HBC's latest moronic act

accyman · 03-01-2012, 12:21

If anyone has a payment card for HBC then its bad news for you if your card is either damaged,lost or in my case simply stops working because in their wisdom they have seen fit to discontinue the payment cards as a cost cutting exercise .

Most people who have these cards use them to budget or use them as they are unable to have a bank account amongst other reasons.

The alternative is that they will send you a bill with a barcode on and you will have to look after this scrap of paper as each week it gets more and more tatty until it no longer scans at which point HBC will be on you faster than lightening about your missed payment with threatening letters .Incidently these letters cost money to send out too and boy do they like to waste money sending letters out in a hurry

Anyway this scrap of paper has to be scanned at a post office so unless you live pretty close to one you may find yourself having a fair old trek each week to make your payments

What a bright idea, well thats if you class the 5w bulb over their heads as bright

gynn · 03-01-2012, 15:35

So what you are saying is that the Council is introducing letters with bar codes that "get more and more tatty until they no longer scan" to replace payment cards that "get more and more tatty until they no longer scan".

Presumably the payment card system carries a cost that has to be borne by everyone, so it sounds reasonable to get rid of it if there is an adequate system to replace it.

Which it seems there IS ie letters with bar codes.

Boeing Guy · 03-01-2012, 15:38

Why oh why can't the council simply charge for the cost of a new card. It cannot cost more than a pound, or is common sense a problem.

gynn · 03-01-2012, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boeing Guy

Why oh why can't the council simply charge for the cost of a new card. It cannot cost more than a pound, or is common sense a problem.

I think its to do with the admin cost of running the payment card system, because it involves a third party who take a cut. Its that cost which the Council are trying to get rid of.

Boeing Guy · 03-01-2012, 15:58

Sorry Gynn, but how much would it cost the council to buy some blank plastic cards? A printer sor said cards and print their own barcodes on it. That does not wash, sorry

accyman · 03-01-2012, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by gynn

So what you are saying is that the Council is introducing letters with bar codes that "get more and more tatty until they no longer scan" to replace payment cards that "get more and more tatty until they no longer scan".

Presumably the payment card system carries a cost that has to be borne by everyone, so it sounds reasonable to get rid of it if there is an adequate system to replace it.

Which it seems there IS ie letters with bar codes.

no it is not reasonable if it was reasonable we wouldnt have cards for anything like gas,electric,rent payments for straters and they would all insist we trek to the post office and que up for ages to pay instead of conviniently paying when you go to the shop for your items.

First of all the payment counter is taken away so you cant make cash payments when in town which was a tory idea and then labour make it even harder to pay them by removing the card scheme.Seems pure stupidity to remove options of payment but hey ho if it saves teh people who dont need these cards a fraction of a pence each year then so be it.

gynn · 03-01-2012, 16:10

You are probably right.

I was only trying to give the Council's side because, for whatever reason, no Councillor or Council officer shows the common courtesy of doing their job by coming on here to answer the questions raised.

They leave it to former employees to try and second guess the reasons for their strange decisions.

Don't know why I bother!

Boeing Guy · 03-01-2012, 16:18

I wouldn't Gynn, but well said

accyman · 03-01-2012, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by gynn

You are probably right.

I was only trying to give the Council's side because, for whatever reason, no Councillor or Council officer shows the common courtesy of doing their job by coming on here to answer the questions raised.

They leave it to former employees to try and second guess the reasons for their strange decisions.

Don't know why I bother!

sory if i came across as abrubt but its one of those days and after treking around town center and local shops trying to pay my bill before bailifs are sent for money i dont really owe yet i was more than miffed that they wouldnt even put a note on my account saying there was dificulties with the card and payment would be made when i recieved their scrap of paper to use.

jaysay · 03-01-2012, 19:01

Well its we're in charge now and we'll do what we want, and up yours, much in the way the MP did with the referendum vote, or as one councillor said on facebook the day after Mays election "I can't believe that I'm now deputy leader of hyndburn borough council" na neither can I

lancsdave · 03-01-2012, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by gynn

I think its to do with the admin cost of running the payment card system, because it involves a third party who take a cut. Its that cost which the Council are trying to get rid of.

More than likely there is also a massive consultancy fee on top like there is with most council expenditure. We can produce an aliminium card fairly cheaply and they don't get tatty

Boeing Guy · 03-01-2012, 19:27

Now why cannot the council really use some comon sense and 'buy local'....
Gift print would be ideal.

jaysay · 03-01-2012, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boeing Guy

Now why cannot the council really use some comon sense and 'buy local'....
Gift print would be ideal.

The only problem there BG is Dave is a member of Accyweb and we're not really flavour of the month with the ruling group on HBC these days

lancsdave · 03-01-2012, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

The only problem there BG is Dave is a member of Accyweb and we're not really flavour of the month with the ruling group on HBC these days

30 pieces of silver and you lot will be a distant memory

Less · 03-01-2012, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancsdave

More than likely there is also a massive consultancy fee on top like there is with most council expenditure. We can produce an aliminium card fairly cheaply and they don't get tatty

Ah! Specially pre-tattified in production are they?