HIC - Nil Points !!!

[vintageteacups]

Blimey - just phoned the housing info centre relating to the area where we're moving to ask did she know when our very-tied quarter will be officially offered (vintage is going nuts waiting) and she sounded so uninterested it was untrue.

Definitely nil points on customer service today! She was spluttering down the phone and fobbing me off saying that until the guy books a move out app, she cannot offer the quarter (fair enough I thought).

Then she said there are no available quarters there at the moment until someone books a move out! I was like "er, no, the house is completely tied to the job so that will be the house we move into". She was just grumpy from then on so I smiled (virtually down the phone to her) and said "thank you for your help". If she had been all chirpy and pleasant I wouldn't have needed to have written this - why can't DE/HIC/MHS buck their ideas up and actually do some customer service training???

dh just confirmed this as correct.

The difference in that square pimms is that my old house and others were free as there were no other LT cols there. If there had have been 10, then we wouldn't have had those quarters. In think it was only because there was no need for your rank higher houses, that you weren't booted out into a quarter lower.

Vintage think it is specific to that square and the fact that the quarters are tied to jobs, we were offered your new one last time but were told we would have to move when new married CO came in so we took the one we had instead. If the quarters are not tied then they cannot force you to move if a higher rank comes in. Know this as we had it put in writing when we were in a LtCol house at a tri service station, we didn't actually want to be there and wanted the non availability chit so we could rent our friends house. The same here, we are in Col house but they cannot through us out now as we have signed the march in forms and they would just give other higher rank non availability, we checked this was true as to us it made more sense to have a hiring closer to DH work than be half hour away, but they told us that once you have the house you keep it until you are posted, if you stayed and DH went overseas unaccompanied then you would be in a situation where you may be booted out. Actually still have the email confirming it as I was concerned that I didn't want to be moving at a later date

Sorry - didn't mean to sound bossy pimms - was writing quickly but worried the above came out as me being arsey - I wasn't meaning to be .

Well then, DH will stand corrected .

Blimey - thank goodness the new one is tied now though - I've mentally moved in already !!

vintage at this rate we'll be moving in with you, it's ok, I'm only little and little one will be very little, and DH wont be there for most of the time - think you can spare some room?

Hi Lk - there is a lot of room! .

It's annoying though isn't it? All this stress about married quarters. The people in charge just don't get it. It's no less stressful for someone (like us) going into their 9th house than it is for someone (like you) moving into their first MQ.

I hope the overhaul of the married quarters system will shake a few things up....but I very much doubt it. If there was at least some empathy from those wielding the power it'd be something but I have felt (for most moves) like I'm just left sat waiting in limbo until it's finally down on paper saying we have whatever quarter.

I know there are many things depending but I don't see how, with the new system, they can't allocate in principal on seeing the current person's assignment order and agree move in/out dates at a later date, once they know more details. There really is no excuse.

I feel another AFF article coming on.....runs off to grab a pen!

Right - so house situation moving along but not in a very quick way.

I am so stressed it's untrue.

Basically, the UWO has it in hand and is hoping for a quick handover when current person marches out. He's 90% certain this will happen.

However, he said that the pre-march out is now booked for mid July (that's yonks away!) as DE bloke is so busy and it won't be until after then, that the HIC will decide if they want to keep it vacant for 22 days (or whatever days it is).

So say even if the 1/4 needed completely re-painting, it wouldn't take 4 bloody weeks to do it!

I so don't understand that in August, when the majority of families move into and out of quaters) they would actually consider keeping the 1/4 vacant for almost a month - making it only a couple of days to move and then for the kids to start school. Plus, DH takes over the job at start of August so would have to live in the Mess (not appropriate for his appointment tbh) and leave me to deal with packing up and moving etc.

I'm so thinking this could have been much less stressy!!!

Vintage I'm hearing so many horror stories about HICs!

We have friends returning from Germany husband has to move into the mess and they will let his wife know when SFA is available, they have 4 children and need to make school application.

MHS are inept at getting houses ready but DE don't care.

You're right swingingcat - the HICS and DE really don't care!

I'm not usually a person who gets stressed but this is taking the pee.

Phew - it's all over - they're allocating us the quarter and marching us in on the original date we wanted - I now need a few gins!

Well done for persevering. Looking forward to meeting you at some point!!

offline does that mean I get to meet you too?! Moving to the other patch in the vicinity today/tomorrow!

vintage am so pleased for you, DH chuffed too - after a few more swear words about the HIC

I make a mean cup cake so hope that fits with vintage's idea of a party?

Yes - vintage thinks it'll be afternoon tea in the garden with pretty sandwiches, cupcakes, stawberries, meringues, pimms etc oh and tea (served in vintage teacups obviously ).

A lot less stressful than a BBQ and I can do everything in advance and let people help themselves.

LK - hope today/tomorrow goes okay - don't be lifting any of those boxes!

I should imagine so LK, but maybe not for a while as I don't live on either patch and I'm working FT at the moment so don't have a lot of time to socialise .

Are you moving to the 'offsite' patch? I can't remember if you have DC but there are some good things going on in the town for babies/toddlers that quite a few of the wives go to. Feel free to PM once you've moved in if you need pointing in the right direction .

Hi offline, I know the feeling about FT work - and unfortunately mine is a way-away so it'll be overnights at least once a week - ist DC arrives in Oct/Nov so will be looking forward to lots of lovely things - yes am on the 'offsite' patch. Bit of a novelty having had a 2 bedroom top floor flat to now be in a 4 bedroom house with garden - i keep wondering around just taking in all the space!

vintage I did lots of 'yes that goes there' and making tea - easiest move ever! Now for a weekend of remembering where everything is....

Hi L-K So glad the move went well and that you like the house. See you soon !!! My friend just moved from the onsite patch today - she's so sad to be going.