To be annoyed at people's incompetence?

[BackToBasics]

In December i bought a dvd/freeview box for FIL and i gave the company his address as it was for him and they insisted on having mine too.

I got a letter this morning from the tv licence people saying they have been notified by this company that i bought a dvd/freeview box from them in December but they have no record of a licence for me at my address (our licence is in DP name.)

So i have been given a premiem rate telephone number to call to tell them my address has a licence but not in my name. Or if the box was for someone else i need to tell them the address and may recieve a visit to comfirm this.

1. Why can't the stupid people who work for the licence company just look up my address in their records on their computer and it would tell them my address has a licence and that it is in X name?

2. Why didn't the stupid people at the company i bought the box from tell the licence people FIL's address because they knew it was a gift for him? They even wrote on the reciept; gift for Mr X at X address!

Why do i feel like as usual i am doing the leg work for incompetent people in offices?

noooooooo you can't beat a proper bakery cake!!!!!

Dixi - why waste their time if they come round - why would they have to search the house - if you have a license - then I presume you have a TV - which will be very obvious to see - so no "search" needed......just show them the license and let them get go and get on with their work. No need to be rude to them - the people that visit your house have no control over the database

Icequeen, i am not hating the workers who go to peoples houses after a letter has been sent like what your dh does. I am hating the people who work in the offices that send out the letters and in alot of cases unnesessery because they have the information they need on a computer right in front of them. They expect you to go the extra mile to help them but never do they do the same.

Then in the cases where they do get it wrong (as we all do,) you never get so much as an apology from them. If they want people to help them then a free phone number might get people more willing to do so.

The man that came around was very nice and had a chat, he had been lead to believe I had just moved to the address - not lived here for 5 years at that time. He did decline cakes and tea though!

ivy - it obviously wasn't my DH who came round then - he wouldn't refuse cakes and tea (well he'd probably prefer coffee)

BTB I know you're not - but one or two others on this thread are .

Your dh is what i call the messenger, never beat up the messenger!

indeed - if only everyone had that opinion

I have had a very nice experience with the TV Licencing People. Hubby and I were just days back from our honeymoon having moved into our new flat. As Eastenders was booming out of our TV, the Licence Chap called round. I was extremely embarrased that I had forgotten completely about getting a licence. I invited him in. One glance round the room, still full of suitcases and wedding presents, led the nice chap to say "Don't worry love, fill this form in when you can, no rush, don't worry".

I have never been without a licence since. Some of the people are human.