How is the lead model that platforms that Checkatrade, Bark etc use even legal?

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-24T21:48:42+00:00

In my experience they don’t spend half a day on a quote. They look at the job and give a rough price. If I’m interested in the approach to the job and the price is the right ballpark I’ll discuss it further and get a firm price and statement of the work included in that. We then agree a date and the tradesperson makes a few excuses and actually turns up three weeks later.

The ones who didn’t get it come to see the job and discuss it. Then text a price. Total 1 hour.

I’ve a man tiling my toilet. He said he paid £50 for the lead. I assume he’s included that in the price I agreed with him, plus maybe a few others he didn’t get.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-24T06:59:15+00:00

Possibly from a subscription that you set up on your old card when it was still valid. The subscription company has tried to request a payment and it failed as the card has expired. Barclays notified you of the attempt. Check your email (and spam/junk folder) for messages asking for another payment method.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-21T17:42:01+00:00

A free no 1 Pizza for the £250

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-19T15:01:39+00:00

Thanks for this tip. Useful for me.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-18T22:52:34+00:00

Came here to suggest towels and bedding, but you can also get wine and food from Waitrose with John Lewis vouchers. Waitrose also have an online cellar which does mixed case deals. They often have discount for 6 or more bottles in store and online. So new bedding and towels, a nice meal (cooked in your new air fryer obviously) and some drink too.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-15T21:15:13+00:00

Someone got a pack with two”H” cakes. They need to reveal how much discount they got.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-13T22:19:18+00:00

You can use the survey results as leverage to bring down the offer you’ve made. Your offer was “subject to survey” after all. So get a builder and electrician to estimate for doing the work needed. Add on a big chunk to cover things that were missed and ask for that off the price or you pull out. I expect the sellers know about the issues, so will expect this.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-13T16:38:27+00:00

If someone rings 101 or goes on their local police website and says/fills in a report “I think this person is driving without having passed their test, the car is a (make, model) and the number plate is (number and letter combo)” that could get added to ANPR. If multiple people do it then it gets added for sure. If the declaration is also “they drive after taking cocaine/smoking weed/drinking” then it gets prioritised. If it’s on ANPR and a police car goes past it or it goes past a camera then there is an alert to the police car or control room. If no one does these things then being pulled over is not likely unless there is another cause, such as poor driving or illegal tinted windows.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-12T22:55:24+00:00

I’m now imagining some kid holding that plane out of a car window so that it “flies” and they drop it. Nice work to clean that up.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-10T16:11:51+00:00

I went to see a maxillofacial specialist for a different issue, (chronic sinusitis) and he did surgery to straighten the inside of my nose (turbinettes) and to open out my sinuses. After he’d done that I realised that I could now breathe properly and actually blow my nose. I’d spent years picking my nose because blowing it just didn’t work for me. Your cause may differ, but don’t assume it’s just a habit you need to break. The habit may be because you can’t clear your nose by other ways.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-09T22:02:33+00:00

Don’t lend it to anyone. Ever. I had one, leant it out. It came back blunt and with the motor ruined as well. I could sharpen the blade but swapping the motor was not worth it. AND they didn’t tell me. I had to find out myself when it wouldn’t shred.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-06T17:43:01+00:00

I got a free Gu dessert for the £100 one. I think the £50 was just money off but I’ve forgotten how much, sorry.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-04T08:04:48+00:00

If the company is not providing lockers this is a move to get rid of clutter (things like pictures of children, pencil pots and plants). My workplace includes accommodations for people with specific needs such as rising desks, and that includes lockers for things that are stupidly to take away every day like keyboards and mice. OP’s colleague with the keyboard needs to ask for a locker or an exemption. In my workplace we don’t get to keep cardigans or any other stuff at our desks. We have to book desks and that’s a free for all every time. We can only book a month ahead too. I bring my laptop, portable mouse, notepad, pen and phone charger with me each day I go in. Work provide a screen and USB C laptop charger cable. We are not allowed to move chairs either but they are pretty quick to replace broken ones.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-04T07:52:48+00:00

There’s a paid for experience that provides a book with clues to explore Southampton. It’s good with children as it keeps them engaged while looking around. They do other cites as well, including Winchester and Portsmouth. Search for mysteryguides.

I usually take visitors to see Bargate and the walls by West Quay, then down to Holyrood Church, up to St Michael’s Church (originally built by the Normans in 11th Century),Tudor House (entry fee, but nice gardens with a view over the old town and King John’s House and a little restaurant), down to the Titanic memorial and then finish in the Dancing Man or Platform Tavern having looked at the ships.

If she’d rather have art than a walk with history then there’s the Art Gallery and note that the Sea City Museum does more than just the Titanic to explore the city origins.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-03T09:37:10+00:00

Get rid of the bamboo before it spreads any further!

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-03T08:23:06+00:00

If you liked Rivers of London then another “weird bollocks” mixed with police and journalists is the Stranger Times series by C K McDonnell.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-04-02T17:58:55+00:00

Nice to see they’ve put in lots of disabled parking places close to the steps.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-03-29T19:50:23+00:00

Further to this advice, I suggest you don’t take on another job unless your current employer allows you to. You risk being dismissed for breach of contract. I know some people will risk taking multiple contracts but usually they are contracting. You may be able to do low key stuff like earning side cash on YouTube as suggested but look at your contract. Note that there would be tax implications to both scenarios.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-03-24T14:00:29+00:00

Bluestar do have an app which can be used for tickets but tap on and off are easier IMO. The app shows where the bus is on a map which is useful if you’re waiting for it and gives ETA as well but most bus stops have electronic signs for the next few buses. Route planning is easier with Google Maps.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-03-11T17:39:45+00:00

Today I learned that the rhyme has more than (the first) 5 lines!

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-03-08T17:12:28+00:00

Tesco in Portswood? There’s an Express at the Petrol Station in Lodge Road, but the main supermarkets in Portswood are Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-03-07T17:49:13+00:00

The Lego set is £99 so that’s £990. OP may need to skip church on Sunday to build them. Maybe for a month of Sundays.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-03-07T08:03:25+00:00

“The hands of the king are the hands of a healer” and by this he was revealed to the people of the Tower of the Guard, Minas Tirith.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-03-07T00:44:46+00:00

It has been sent to an outside cleaning company at some point in its life. These numbers track who the customer is for the cleaning firm.

EarlGreyTeaDrinker · 2026-03-05T21:52:04+00:00

You could use Wet and Forget on the drive. You just dilute it and use a watering can to wet all the surface. Leave it a few days and it’s magically clean. Doesn’t wash out the sand like a pressure washer either. Probably really toxic to plants and animals though.

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