All articles by Jac Roper – Page 18
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Dear JacDear Jac: Customer care to count on; Bestway Cash & Carry: an apology
I get complaints about some companies with monotonous regularity; others I never hear about. Until very recently ShopEquip fell into the latter category and, apart from a brief blip, I believe all has now returned to harmony between supplier and...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: A tip that’s right on the money
This column often discusses bank charges all tips are welcome. Manjit Sokhal, mentioned in the supermarket-shopping story, also passed on her tip. She belongs to the Federation of Small Businesses, paying a £150 membership fee a year.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Taking counsel against the council
Anybody know a good joinery company that can do some emergency work before Christmas?
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Name that tune!
Not for the first time I've received a complaint regarding news wholesalers' 'partners' ringing retailers to sell them 'extras' and managing to give the impression that they are the wholesaler themselves.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Shopping for super bargains
It seems that a goodly number of you shop at supermarkets. Not a bad idea given the current climate as it not only bags you bargains, it also gives you a close-up view of how the opposition operates.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Paying for the bank’s mistakes
Not that brilliant at money are they, banks? Or perhaps they are brilliant, but in a rather one-sided way.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Penalty shoot-outs
Every month I hear from retailers realising belatedly what they signed up for. Shaid Hussain emailed me to say that he has been overcharged by his photocopy supplier for the past seven years. When he contacted the company to complain he...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: A wee problem turns nasty
We've had rude customers (conducting the entire transaction while still yakking into their mobiles), threatening customers and hold-your-nose smelly customers all making appearances in this column. Now, for the first time, I bring you...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Paying for mistakes shouldn’t be this costly
"We made a mistake," says Tasnim Aslam, who runs The Right Place in South Shields. She is halfway through a seven-year contract with Bank Machine, which installed and supplies an ATM. She gets 15p on all transactions, rising to 25p on transactions...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: In competition with its own network?
I've had an email, from a sub-postmistress of long standing, accusing the Post Office/Royal Mail of being the main competition out there. She writes: "An office can expand its work via many of the Post Office-driven items. However, each and every...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Beware the roll over
Alan Taylor, director at energy broker Utilities Savings Corporation, was very disappointed by this column two issues back which featured Zac Hussain's complaint that his energy bill went up instead of down after using its NFRN-recommended services....
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Are you on their list?
Dear old Britain is getting on, and so are many of its buildings. And English Heritage likes to do that preserving thing by listing buildings. But if you haven't worked out whether your bricks and mortar are worth preserving, it could cost you.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: When paying online isn’t an option
Are you doing your VAT online? Alvin Wilkinson isn't. A bit of a reactionary is Alvin. No computer, no epos, no mobile phone. But his store, Countdown in Hornsea, Yorkshire, does very nicely thank you and he pays his considerable VAT on time. Or...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: An update on Chip & PIN charges
On the subject of PayPoint, I have been asked to point out that there is a crucial piece of information missing from the story in the last issue about George Mahay and his out-of-date flyer (Get it in writing but it may not help, C-Store, September...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: What really is the ‘worst after’ date?
Rajan Jhanjee rang from his Paradise Stores CTN in Brentwood, Essex, with that hairy old question about 'best before' dates. We know that retailers can sell items past that date, but what constitutes a reasonable amount of time; ie what is the...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Are you planning to diversify?
Like many of you, Asif Malik, who runs a Nisa Supermarket in Cardiff, is exploring diversification.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Cheers to enterprise
Not long ago I saved a couple £1,000. Before you all ring up, let me stress that this isn't something I can do often.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Is this leasing or fleecing?
Asokar Ramalingham took out a loan to refurbish his Best One store at Gravesend, Kent, but now he's been sent a further bill for £1,207.50
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: It’s good to share the software
Smack my wrist for saying, in the April 16 issue, that good software is hard to find...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Justice prevails for the Tamworth two
As I write this Jaswinder Singh Dhesi and his wife Sukvinder Kaur are celebrating in Tamworth following a court victory with business transfer agents RTA