Well, that was a farce.........

Mine hasn't arrived either. It's becoming more and more difficult to contact anyone these days. I'm on all SM sites but they prefer to do everything online via chat bots etc

My friend refuses to do online banking and has a terrible time trying to make contact with her bank. She still wants her bank manager, (only the bank manager will do) to answer her calls but it's just not possible any more.

why is there this assumption that the world and his wife use these platforms
Probably because over 5 billion ( combined ) do use them.
World population approximately 8 billion.

I run coach trips to classical concerts for my local U3A and there are some people who cannot pay online and need to pay by cheque - it's a bit of a fiddle-faddle and the treasurer does not love me when this happens!

They tend to be the same ones as keep getting back to me to ask whether they have paid as they can't remember! But it is wonderful that they are with us and enjoying live music ...

It is difficult for elderly folk who have never used computers or possess one.

I was in the queue (covid) and an elderly gentleman went to the Drs reception - I didn’t catch what he wanted, but he was advised to do “it” on line, which of course he was clearly clueless about . There apparently is no other way unless he phoned. This morning he was 29 th in the phone queue, so took himself off to the doctors. The last I heard before I trotted into have my jab, was “come back tomorrow”

Honestly - that is abysmal service.

How does someone losing their sight manage on line? We have the computer on large print,black background with white print which is easier for DH but the reverse for me. I can do most things on my iPad but DH is finding things harder and is frequently quite angry about the insist that everything must be done on line.

Stansgran

How does someone losing their sight manage on line? We have the computer on large print,black background with white print which is easier for DH but the reverse for me. I can do most things on my iPad but DH is finding things harder and is frequently quite angry about the insist that everything must be done on line.

The RNIB have advice for blind and partially sighted people. Some are already built into some computers, screen readers for example.
Home computers and accessories for blind and partially sighted people | RNIB share.google/6KpUPAxTn2syq4MZd

Tech is ok until it isn’t, then what do you do?
I had an update on my iPhone that requires me to prove I am over 18, it wanted me to scan a credit card, I don’t possess one, only ever use debit cards which it won’t recognise, so I tried my passport but it won’t scan it whichever way I do it, and I don’t drive so haven’t got a licence. I can use my phone it just keeps reminding me to confirm my age later. So my iPhone thinks I am under 18, and contacting Apple is useless.
I did swear. I mean it is just such a bloody minded mess when tech goes pear shaped.

dalrymple23

I applied for a postal vote from Norwich CC at the beginning of April. I had to do this on line. My application was acknowledged. As of today (the 7th) nothing. I tried to contact them but, as is now normal, noone answered the telephone.

I tried to find the local office for the party for which I was going to vote. After googling for an hour, and finding nothing, I gave up. I also looked at websites for the parties for which I was not going to vote. No way of making contact.
I do not do Facebook or Twitter and have no intention of ever doing so. Why is there this assumption that the world and his wife uses these platforms?

Grrr....

Application for a postal vote, is made to your local electoral registration office.

Not to local offices of political parties.

It can be done either online or on a paper form; nothing to do with Facebook or twitter.

I am fully aware of that BJ, which is exactly what I did. BUT the local electoral office did not answer its telephone, hence me trying to find out what to do by using a local branch of whichever party. All of which referred me to Facebook or Twitter.

My son and I were away in Ireland at the time of the referendum so applied for a postal vote. The necessary papers arrived and we cast our votes correctly (and independently) also in very good time.
We later received notification that the votes arrived too late to be counted although posted when 2 weeks were to run before the deadline.
We had both independently voted to remain.
Strange that!

petra

^why is there this assumption that the world and his wife use these platforms^
Probably because over 5 billion ( combined ) do use them.
World population approximately 8 billion.

Why should anyone have to pay for a broadband service that they will use very occasionally for online services? By all means have an online option, but for many people in person or telephone contact is preferable. My friend is in the very early stages of pre-dementia, and she's finding it harder to negotiate online services. Nobody seems to consider people who have any sort of difficulty.

I think they may not have answered the phone because maybe some of the staff have caught up with the local elections yesterday.

I also rang my Town Hall for a postal vote form at the begining of
April
They said it would arrive by the 24th of April and it did. I complete it and sent it back by the due date

Missed from last post.

Remember Royal Mail is not what it used to be. Get in touch with your Electoral Office in about a weeks time.

They are usually very good and really get it in the ear from Local Councillors about people not being able to vote.

Hope this is useful.

We always register to postal vote- they were acknowledged but nothing has arrived in post yet..

If 5 billion people out of 8 million use tech, then 3 billion don't!

We have had postal votes since Mad Cow disease closed everything down. We have voted by post every year since then, This year we had letters asking us to re register for postal votes. I filled mine in and it went through OK. My OH's was returned as his signature could not be read./recognised We went into the council office and he re signed the form with the signature he has always used. His signature was not accepted so he doesn't have a vote. He refuses to change his signature as he wouldn't remember how he wrote it next time he came to vote. The only way I can think of is to just print initials and surname. Puzzling. His postal vote may still be in the post as we only get post about once a month.

REKA

Mine hasn't arrived either. It's becoming more and more difficult to contact anyone these days. I'm on all SM sites but they prefer to do everything online via chat bots etc

My friend refuses to do online banking and has a terrible time trying to make contact with her bank. She still wants her bank manager, (only the bank manager will do) to answer her calls but it's just not possible any more.

My husband refused to use online banking for years, but now that they've closed all our local branches he had no choice. He actually admits now that most of the services are useful, though absolutely no use if you want to deposit a larger cheque or withdraw cash over your limit from any ATM.

Luckygirl, that's a lovely attitude. 🎶

butterandjam

dalrymple23

I applied for a postal vote from Norwich CC at the beginning of April. I had to do this on line. My application was acknowledged. As of today (the 7th) nothing. I tried to contact them but, as is now normal, noone answered the telephone.

I tried to find the local office for the party for which I was going to vote. After googling for an hour, and finding nothing, I gave up. I also looked at websites for the parties for which I was not going to vote. No way of making contact.
I do not do Facebook or Twitter and have no intention of ever doing so. Why is there this assumption that the world and his wife uses these platforms?

Grrr....

Application for a postal vote, is made to your local electoral registration office.

Not to local offices of political parties.

It can be done either online or on a paper form; nothing to do with Facebook or twitter.

Have you tried scanning your Birth Certificate

DH was disenfranchised yesterday. We have a van to get him out in his wheelchair, but the van had to go in for repair at short notice. You can apply for an emergency proxy vote, we did and received, completed and returned the form within the hour. It was rejected because it wasn't supported by a medical professional, even though to get that support would have been impossible. I understood that this requirement could be overridden by the electoral officer if need be, but obviously not in our case.

That's not good B9. A good proportion of taxis will take wheelchair users, & I would hope that the party you were voting for would refund the fare in those circumstances, but that might have been a lot of hassle.

I understand some parties offer transport to polling stations to people who can't get there independently. I thinkmy mum used them in her later years.
My DD applied for a postal vote once and it didn't get to her in time to send it back. She was furious. I don't trust the post these days so I'm glad I can still walk to my polling station, but I guess there will come a time when that won't be the case!

1960srelic

If 5 billion people out of 8 million use tech, then 3 billion don't!

But those 3 billion may be living in remote areas of the world , or in war zones.etc I don’t think you can presume all 3 billion are not wanting to use tech 1960srelic
It’s harder when you get older but even my 100 year old cousin uses it

Having said all than my grandson who works away in remote areas applied for a postal vote and didn’t get one

Fallingstar

Tech is ok until it isn’t, then what do you do?
I had an update on my iPhone that requires me to prove I am over 18, it wanted me to scan a credit card, I don’t possess one, only ever use debit cards which it won’t recognise, so I tried my passport but it won’t scan it whichever way I do it, and I don’t drive so haven’t got a licence. I can use my phone it just keeps reminding me to confirm my age later. So my iPhone thinks I am under 18, and contacting Apple is useless.
I did swear. I mean it is just such a bloody minded mess when tech goes pear shaped.

It is really annoying. I have a driving licence, but DH doesn't. I gather the UK is unusual in not everyone having credit cards, I read about someone who was told to turn over their passport and scan the other side. Umm 🤔
I gather Apple are aware of the problem....