Acting with integrity.
Discussion
It frustrates me that there are so many people and businesses who carry on their day to day lives acting without a shred of integrity.
I agreed to sell a good friend of mine a classic car for £20k, he asked if it would be ok to send an expert to verify all the numbers, I said sure. The expert arrived, looked over the car, concured it was all good and then offered me £24k in an attempt to gazump my friend who had employed him (I told the expert in no uncertain terms what I thought of him)
A hire car company charged my credit card £502 for a second driver I didn't ask for and then refused to refund, eventually I had to rely on my credit card company to get it back.
An estate agent told me there was no onward chain and we increased our offer £5k solely on that basis, 6 weeks late I learn there is an onward chain. They lied to hoodwink us into offering more.
A planning authority pissed us about royally, cost me £4k in fees then did a u turn and refuse to refund me the fees.
We hired a logis in France, its a dirty mess, I complained and got back a tirade of abuse, threats and a refusal to refund my deposit.
Why? I'm good to me word, if I agree something I do so on the basis of truth and I stick to it. Even if I later find I could have done better then its my loss. When did it become to norm for individuals and businesses to act is such a way?
I agreed to sell a good friend of mine a classic car for £20k, he asked if it would be ok to send an expert to verify all the numbers, I said sure. The expert arrived, looked over the car, concured it was all good and then offered me £24k in an attempt to gazump my friend who had employed him (I told the expert in no uncertain terms what I thought of him)
A hire car company charged my credit card £502 for a second driver I didn't ask for and then refused to refund, eventually I had to rely on my credit card company to get it back.
An estate agent told me there was no onward chain and we increased our offer £5k solely on that basis, 6 weeks late I learn there is an onward chain. They lied to hoodwink us into offering more.
A planning authority pissed us about royally, cost me £4k in fees then did a u turn and refuse to refund me the fees.
We hired a logis in France, its a dirty mess, I complained and got back a tirade of abuse, threats and a refusal to refund my deposit.
Why? I'm good to me word, if I agree something I do so on the basis of truth and I stick to it. Even if I later find I could have done better then its my loss. When did it become to norm for individuals and businesses to act is such a way?
Huntsman said:
An estate agent told me there was no onward chain and we increased our offer £5k solely on that basis, 6 weeks late I learn there is an onward chain. They lied to hoodwink us into offering more.
That's more likely to be the vendor lying to them - or simply changing their mind.Some businesses and traders would rather find money easily by lying or bending the truth these days, instead of working with their customers, putting in the time to make them feel valued and ultimately secure business for the future. It seems like its in desperation half the time, that they just need the cash there and then and aren't concerned about how they go about getting it.
I (briefly) worked for a small-time training provider doing some contract work and quickly learned that they were 'selling' training courses with professional qualifications that they had absolutely no way of fulfilling. They would advertise hundreds of courses, some in very obscure IT and project management methodology, with no in-house trainers capable of delivering them. Yet they'd still continue to take payment from individuals or businesses wanting to put their staff through them. Once money was received, they would wait until 24 hours before the scheduled course date, then contact them to cancel due to 'unforeseen circumstances' with the option of re-booking.
They would do this four or five times, until the individual got royally fed up, but by then dealt with half a dozen contact staff who made it very difficult for them to obtain a refund.
I managed two weeks of a six month contract and walked, wanting nothing to do with any of their fraudulent practices.
I (briefly) worked for a small-time training provider doing some contract work and quickly learned that they were 'selling' training courses with professional qualifications that they had absolutely no way of fulfilling. They would advertise hundreds of courses, some in very obscure IT and project management methodology, with no in-house trainers capable of delivering them. Yet they'd still continue to take payment from individuals or businesses wanting to put their staff through them. Once money was received, they would wait until 24 hours before the scheduled course date, then contact them to cancel due to 'unforeseen circumstances' with the option of re-booking.
They would do this four or five times, until the individual got royally fed up, but by then dealt with half a dozen contact staff who made it very difficult for them to obtain a refund.
I managed two weeks of a six month contract and walked, wanting nothing to do with any of their fraudulent practices.
I agree, there’s far too much of this sort of thing going on. It’s just money-grabbing at every turn regardless of previous agreements. It gets me down.
I’ve rejected requotes from people in the past on the basis that I asked them for their best possible price in the first place and wouldn’t haggle. If they want to try it on, I’m afraid that breaks my trust and I don’t want to deal with them.
I’ve rejected requotes from people in the past on the basis that I asked them for their best possible price in the first place and wouldn’t haggle. If they want to try it on, I’m afraid that breaks my trust and I don’t want to deal with them.
Huntsman said:
An estate agent told me there was no onward chain and we increased our offer £5k solely on that basis, 6 weeks late I learn there is an onward chain. They lied to hoodwink us into offering more.
In the main I'd agree with you, but when it comes to buying and selling houses, the sums of money involved are so big that I think it's now accepted practice that there is no integrity left in the business, and everyone is looking after their own best interests.I certainly never go into it expecting anyone to have an ounce of integrity, and in return I don't have any myself. I'll do what's best for me and my family and if that shatters someone else's dreams, then tough luck. And I don't complain when I'm screwed over and my own dreams are shattered. It's only business, it's nothing personal.
I paid a company a subscription of £60 and they took it twice. I only noticed when my statement came though. I rang them and they said nothing can be done as 30 days had passed. What the f
k the passage of time has to do with it I don't know.
I paid via Paypal so contacted them and they got the overpayment back. The company then stopped my subscription so I got Paypal to get the original payment back. So by being a dick they ended up with nothing, great business sense.
k the passage of time has to do with it I don't know.I paid via Paypal so contacted them and they got the overpayment back. The company then stopped my subscription so I got Paypal to get the original payment back. So by being a dick they ended up with nothing, great business sense.
Cotty said:
So by being a dick they ended up with nothing, great business sense.
That type of thing constantly amazes me. They might have gotten years of business and recommendations out of someone they hadn't raped. You see this type of thinking all the time. For a pathetic short term gain people chuck away friendships and business relationships that might've benefited them for decades.
Many a person clearly can't think beyond the next ten minutes or outside their own impulses. That's something I've never been able to wrap my head around.
bloomen said:
Cotty said:
So by being a dick they ended up with nothing, great business sense.
That type of thing constantly amazes me. They might have gotten years of business and recommendations out of someone they hadn't raped. You see this type of thinking all the time. For a pathetic short term gain people chuck away friendships and business relationships that might've benefited them for decades.
Many a person clearly can't think beyond the next ten minutes or outside their own impulses. That's something I've never been able to wrap my head around.
bloomen said:
Many a person clearly can't think beyond the next ten minutes or outside their own impulses. That's something I've never been able to wrap my head around.
For years I had a Barclays Visa credit card, with no fee. Then they started demanding a £12 annual fee, I refused to pay each year, they were happy to waive it. Then about 20 yrs ago they refused to waive the fee, and said if I didn't pay, they'd cancel my card. So I told them to do just that. Which they did. I rang my building society and organised a replacement Visa credit card, no fee for life, within a few hours. Ever since then, about every 3 months, I get a huge envelope from Barclays, which must cost about a fiver to post, begging me to have a Barclays Visa card, which will not have an annual fee! Which is what I had, and they cancelled.
4 letters a year, for 20 years, at a fiver a time, that's £400 they've spent begging me to have what had anyway and they took off me.
Utter madness.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Huntsman said:
An estate agent told me there was no onward chain and we increased our offer £5k solely on that basis, 6 weeks late I learn there is an onward chain. They lied to hoodwink us into offering more.
In the main I'd agree with you, but when it comes to buying and selling houses, the sums of money involved are so big that I think it's now accepted practice that there is no integrity left in the business, and everyone is looking after their own best interests.TwigtheWonderkid said:
It's only business, it's nothing personal.
True.I tried to act with integrity at the vets at the weekend; took my dog in for an emergency appointment, I come to pay and am told that there is a large credit on my account, I explained that I had it refunded a few months ago (the wife was overcharged but being too polite she didn't question it, it was a genuine mistake on the vets side.) the woman said well it's on the system that you have a credit and this credit will more than cover the costs for today, again I re-iterated that it had been refunded but she said if we take a payment from me today then it'll muck up the accounts even more so.
So I said fine I'd leave it but you know how to get hold of me if there is an issue.
So I said fine I'd leave it but you know how to get hold of me if there is an issue.
Debenhams lost us as a customer a few years back due to something like this.
Wife got a present for christmas - but the item wasnt quite what she wanted.
Went into the store to do a ‘like for like’ exchange. Itemwas still wrapped and had debenhams barcode on it. Shop assistant refused because we didnt have the receipt.
Went home that night and checked the exchange policy on their website which stated that like for like exchanges are given in store even without a receipt.
Went back to the store a few days later to try again. Again exchange was refused. Asked for a manager who also backed the shop assistant and refused the exchange - stating that it’s store policy.
I got their t&c s up on my phone from their own website and showed them. They still refused stating that their t&cs were different from the website ones - despite the web page clearly stating they were ‘in store’ t&cs. I asked to see a copy of their in store t&cs but was refused.
After some discussion they even went as far as to assert (in front of other customers on the shop floor) that we might have stolen the item - hence why no receipt.
They have lost perhaps £2-3k in custom from us since that episode - all for the sake of a simple cost neutral exchange.
No wonder they are in the st.
Wife got a present for christmas - but the item wasnt quite what she wanted.
Went into the store to do a ‘like for like’ exchange. Itemwas still wrapped and had debenhams barcode on it. Shop assistant refused because we didnt have the receipt.
Went home that night and checked the exchange policy on their website which stated that like for like exchanges are given in store even without a receipt.
Went back to the store a few days later to try again. Again exchange was refused. Asked for a manager who also backed the shop assistant and refused the exchange - stating that it’s store policy.
I got their t&c s up on my phone from their own website and showed them. They still refused stating that their t&cs were different from the website ones - despite the web page clearly stating they were ‘in store’ t&cs. I asked to see a copy of their in store t&cs but was refused.
After some discussion they even went as far as to assert (in front of other customers on the shop floor) that we might have stolen the item - hence why no receipt.
They have lost perhaps £2-3k in custom from us since that episode - all for the sake of a simple cost neutral exchange.
No wonder they are in the s
t.I try to act with complete integrity always. I can remember being 8 years old, going into the local newsagent to buy Panini football stickers. I think they were 12p a pack then. I paid for one pack but outside the shop I noticed that I'd been given two, which had cohered. My instant reaction was to go back and tell the chap. He happily took the extra pack back and said nothing. fk me I must have been a right spaz. Conversely my integrity was tested to destruction any time I went to a scrap yard with my dad (which was frequently); bulbs, switches and fixtures just seemed to fall into my pockets.
k me I must have been a right spaz. Conversely my integrity was tested to destruction any time I went to a scrap yard with my dad (which was frequently); bulbs, switches and fixtures just seemed to fall into my pockets.HTP99 said:
I tried to act with integrity at the vets at the weekend; took my dog in for an emergency appointment, I come to pay and am told that there is a large credit on my account, I explained that I had it refunded a few months ago (the wife was overcharged but being too polite she didn't question it, it was a genuine mistake on the vets side.) the woman said well it's on the system that you have a credit and this credit will more than cover the costs for today, again I re-iterated that it had been refunded but she said if we take a payment from me today then it'll muck up the accounts even more so.
So I said fine I'd leave it but you know how to get hold of me if there is an issue.
That is fine as they made that choice for their business.So I said fine I'd leave it but you know how to get hold of me if there is an issue.
If you are actively concerned you write to the manager/owner/directors and point out how the "hassle with accounts" means they are not getting their £££.
RW
Here's a thread that'll go on and on unfortunately....
The days of acting with integrity, self respect and some common decency are long gone I'm afraid.
For me I follow the advice of my late father; 'every day you have to get up and look at yourself in the mirror, try to do so with a clear conscience'........
The days of acting with integrity, self respect and some common decency are long gone I'm afraid.
For me I follow the advice of my late father; 'every day you have to get up and look at yourself in the mirror, try to do so with a clear conscience'........
Steven_RW said:
HTP99 said:
I tried to act with integrity at the vets at the weekend; took my dog in for an emergency appointment, I come to pay and am told that there is a large credit on my account, I explained that I had it refunded a few months ago (the wife was overcharged but being too polite she didn't question it, it was a genuine mistake on the vets side.) the woman said well it's on the system that you have a credit and this credit will more than cover the costs for today, again I re-iterated that it had been refunded but she said if we take a payment from me today then it'll muck up the accounts even more so.
So I said fine I'd leave it but you know how to get hold of me if there is an issue.
That is fine as they made that choice for their business.So I said fine I'd leave it but you know how to get hold of me if there is an issue.
If you are actively concerned you write to the manager/owner/directors and point out how the "hassle with accounts" means they are not getting their £££.
RW
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