To bloody hate the admin of life

[cheeseomelette]

Why is nothing simple?

have been trying to get the boiler either fixed or replaced, some medical issues looked at, and a load of other house jobs sorted while managing a demanding full time job where I’m out of the house every day. I can do basic things but plumbing, cars and electrical things are just not in my skill set.

the hassle is unreal. Logging on to things at certain times with certain pass codes, resetting endless passwords and waiting for call backs or arranging visits. I end up buying new things because I haven’t got the time or energy to chase someone down to have my existing things fixed or serviced and that’s expensive and not great for the planet.

i’m having this rant waking up in a cold house because the boiler is playing up,again and the plumber I rushed home from work to let in yesterday didn’t turn up.

I’ve booked a private medical appointment this morning because there is no contacting my GP. They turn the booking system off online and don’t answer the phones.

It’s got to the point where I just feel sick when something goes wrong in the house because I know what a load of stress it’s going to be. I don’t know what the solution is here - I’m even contemplating downsizing to an apartment with a service contract.

I have had this issue this week. Long term health condition, review overdue. We have sent you a questionnaire which we need you to complete. Click on link. You need to access this via your NHS login. Go to login page and put in email. Pretty sure the pc saved the password somewhere but it doesn't come up. Check passwords manager - not there. Click link to reset password. Wants me to use Authenticator I don't have. Send code to mobile. Send another code to email. Try again. Needs NHS number and postcode. Put those in. We've found your account on this email. Go to login. Needs NHS number and postcode. Repeat entire process about 5 times before completely giving up.

When the internet first arrived everything was so easy. Online banking just login, check, logout, 5 mins tops. Now you need to have 45 minutes spare by the time you've been through all the MFA. Everything expects a review. Everything needs authenticating, and STILL fraudsters get hold of your money.

We've got a leak in a steam shower we don't use. We have called 3 plumbers from checkatrade. The first 2 didn't bother getting back to us and the third one came out, had a look, then has completely blanked us. Water bill was double the usual so I'm really stressed that we need to get this sorted.

Couldn't agree more.

I hate ordering stuff online too especially clothes. Recently had dd's birthday and some bits she wanted were only available online.

I've ended up having to return stuff but only after logging into a portal, requesting returns, repackaging stuff and then paying to return it.

I literally cannot stand it

I live in an area with poor mobile signal. Trying to order something online -
"We've sent you a 6 digit code by text"
Text doesn't arrive so am timed out.
Could go round and round in circles all day doing this.

Text code finally came through 4 hours later.

No consideration given that not everyone has good signal but at the end of the day they probably couldn't care less if they lost my sale.

Ref your first paragraph - I think some of these systems are created by sadists.

I’m going to add to this - tills which don’t recognise discounts or price accurately. Literally just happened to me in white company and Waterstones this morning.

you need to know what you expect to pay before getting to a till so you can query it if it’s wrong. I estimate this happens to me at least 10-20% of the time. it’s easy to miss things and overpay if you’re in a rush. It very rarely happens the other way round!!

@WeaselsRisingre your shower, is it worth checking your home insurance cover? That would be covered for me under home emergency cover, I think.

This is so frequent (in the shop's favour, natch) that a while ago I started to suspect it is not accidental.

I find Boots really annoying, I sometimes want to pick up some vitamins or other supplements whilst there are 3 for 2 or other offers and they only every have the small packs instore. They're often out of large packs online too.
If you're buying three packs of two differently products it's usually better to put them through as two transactions, or you get two of the cheapest free rather than one of each.

We had a run-in with a solicitor who deals with some of our family legal work. The compliance ID stuff had expired and they sent a text asking DP to scan and send various documents which I did as he is IT resistant. Then they asked again. And again. Each time I sent it back to them. And then we got a snarky letter saying we were holding up the process. No point them having such wonderfully automated systems if they don't work.
Also they wanted him to sign something on Docusign (whatever that is) but he won't comply so decided to sign it and send it back by post. Again they lost it. Twice.
Needless to say we're considering changing solicitors.

Strangely I enjoy it. I think I have anxiety though and by sorting out certain things like paying a bill or booking something, or even paying into the dreaded tax free childcare account gives me a sort of boost because it feels like I’ve ticked something off my list. I think also where I have young kids it gives me a sense of control. I know when I’m older and more calm I will probably resent things like that more.

@overlyhelpfulpeople I get that! I do enjoy list ticking, I’m just impatient with it, think

I do loath the ‘ menu ‘ options when you ring anyone. Sometimes it’s too many and hard to know which one to press at times especially if the query doesn’t fall into any of the options available to you.

I was watching an old drama from 19 years ago on Netflix and the main character was writing out cheques to pay the bills and was going to post them off ! It Took me back ..

I hate admin, now I have my mother's admin as my dad sadly died in the summer and I am her LPOA.
The hassle of achieving ANYTHING for her has been horrific. Banks not too bad. Anything else ( utilities, insurance, tv license, vet) has been so slow and painful.
It is enough to make me dream of going to live in a hut in the wood so I never have to deal with -
Awful music whilst waiting to be connected to an 'agent'.
Getting a text message code ( no phone coverage in my house really.
Sending a code or certificate.

Explaining again that my mother has dementia and does not live with me/ cannot call up herself.
Xx

I hate admin, now I have my mother's admin as my dad sadly died in the summer and I am her LPOA.
The hassle of achieving ANYTHING for her has been horrific. Banks not too bad. Anything else ( utilities, insurance, tv license, vet) has been so slow and painful.
It is enough to make me dream of going to live in a hut in the wood so I never have to deal with -
Awful music whilst waiting to be connected to an 'agent'.
Getting a text message code ( no phone coverage in my house really.
Sending a code or certificate.

Explaining again that my mother has dementia and does not live with me/ cannot call up herself.
Xx

Admin used to be manageable before everything went online.
If that's meant to be progress, I'd rather go back to the pre Internet dark ages.

And the irritation things they do! I actually really like octopus and they are good at responding by email quickly and amending direct debits etc

but when you enter a meter reading you get to spin a wheel and win a prize. I have never one a sodding prize and it just feels insulting now! My dad won £1. That’s almost more insulting!!

Ah I've found my tribe! It's overwhelming isn't it.

i had to sign a consent form recently for a kids activity that historically involved DC getting a form home, i fill it out and sign then bring it back the next week. But now they have a new system, I had to download 2 apps, one for the activity, another to amend the doc and a whole series of steps I can't even remember now, the ultimately the app made up my signature anyway so the whole thing is pointless. That's just one example this week.

I think there has to be a business opportunity out there for an admin assistant, someone who just does all this crap for a fee.

I’ve never won anything with the octopus wheel either.
They are good at emails and replying to queries, but I’ve heard bad things about them from people on here!

I so relate to this. I logged on to the council website to buy visitor parking vouchers and get this: even though I have a resident’s parking permit for my own car, so am clearly a resident, I have to apply for a separate permit to enable me to request visitors permits! You couldn’t make it up! If you want virtual permits you have to get them through the Ringo app and go through a five year Druidic ritual including 100 character passwords that aren’t any you’ve used in your last 10 incarnations and give a sample of your blood to prove you’re human and live in the borough.

Oham ! .. lol at the blood sample.
Even then they will say ‘ not good enough , wrong blood group ‘ ;( 😂

@WoahWoahandThriceWoah I can totally emphasise with you. Can I come to the log cabin too ?!
I've had very similar pains with deliveries, several times. Nothing, repeat, nothing is ever easy or straight forward.i find it all over whelming and too much. If I could afford a PA I would get one.

As another OP said - I've got a list as long an my arm, all needs doing in time pockets. Its not a list I can tackle in 1 go. The list gets added to every day, things don't get crossed off as frequently as every day though. I could cry. And then there is Christmas.. which is a separate list altogether ...

And try dealing with a government department! OMG It nearly drove me to a nervous breakdown when I had to deal with probate last year - and that's not an exaggeration!

Have you considered a service plan? I have one with British Gas, covers plumbing, heating, drains, boiler, electrics and all major kitchen appliances. One quick phone call to book. Turn up when they're supposed to. My sister has a flat with a service contract, it only covers the fabric of the building and grounds maintenance only. It's very expensive, she still has all the hassle of getting boiler fixed, faulty electric etc

I moved house recently. Virgin drove me potty as I was stuck in a loop where it wouldn’t let me progress until I’d entered characters from a passcode that I’d never set up and it wouldn’t let me look it up as my late husband had set the account up and even though it had been transferred to me, it wouldn’t let me do everything.

in the end, I spammed the hash key repeatedly saying ‘speak to a person. Speak to a person.’ Until it eventually said it would put me through to someone.

Vodafone chat - the woman wanted to start chatting with me about my weekend plans. I get they’re told to be friendly but I had already been dealing with the issue for 2 hours at that point.