When is a gift card not a gift card

Argos sent me an email inviting me to make a purchase in return for a gift CARD, the email showed a image of a blue gift card.

We spent quite a bit of time ordering some new bedroom furniture as their site, as it did not work on Safari we had to rekey all the data in again on Firefox!

Only to discover right at the end of the ordering process we were told we had a internet voucher for £10, which you can only use against another purchase for which we would then have to pay £5.95 delivery making the voucher only worth £4.95.

After Linda lost the will to live on the phone I took over and after over an hour on the phone sending them the evidence of the email Argos flatly refused to give me the £10 gift card.  

On principal we cancelled the order and have reported them to the ASA.

At least I wasted far more than £10 of their time and hopefully the ASA will write to them.

Moral of experience Gift Card is now spelt V O U C H E R and worth 50% less than advertised idbi .  One of the last company's I dealt with who offered poor service was MFI!

P.S.  Argos invited to send the offer to a friend,  so if you would like this fabulous offer or to see the email just leave a comment.

Back to their roots

Congratulations to Jon & Zoe on moving into their new home, built on the the grounds of the old Princess Margaret Hospital, where Jon  & Zoe were born and now Zoe a nurse as well!

idbi, what a nice welcome when they opened the post box there were 2, yes two, letters from the TV Licensing authority.  The communications said that as they hadn't responded before 28 October, 3 weeks before they took ownership, that now their address is being passed to the Enforcement Officer.

Much more welcoming letters were from the Royal Mail and the Electoral Registration Dept.

 Jon & Zoe are only following Andy & Sian whose address is related to their roots, as they live in Sants, a suburb in Barcelona,  (English translation of this Catalan word is Saints, the nickname of the town of Andy's birth). Furthermore they support Espanyol the team Southampton played at the opening game at St Mary's Stadium.

The Street they live in is Premia, English translation awards or honours and they both have their degrees.

    idbi

 

Elbow - One Day Like This

Just sit down relax enjoy

President-Elect Barack Obama in Chicago

Yes we (you) can

Seeing is believing idbi

How is this possible? idbi
1)


Is This Possible??



2)



3)



Are the purple lines straight or bent?


4)



Do you see gray areas in between the squares?
Now where did they come from?




5)


You should see a man's face and also a word...
Hint: Try tilting your head to the right, the world begins with 'L'


6)


If you take a look at the following picture , let me tell you it is not animated. Your eyes are making it move. To test this, stare at one spot for a couple seconds and everything will stop moving. Or look at the black center of each circle and it will stop moving. But move your eyes to the next black center and the previous will move after you take your eyes away from it.... Weird





7)






8)

idbi Barack Obama elected as US President

The election of Barack Hussein Obama the 44thPre sident, son of a black Kenyian father, & a white American mother could be one of the most historic days in our lives.

It is exactly 403 years since Guy Fawkes was foiled in his attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament, therefore democracy has continued and allowed us the freedom to elect great PM's like Winston Churchill,

Prime Minister 1940-1945 and again 1951 1955 & Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister 1979 1990, who also survived an bombing attempt on her government in Oct 1984

To reflect this day the idbi blog will be CHANGED to reflect the positive, humorous or negative comments contained in the post. idbi

Lets all hope that today will go down in history a great big green idbi

Now Obama has to deliver on the promises

Economy

Obama's Stance on the Economy

Barack Obama has offered a detailed plan to get America’s economy back on track, by creating new jobs and easing the burden on hardworking Americans by offering middle-class tax cuts three times the size of McCain’s.

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McCain's Stance on the Economy

John McCain’s economic policy is the same as George Bush’s. It ignores middle class Americans, giving $200 billion in tax cuts to corporations, including $4 billion in tax breaks to Big Oil, while leaving over 100 million middle-class Americans with no relief. Economists say McCain’s plan will add $3.4 trillion to the national debt.

Education

Obama's Stance on Education

Barack Obama puts children first by investing in early childhood education, making sure our schools are adequately funded and led by high-quality teachers, and reforming No Child Left Behind.

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McCain's Stance on Education

John McCain supported George Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans instead of much-needed funding for our students, teachers, and failing local classrooms.

Energy & Environment

Obama's Stance on Energy

Barack Obama will invest in alternative fuels and renewable energy, including a plan to increase America’s energy efficiency and create 5 million new “green” jobs.

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McCain's Stance on Energy

John McCain has repeatedly opposed renewable and alternative energy proposals, has promised oil companies a new $4 billion tax break and hired a number of powerful oil lobbyists to run his campaign.

Ethics

Obama's Stance on Ethics

Barack Obama has been a leader on government transparency – refusing to take donations from lobbyists or PACs, improving disclosure and creating a database where the public can track federal contracts and earmarks.

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McCain's Stance on Ethics

John McCain has no less than 177 lobbyists working on his campaign, including many of his top advisors. McCain’s own campaign manager continued to receive money from Freddie Mac until August 2008.

Foreign Policy

Obama's Stance on Foreign Policy

Barack Obama will continue the long American tradition of smart diplomacy to keep the country safe while improving America’s standing in the world.

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McCain's Stance on Foreign Policy

John McCain will carry on George Bush’s policy of unilateral action that puts American troops in harm’s way without exhausting diplomatic options.

Health Care

Obama's Stance on Health Care

Barack Obama’s health care plan will provide accessible, affordable coverage for all, and it will reduce health care costs for families.

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McCain's Stance on Health Care

John McCain’s health plan would tax health benefits for the first time ever — imposing a trillion tax increase on working families and leaving millions without heath care.

Homeland Security

Obama's Stance on Homeland Security

Barack Obama supports increased security measures for our airports, ports, and land borders, part of a national plan to protect American’s infrastructure and keep our communities safe.

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McCain's Stance on Homeland Security

John McCain opposed increased screening of cargo entering the United States and opposed increased security for airport, port and boarder security.

Iraq

Obama's Stance on Iraq

Barack Obama will work with his military commanders to responsibly end the war in Iraq. Obama will refocus our resources on al Qaeda in Afghanistan and finish the fight with the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11.

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McCain's Stance on Iraq

John McCain has no plan to end the war in Iraq, and would keep spending $10 billion a month in Iraq while the Iraqi government sits on a huge surplus. McCain calls Iraq "the central front of the war on terror" even though Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorists who attacked us are getting stronger in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Seniors & Social Security

Obama's Stance on Seniors & Social Security

Barack Obama is committed to ensuring Social Security is protected and viable for this generation and the next. And Obama will eliminate income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 -- benefiting more than 7 million seniors.

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McCain's Stance on Seniors & Social Security

John McCain supports President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security and would gamble the Social Security Trust Fund in the stock market. McCain’s tax plan leaves 37 million seniors without much-needed relief.

Taxes

Obama's Stance on Taxes

Barack Obama provides a middle class tax cut for 95 percent of American workers. Middle class families will get three times the tax relief from Obama than they would from John McCain.

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McCain's Stance on Taxes

John McCain’s plan leaves 101 million American households with no tax relief, while giving $200 billion to corporations, including $4 billion tax cut to oil companies.

Veterans

Obama's Stance on Veterans Affairs

Barack Obama supports our troops – both in combat and at home. He voted to provide armored vehicles and body armor for our troops fighting abroad, and will fully fund veterans’ medical care and restore competence to VA planning to ensure our veterans have the resources they need when they return home.

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McCain's Stance on Veterans Affairs

John McCain has repeatedly voted against increases in veterans’ health care, against mental health and brain injury services for veterans, and will ration veterans’ health care to vets with combat injuries, reducing the resources available to our vets.

Women

Obama's Stance on Women's Issues

Barack Obama works for America’s women – supporting a woman’s right to choose, equal pay for equal work, expanding the childcare tax credit and paid sick leave for parents.

LEARN MORE

McCain's Stance on Women's Issues

John McCain wants to overturn Roe v. Wade and his party’s platform opposes all abortions — even in cases of rape and incest. McCain also opposed the Equal Pay Act, and the landmark Violence Against Women Act.

Senator Obama has been able to develop innovative approaches to challenge the status quo and get results. Americans are tired of divisive ideological politics, which is why Senator Obama has reached out to Republicans to find areas of common ground. He has tried to break partisan logjams and take on seemingly intractable problems. During his tenure in Washington and in the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama has accumulated a record of bipartisan success.

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Civil Rights There is no more fundamental American right than the right to vote. Before the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, barriers such as literacy tests, poll taxes and property requirements disenfranchised many Americans, especially minorities. More than 40 years later, there are still numerous obstacles to ensuring that every citizen has the ability to vote. CONTINUE READING

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Defense "Our country's greatest military asset is the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States. When we do send our men and women into harm's way, we must also clearly define the mission, prescribe concrete political and military objectives, seek out advice of our military commanders, evaluate the intelligence, plan accordingly, and ensure that our troops have the resources, support, and equipment they need to protect themselves and fulfill their mission." -Barack Obama, Chicago Foreign Affairs Council, April 23, 2007 CONTINUE READING

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Disabilities "We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination .... policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities." CONTINUE READING

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Faith In June of 2006, Senator Obama delivered what was called the most important speech on religion and politics in 40 years. Speaking before an evangelical audience, Senator Obama candidly discussed his own religious conversion and doubts, and the need for a deeper, more substantive discussion about the role of faith in American life. CONTINUE READING

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Family Strong families raise successful children and keep communities together. While Senator Obama does not believe that we can simply legislate healthy families, good parenting skills or economic success, he does believe we can eliminate roadblocks that parents face and provide tools to help them succeed. A husband and father of two, Senator Obama has promoted strong families in the Senate. CONTINUE READING

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Fiscal "The cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing our cities and states of critical investments in infrastructure like bridges, ports, and levees; robbing our families and our children of critical investments in education and health care reform; robbing our seniors of the retirement and health security they have counted on ... If Washington were serious about honest tax relief in this country, we'd see an effort to reduce our national debt by returning to responsible fiscal policies." - Barack Obama, Speech in the U.S. Senate, March 13, 2006 CONTINUE READING

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Immigration Barack Obama has played a leading role in crafting comprehensive immigration reform. Obama believes the immigration issue has been exploited by politicians to divide the nation rather than find real solutions. This divisiveness has allowed the illegal immigration problem to worsen, with borders that are less secure than ever and an economy that depends on millions of workers living in the shadows. CONTINUE READING

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Poverty There are 37 million poor Americans. Most poor Americans are in the workforce, yet still cannot afford to make ends meet. And too many poor Americans are single mothers who are raising children. Barack Obama has been a lifelong advocate for the poor -- as a young college graduate, he rejected the high salaries of corporate America and moved to the South Side of Chicago to work as a community organizer. As an organizer, Obama worked with churches, Chicago residents and local government to set up job training programs for the unemployed and after school programs for kids. CONTINUE READING

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Rural "We are at that critical and urgent moment. If Washington continues policies that work against America's family farmers, our rural communities will fall further behind - and so will America. But if we reject the politics that has shut ordinary folks out, we can create a new story for rural America ... The dreams of rural Americans are familiar to all Americans - to make a good living, to raise a healthy and secure family, and to leave our children a future of opportunity. It's time for real leadership for rural America to extend that American dream. That's the dream of opportunity that I've spent my life fighting for. And that's what our rural agenda will do." - Barack Obama, Speech in Fairfax, IA, October 16, 2007 CONTINUE READING

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Service "Your own story and the American story are not separate - they are shared. And they will both be enriched if we stand up together, and answer a new call to service to meet the challenges of our new century ... I won't just ask for your vote as a candidate; I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am president of the United States. This will not be a call issued in one speech or program; this will be a cause of my presidency." - Barack Obama, Speech in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, December 5, 2007

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Technology "Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age. Let's set high standards for our schools and give them the resources they need to succeed. Let's recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more support in exchange for more accountability. Let's make college more affordable, and let's invest in scientific research, and let's lay down broadband lines through the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America." CONTINUE READING

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Urban Policy Barack Obama has had a lifelong commitment to the people and neighborhoods of America?s cities. He understands that cities and metropolitan regions are key drivers of prosperity in the global economy and that opportunities for and contributions from all people and communities are critical to America?s long term success. As president, Obama will implement a regional development agenda that utilizes and strengthens the considerable assets of our urban centers. These investments will bolster America's long-term competitiveness in a globalizing economy, and ensure long-term prosperity for all Americans.

Credit Crunched

idbi we have embarrassed by our credit card provider, Citi, as we dared to spend over £500 in one transaction and being refused our card at the till in Ikea. A shop where you are likely to spend £20 on minor items or a large sum on a some large furniture items. Thank goodness we run more than one card account allowing us to pay for the purchases.

What we now know we failed to was contact the call centre first and "plead to spend on the card they had offered us with sizable credit limit." Why should we have guessed that as we were £2500 under our credit limit and have never defaulted on our monthly payments.

On our current statement there are 2 spends over £400 and 2 over £250, yet we were expecting to put a charge of over an invisible ceiling of £500 and being rejected at the till as it was an unusual transaction!!

Why didn't they just tell us in the T & Cs or display a message at the till, "please ring for authorisation" no lets embarrass our customer & crunch their credit.