Frugal ways beats Tesco!

Frugal ways beats Tesco!

When my local Tesco store were selling Lurpak at a 50p higher price than you could buy it from the same store, same shelf, if you placed an order online, I watched their shelf price for almost two weeks. Nothing changed.

Once we had run out of said Lurpak, I collared the customer service manager at the store, after I was forced to pay the higher price for it, than they were selling it for with online orders (See link above for full post) and "had a word."

In full view and earshot of the cigarette queue, I left him in no doubt that I thought he was ripping people shopping in his store off.

Imagine my surprise when 24 hours later, the same Lurpak pack sizes saw their prices in the same Tesco store, reduced to just £1 - from the £1.50 they were sold at for two weeks previously for online orders.
As they cannot advertise it as an offer - it hasn't been on sale at the higher price for two weeks according to their own price checker - they have been forced into displaying the £1 price as a standard price label!

So tonight, now that they have got some stock in, I picked up ten packs, saving me a whopping £5 - all this from one product line.
Even better is the fact that everyone shopping at the store will also benefit from the 50p saving per pack.

Amazing how, just by shouting Tesco management down in front of customers, they change their whole approach to pricing by demographics and hoping no one would notice the difference for people ordering from the store via the internet and those calling into the store.

Little victories my friends, little victories...

Little treasures children's trust - are threatening court action!

Little treasures children's trust - are threatening court action!

Little treasures children's trust charity have instructed a solicitor to act on their behalf, and attempts have been made to make, "the website with the name frugalways.co.uk, incapable of use, at least pending resolution of this matter."
If steps are not taken to do this and my personal contact information is not released (even though it would be a contravention of the Data Protection Act) then "Court proceedings maybe necessary against you." ("You" being the domain name company that I registered frugalways with)

By posting actual experiences of my dealings with little treasures children's trust and their collectors (working for east london textiles - ELT - or little treasures children's trust directly, the lady at the charity wouldn't or couldn't confirm either was correct)) at the link above, their solicitor has deemed this to be, "defamatory of our client and its business."
Using the Civil procedure rules 1998 - Defamation claims, the solicitor is demanding my personal contact information be made available.
The basis for this action I am told, both in the letter and on the telephone today from their solicitor, is from the text of my blog post, stated in their letter.
Unfortunately, the letter does not specify any specific text at all!

According to the solicitor representing little treasures children's trust, what "makes matters more serious," is the following;

  • "A link from the frugalways.co.uk to the website of little treasures children's trust" - No such link has ever existed in the blog post concerned.
  • "An invitation to people associated with our client, to contact the Charity commission" - No such "invitation" exists in my original blog post - I would strenuously defend that any such invitation, if it did exist, would be breaking not one single law, rule or procedure!

Facts ommitted from the letter sent by the solicitor representing little treasures children's trust, to the domain name company, include;

  • Any text or links that are considered to be defamation
  • Little treasures children's trust already have my personal details, these were given to the charity when I contacted them to report their delivery person - so why demand them officially and request this website be made "unusable"? Would this not be defamation of myself under the Civil procedure rules 1998?
  • Both the posting of the bags and the later collection of bags in the area, without any form of licence being issued by the local authority, secretary of state or police authority, was an offence under the House to House Collections Act 1939 (and subsequent amendments)
  • Little treasures children's trust charity and East london textiles ltd (collection agents of said charity) had both admitted to myself - in the case of the charity - and our local council's chief licensing officer - in the case of east london textiles ltd - that neither had a licence to carry out any house to house collections. They went further, admitting that neither of them had even applied for a licence!
  • Staff at little treasures children's trust have informed me of how much they like the website frugalways.co.uk, especially "Your diary posts, we think it's really great to hear how a father handles school holidays and childcare!"

Little treasures children's trust can contact me anytime, they have my home phone number and address already. They can email me via the website, they are free to visit the website and leave comments under the original (or this) post.
As I stated to their solicitor directly, if they request I edit or review any part of my factual account, of my own personal experience, I will happily look at their requests, but as yet, they have failed to clarify which parts of my post they find defamatory.

What I will not do, is remove the post on the whim of a solicitor's letter, which is inaccurate in it's claims of website links and "invitations" to contact the charity commission in my original blog post.

I find it disturbing that a charity would go to such lengths and spend essential money, trying to have my website made "unusable" whilst they gather information that they already have in their posession?

If any staff of little treasures children's trust are reading this post, (I know you visit this website as you have told me so already) please feel free to contact me, as unfortunately, your solicitor, once I had asked for clarification of where I have posted what he claims I have posted, refuses to discuss the matter any further. (A point I will make vigorously in my defence should legal action be commenced!)

UPDATE:

Little treasures children's trust are not just targeting this website with solicitors letters - instead of sorting out the problem of doorstep collecting ILLEGALLY, they would prefer to frighten off bad publicity by stopping people from publishing their experiences on internet websites and forums.

I wonder why?

Save money when renting goods

Many people still rent their televisions, freeview recorders, washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges, etc.
With a simple phone call, you can reduce how much you pay for these items.

Every so often throughout the year, the rental price of each item is reduced, normally when they are a year older.
The rental companies rely on people not knowing when this is and not checking that they are getting the best deal.

About twice a year, I contact my rental company (I rent my television) and each time the price is reduced. It may be only £4 per month cheaper, but even with that small saving, I have managed to keep another £48 a year in my family's pocket!

The unseen jobs of a parent

It's late here, very late, but I am compelled to post whilst this is fresh in my swede.

If you are considering becoming a parent, or indeed have just become one, you should be aware of many unseen jobs, that the humble parent must endure, all of course, without any recognition!

There is no way that I could list them all here and now, so to this post I will return with updates... this said, kicking the post off, is one unseen job, that many parents absolutely loathe with a passion.
The unseen wait!

Sprog2 landed back at home today, with a few friends in tow. Whilst on our way out, I was offered a small driving job in relation to two said friends. Accepting the job, it was a simple process.
Once said friends have been to the pub, parent will be texted by mobile telephone and said parent will pick up the friends and take them home. A simple, but useful task?

Now for the side that children do not see.
As I sat here from 10.30pm - keen on getting some shut eye, it is now gone 1am. Still no message or call.
In walks sprog2, calm as you like, announces that he is going to bed!
Hold on a mo... what about the driving you asked me to do?
Oh we didn't need you afterall, we decided that just after you left the house earlier.
So where is my message or call?
Errrrr sorry, goodnight!

Over two and a half hours waiting for nothing. I could have gone to bed at 10.30pm and had a good sleep, instead I shall be a tad cranky tomorrow because I haven't got enough sleep tonight.
Waiting around is bad enough, but the parent must wait for no reason whatsoever and find they have wasted hours of their own time, all of course, without any recognition!

6 weeks school holiday dad - Baby progress, friends and helping people out

The transformation in the past week or so, in sprog2 has been nothing short of amazing.
All those times we have encouraged hand clapping, standing, walking, dancing, talking, etc, which led to nothing happening and left us being looked at as if we were from another planet , finally showed its benefit!

In the past week, sprog2 can now stand, clap hands, walk whilst holding on to things, sit down on her own, etc.
We always knew it would come, but all at once within a week I did not expect.
The latest game she likes to play is called, lets take our own pants off!

A proper wriggler she is, but great fun. We can definately see the benefits of having a parent with her everyday, instead of palming her off to clubs and baby minding places, with their YTS staff.
As if to emphasise how valuable parents can be, I have linked a wonderful story here, about the mother who cuddled her baby back to life maybe mother nature saw the love they showed towards their son and intervened?

I have some of the best friends in the world, ever. I don't have many of them, but they are the best.
People I have worked with, drank with, etc, in the past, in real life and via the internet, who have helped me no end of times. So when I got the chance to help one of those good friends yesterday, I jumped at the chance.
Some people question why I would do this for no financial reward, they say I am stupid.
I'm not interested in making money off the back of my friends, it's because they are my FRIENDS that I help them.
I know each and everyone of them would do exactly the same for me if I needed them to or asked for help, so when I get the chance to help them, I do not hesitate if I am able to do so.
J - you owe me a bacon butty hehe

Another example of the knock on effects, of helping family and friends also came up yesterday.
In a small way, I had the chance to help someone else out. I of course checked I was okays to do it, then gave them the help they needed.
They were delighted and got everything sorted at their end.
Now comes the good bit. Partly because of my help, not only did they get sorted what they wanted to do, but they also found employment because of what they had got done - how cool is that!
I had yet another opportunity to help someone yesterday as well, although they chose not to take my offer of help, it gave them an extra option, so were thankful for it.

Yesterday was a great day... and sprog2 hit me in the eye with her bottle!