. >>>> All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for a
    monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on top!
    With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.

    Saves _the Council_ money.

    Of course. The "/who/" was just sarcasm.

    People vote for candidates who promise to cut costs - and now you are complaining about cost cutting.
    What else did you expect?

    People vote for the most convincing liars.
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From mm0fmf@none@invalid.com to uk.d-i-y on Sat Aug 15 23:02:52 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 20:07, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 17:59, mm0fmf wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 17:26, Davey wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 16:56:39 +0100
    Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 16:00, Charles Hope wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:
    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey >>>>>>>>> wrote:
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to
    provide a better service to customers. A lie if ever there was >>>>>>>>>> one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.

    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception >>>>>>>> is poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available >>>>>>>> when the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to >>>>>>>> manage it. All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of >>>>>>>> course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay >>>>>> for a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the
    parking on top! With a credit/debit card or cash there's no
    surcharge.

    fitting a credit card terminal costs money and there's the line
    rental, too

    How is the app use paid for? I haven't got one on my mobile so I've
    no idea how it's used.


    You have to have an account with the company, then your charges are
    added to your running total. I was able to get a RingCo account which
    doesn't need an 'app', I can use Text messaging.
    I have never used it, but it's good to have, and I still don't need a
    'smart' 'phone.

    Snap. No app just an account. You can call the number on the notice
    board for the car park, the company recognises your registered phone
    number and asks for a 6 digit number that identifies the car park. It
    then states the registration number of the vehicle and time and date and
    starts charging your registered credit card. Works like a dream and no
    app faffing.

    How does the company you ring get paid?


    You need to setup the account before you can use it for payment. Just
    like you have to download and install the and then setup an account for
    the app. You can register by phone or online. You tell Ringo in this
    case your car reg and you give it a credit card number. I can't remember
    if it does a 1p charge to check the card is valid. When you call the
    number at the car park and type in the car park ID the system states the
    car reg and you can buy how much time you want. Most of the car parks I
    have used it in have a fixed payment for all day parking.

    I started using it after I got to a car park with a meter that accepted
    cards. But it would not actually give me a ticket. So i rang the number
    and it worked fine. Now I always ring the number in Ringo car parks.


    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 02:48:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 22:04, Joe wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 21:45:10 +0100
    Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 14:35, David Wade wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might
    not need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support for
    the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still rises
    they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    Besides. Reform have their own load of "politically inspired
    bollocks" to impose.



    Politics consists entirely of people imposing their will on others.
    Would you have us abandon it as a means of government?

    No, but I was happy to point out that "politically inspired bollocks"
    comes equally from all directions, so using it as a weapon to beat one
    group isn't very effective.
    --
    Sam Plusnet
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 02:52:15 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 22:23, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 21:49, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote: >>>>>>
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a >>>>>>> better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when >>>>> the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it. >>>>> All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for a >>> monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on top! >>> With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.

    Saves _the Council_ money.

    Of course. The "/who/" was just sarcasm.

    People vote for candidates who promise to cut costs - and now you are
    complaining about cost cutting.
    What else did you expect?

    People vote for the most convincing liars.

    Maybe, but I've seen a pretty big increase in people voting for really incredible liars - using that word in its truest sense.
    --
    Sam Plusnet
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alan_m@junk@admac.myzen.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 08:23:56 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it.
    All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.


    I've recently joined two long queues in car parks (Leominster and
    Shrewsbury) where the people paying by card are waiting 2 to 5 minutes
    for card transactions to be approved before issuing the ticket.

    It isn't just payment methods at car parking terminals that need to be improved. I've recently encountered terminals with screens impossible to
    read in the sun, software so convoluted that you need a 100 page user
    manual to pay for parking and a terminal with a button to swap between
    English and Welsh BUT only labelled in Welsh. Some English/Welsh
    terminals have a label icon to swap languages which is the symbol of two
    flags but encountering them for the first time it's not obvious and on
    some machines the icons are so small that they don't look like two
    flags. So much for welcoming tourists!

    I do wonder if the designers of payment terminals have ever tested them
    with real people who have never seen the product before.
    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alan_m@junk@admac.myzen.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 08:33:05 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 14:35, David Wade wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might not
    need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support for the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still rises they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    Most if not all councils have problems with increasing social care commitments. Anything they save by other means reduces the likihood of
    higher local taxes.

    There now seems that you can get documents sent out by the local council
    in a few hundred different translations - we seem no longer to be living
    in an English/Welsh/Gaelic speaking part of the world :)
    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alan_m@junk@admac.myzen.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 08:37:21 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 16:00, Charles Hope wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 15:29, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote: >>>>>
    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available when
    the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to manage it. >>>> All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.

    Saves /who/ money? To pay by app I have to buy a mobile phone, pay for
    a monthly contract to use it, and then have to pay for the parking on
    top! With a credit/debit card or cash there's no surcharge.

    fitting a credit card terminal costs money and there's the line rental, too


    Using a 3rd party to collect parking charges also cost the council money.
    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alan_m@junk@admac.myzen.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 08:43:16 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 22:20, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 22:18, Bob Eager wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 20:07:08 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:

    How does the company you ring get paid?

    In my case, I have a credit card registered with them, on the app.

    There are apparently other methods.

    So they pay the council the parking fee and take a small percentage for their costs?


    What makes you think it is a small fee? The commission could be 20%
    however collecting cash from a machine may be equally costly.
    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alan_m@junk@admac.myzen.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 08:47:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 16/08/2026 02:52, Sam Plusnet wrote:

    Maybe, but I've seen a pretty big increase in people voting for really incredible liars - using that word in its truest sense.


    Voting because they believe the lies or voting as a protest against the present and previous regime(s)?
    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alan_m@junk@admac.myzen.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 08:49:54 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 14:45, Charles Hope wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:08, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.

    I need cash to get my hair cut

    Money laundering Turkish barber?
    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From wasbit@wasbit@invalid.com to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 09:27:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 17:59, mm0fmf wrote:
    Snip <


    Snap. No app just an account. You can call the number on the notice
    board for the car park, the company recognises your registered phone
    number and asks for a 6 digit number that identifies the car park. It
    then states the registration number of the vehicle and time and date and starts charging your registered credit card. Works like a dream and no
    app faffing.


    If warnings are to be believed you have to be very careful that the
    number you call is genuine. Lots of scams about.
    --
    Regards
    wasbit
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Davey@davey@example.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 09:59:17 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 08:23:56 +0100
    alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available
    when the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to
    manage it. All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of
    course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.


    I've recently joined two long queues in car parks (Leominster and Shrewsbury) where the people paying by card are waiting 2 to 5
    minutes for card transactions to be approved before issuing the
    ticket.

    It isn't just payment methods at car parking terminals that need to
    be improved. I've recently encountered terminals with screens
    impossible to read in the sun, software so convoluted that you need a
    100 page user manual to pay for parking and a terminal with a button
    to swap between English and Welsh BUT only labelled in Welsh. Some English/Welsh terminals have a label icon to swap languages which is
    the symbol of two flags but encountering them for the first time it's
    not obvious and on some machines the icons are so small that they
    don't look like two flags. So much for welcoming tourists!

    I do wonder if the designers of payment terminals have ever tested
    them with real people who have never seen the product before.


    Why would they do that? It works in the lab. which is all that counts.
    --
    Davey.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 11:32:06 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 21:45, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 14:35, David Wade wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might not
    need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support for
    the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still rises they
    say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    Besides.-a Reform have their own load of "politically inspired bollocks"
    to impose.

    But not in terms of greater public sector expenditure


    --
    There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale
    returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact.

    Mark Twain

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 11:33:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 22:07, Joe wrote:
    'Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavours to
    live at the expense of everybody else.'

    Socialism is defined to be complaining that someone else hasn't paid for
    and done something they were too lazy to do for themselves.
    --
    There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale
    returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact.

    Mark Twain

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 11:33:55 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 15/08/2026 22:23, Jeff Layman wrote:
    People vote for the most convincing liars.
    Not always
    --
    rCLwhen things get difficult you just have to lierCY

    rCo Jean Claud J|+ncker

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 11:35:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 16/08/2026 08:47, alan_m wrote:
    On 16/08/2026 02:52, Sam Plusnet wrote:

    Maybe, but I've seen a pretty big increase in people voting for really
    incredible liars - using that word in its truest sense.


    Voting because they believe the lies or voting as a protest against the present and previous regime(s)?


    Voting because they believe the lies or voting as a protest against the present and previous liars?

    Liars, like underpants, should be regularly removed, laundered and hung
    out to dry...
    --
    rCLwhen things get difficult you just have to lierCY

    rCo Jean Claud J|+ncker

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joe@joe@jretrading.com to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 13:37:25 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:36:26 +0100
    The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 22:04, Joe wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 21:45:10 +0100
    Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 14:35, David Wade wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might
    not need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support
    for the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still
    rises they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    Besides. Reform have their own load of "politically inspired
    bollocks" to impose.



    Politics consists entirely of people imposing their will on others.
    Would you have us abandon it as a means of government?

    I am not sure that is correct. Its only been true since T Bliar.


    Since the British people were disarmed, you mean?

    "If the government doesn't fear the people, then the people will fear
    the government."
    --
    Joe

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 13:44:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 16/08/2026 13:37, Joe wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:36:26 +0100
    The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 22:04, Joe wrote:
    On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 21:45:10 +0100
    Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 14:35, David Wade wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 12:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    all councils need to save money.

    Well if they dropped net zero initiatives, LBGTQ initiatives, DEI
    initiatives, and other politically inspired bollocks, they might
    not need to...

    Well Reform claim to be doing that in Durham, cancelled support
    for the Durham Pride event, but guess what, council tax still
    rises they say :-

    "This consists entirely of a social care precept increase, "

    Besides. Reform have their own load of "politically inspired
    bollocks" to impose.



    Politics consists entirely of people imposing their will on others.
    Would you have us abandon it as a means of government?

    I am not sure that is correct. Its only been true since T Bliar.


    Since the British people were disarmed, you mean?

    "If the government doesn't fear the people, then the people will fear
    the government."

    It was more about the total elevation of utter stupidity to be admirable.

    "That's not fact, that's your opinion"
    "My opinion is just as valid as yours"
    "If people with letters after their name all say it on the BBC or in the Guardian, it must be true"...
    We have always had stupid people, but we didn't use to put them in
    government, just the Royal Family.
    --
    There is nothing a fleet of dispatchable nuclear power plants cannot do
    that cannot be done worse and more expensively and with higher carbon emissions and more adverse environmental impact by adding intermittent renewable energy.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 20:02:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 16/08/2026 08:47, alan_m wrote:
    On 16/08/2026 02:52, Sam Plusnet wrote:

    Maybe, but I've seen a pretty big increase in people voting for really
    incredible liars - using that word in its truest sense.


    Voting because they believe the lies or voting as a protest against the present and previous regime(s)?

    Probably plenty of both, but I suspect the protest element is pretty
    large, plus a foolish attraction towards anyone who offers them simple
    quick solutions to problems which really don't have simple quick
    solutions in a civilised world.
    --
    Sam Plusnet
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.d-i-y on Sun Aug 16 20:06:13 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 16/08/2026 09:59, Davey wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 08:23:56 +0100
    alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 11:53, Jeff Gaines wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 in message <115peqe$38518$3@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:

    On 15 Aug 2026 10:08:12 GMT
    "Jeff Gaines" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

    On 15/08/2026 in message <115pa69$38518$1@dont-email.me> Davey
    wrote:

    East Suffolk Council said that the use of 'apps' was to provide a
    better service to customers. A lie if ever there was one.

    Very sensible, I have used it for some years now.

    I haven't use cash since the Covid lockdown.


    It seems to be pot luck what 'app' is required. And if reception is
    poor, then forget it.

    In this case, I would have used a card, which had been available
    when the meter was built, but the council could not be a****d to
    manage it. All in the pursuit of better serving the customer, of
    course.

    It saves money, all councils need to save money.


    I've recently joined two long queues in car parks (Leominster and
    Shrewsbury) where the people paying by card are waiting 2 to 5
    minutes for card transactions to be approved before issuing the
    ticket.

    It isn't just payment methods at car parking terminals that need to
    be improved. I've recently encountered terminals with screens
    impossible to read in the sun, software so convoluted that you need a
    100 page user manual to pay for parking and a terminal with a button
    to swap between English and Welsh BUT only labelled in Welsh. Some
    English/Welsh terminals have a label icon to swap languages which is
    the symbol of two flags but encountering them for the first time it's
    not obvious and on some machines the icons are so small that they
    don't look like two flags. So much for welcoming tourists!

    I do wonder if the designers of payment terminals have ever tested
    them with real people who have never seen the product before.


    Why would they do that? It works in the lab. which is all that counts.

    It works when demonstrated to (e.g.) the local authority, in ideal circumstances, by a glib demonstrator who can finesse all those tricky
    "What does this mean?" moments.
    --
    Sam Plusnet
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alan_m@junk@admac.myzen.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Mon Aug 17 07:48:17 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 16/08/2026 09:27, wasbit wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 17:59, mm0fmf wrote:
    Snip <


    Snap. No app just an account. You can call the number on the notice
    board for the car park, the company recognises your registered phone
    number and asks for a 6 digit number that identifies the car park. It
    then states the registration number of the vehicle and time and date
    and starts charging your registered credit card. Works like a dream
    and no app faffing.


    If warnings are to be believed you have to be very careful that the
    number you call is genuine. Lots of scams about.



    One scam is to put QR code sticker on the machine and have the
    instruction "scan the QR code for payment".
    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Mon Aug 17 09:58:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 16/08/2026 20:02, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    On 16/08/2026 08:47, alan_m wrote:
    On 16/08/2026 02:52, Sam Plusnet wrote:

    Maybe, but I've seen a pretty big increase in people voting for
    really incredible liars - using that word in its truest sense.


    Voting because they believe the lies or voting as a protest against
    the present and previous regime(s)?

    Probably plenty of both, but I suspect the protest element is pretty
    large, plus a foolish attraction towards anyone who offers them simple
    quick solutions to problems which really don't have simple quick
    solutions in a civilised world.

    Which all begs the question of whether if someone did come along with a solution, would anyone believe them?

    My experience is that politicians simply do not know, and good ideas are
    not something they have time for.

    Ultimately a growing nucleus of people who do know and better still have
    money to spend is what changes things, and the politicians all jump
    behind it as soon as it looks like a winner.
    --
    There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale
    returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact.

    Mark Twain

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From David Wade@g4ugm@dave.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Mon Aug 17 14:47:11 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 16/08/2026 09:27, wasbit wrote:
    On 15/08/2026 17:59, mm0fmf wrote:
    Snip <


    Snap. No app just an account. You can call the number on the notice
    board for the car park, the company recognises your registered phone
    number and asks for a 6 digit number that identifies the car park. It
    then states the registration number of the vehicle and time and date
    and starts charging your registered credit card. Works like a dream
    and no app faffing.


    If warnings are to be believed you have to be very careful that the
    number you call is genuine. Lots of scams about.

    How can calling a wrong number debit a debit card that was set up on a
    web site associated with a different number?

    There are lots of scams, using fake QR codes, but again you can set up
    the app without the QR code at home..

    Dave
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2