No- the country is shit. My very elderly aunt has moved into assisted living.
So far to connect her to services I have made:
12 phone calls to British Gas which have taken almost 9 hours
15 phone calls to BT- which have taken 18 hours and it has taken 3 weeks to connect her to a phone. They have lied, failed with every promise they have made, cancelled the phone order 3 times, 4 engineers have not turned up and there has been no communication of that. They are appalling.
I can not change her address for her DWP pension and benefits, council tax, bank, or occupational pension- because no one will talk to me despite me having a registered POA. I can do her online banking but it does not allow me to change her address online and the nearest branch of her bank is 18 miles away and can offer me an appointment in 1 month. I have spent hours with them on the phone because there is no other way to talk to them. The local council do not answer the phone- you have to leave a message or send an email and they get back to you 'within 7 working days' with an unhelpful reply.
That is without the calls I have made to cancel accounts- Sky and Eon, neither of whom want her to cancel her account and are being very unpleasant about it and still have not done it. EON owe her £500
Her care home which she left owes her over £1000 and have not, in 3 weeks, been able to tell me when they can repay that but sent a bill for almost £5000 which was paid 5 weeks ago- demanding immediate payment.
Or the call to her GP surgery who would not change her address on a Friday afternoon - she was moving in that evening and made me ring back on the Monday.
Nothing in this country works efficiently. Nothing.
I don't know how elderly and disabled people cope at all if they are alone. BT's service for vulnerable people is staggeringly shite. I was told they would ring her within 5 working days - the point is she has no phone. They said they would ring her on her mobile. I said she is 93 and blind and can not use a mobile- she also has severe arthritis, osteoporosis and scoliosis and can not manipulate a mobile and has never even seen one.
All of her unwanted disability equipment - two large car loads - could not be collected for 6 weeks. I had to track down the place and take it all back myself. They said 'Oh thanks, most people just get rid of it at the tip or charity shop or sell it.'
She now can not hear and a service at her living accommodation is offering to syringe her ears for £80. Her doctor no longer does them. £80!
Britain is shit if you are elderly or disabled or ill or vulnerable. All of these businesses have cut their services hugely to make bigger profits or are creating services- like the ear thing- to rip off the old and vulnerable. Hair dresser in the accommodation charges £25 for a wet trim on a man, £40 for a wet cut and blow dry on a woman, £45 for a wet cut and set, Podiatrist charges £45 a month for an appointment, onsite cafe charges £9.95 for a one course lunch like a dinner plus £2.50 for a coffee (just flat white). If she goes down for her lunch that is £12.50 a day.
Rip-off Britain.