JohnfromUK
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Posts posted by JohnfromUK
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I believe I heard he was retiring, but can't be sure on that. Website still up http://www.hammerguns.co.uk/index.php
Last posting I have seen on his Facebook was in 2018
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The underlying reasons that forging stamps has become (apparently) so widespread are:
- They have become so expensive (£1.35 for a 1st class) that there are decent returns to be made
- If they can be forged easily then something is lacking in the security measures/features
- If the Royal Mail (RM) are having trouble deciding which are counterfeit, then something is lacking in the security measures
Does anyone know what benefits the addition of the QR code was supposed to provide?
- Better security?
- Better/easier traceability?
- Cheaper/easier automated mail sorting?
Google suggests that the new stamps will "enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers. This includes allowing customers to use the barcodes to access videos". Apparently the QR codes are "unique to each and every stamp". Presumably then RM can (in theory) check/trace every one from printing to final delivery office ............ but I suspect that in fact they don't use the QR code (or at least not fully) in the vast majority of cases - if even any?
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6 minutes ago, ditchman said:
wot are carbs ?.
The ones wot give you heartburn!
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I had to look up who he was.
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One of my relatives did best part of £1k's damage to their (Skoda Octavia) car a few weeks ago, - roe deer. Some years ago a friend did a great many £k's of damage to a much cherished Mercedes SL he had owned for around 30 years from new on a red deer in Scotland. Expensive incidents. We have a lot around here - surprisingly for most people as generally they stay 'out of sight', but do get on the roads at night.
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Looks very nice, but a lot of carbs!
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I read of someone who had only had stamps direct from Royal Mail (exchange swap out for non QR code stamps) and they were condemned as counterfeit. The truth is that Royal Mail seem to be completely clueless about what is genuine and what isn't.
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1 minute ago, Penelope said:
Have you seen the footage of them stabbing each other on the French beach to get a place on a dingy? Jesu, that cannot even wait to get hear before they get all stabby.
I get the impression (and this is just my impression) that the French authorities have taken the view that one way of reducing the time and numbers of refugees living in 'camps' in northern France is to make life as unpleasant as possible for them. This seems to involve;
- Very poor facilities with 'slum like' camps (not free hotels like we give)
- Regular 'move on raids' by French authorities on camps
- Turning a blind eye to crime and bullying behaviour when kept within the refugee/immigrant community.
- Generally making that part of France very uncomfortable for them
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23 minutes ago, islandgun said:
I wasnt serious........ but
I was being serious (though I admit based on rather tenuous evidence); https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10249891/French-authorities-auction-smuggling-boats.html
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7 minutes ago, islandgun said:
I think there's a company in France that buys them all
There was one company (in France?) that was alleged to be buying them and selling them back to the smugglers (very profitably).
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It's not just HMG who are subjected to fraudulent claims. This caught my eye as it is against the insurance co I am currently with;
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3 minutes ago, Red696 said:
How the F have they been able to pull this off, I’m having to jump through numerous hoops just to get an assessment for PIP
I imagine there will be various reasons, but two possibles that spring to mind (and I am guessing) would be;
- You will presumably have a UK profile (i.e. Nat Ins no, Nat Health no, various tax/NI records, possibly property ownership records, credit records, tennancy agreements etc.) that they can (and quite reasonably should) check. That takes time and data.
- You are honest, try to help and give true answers rather than just saying 'standard' answers, or pretending you don't speak English(!).
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16 minutes ago, islandgun said:
the fact remains theres some serious flaws in the benefit system that allows 5 people steal 10 mil each
One certain 'high risk' thing is that for many (most non UK citizens) you are reliant on their word and that word being the truth. With UK citizens most claims details can be checked (if there is a will to do so, which there usually isn't). Being truthful is not a priority for many these days. Even among our MPs we have a depressingly long list;
- Jared O'Mara - fraud
- Eric Illsley - expenses fraud
- Elliot Moreley (formerly a minister) - expenses fraud
- Chris Huhne (formerly a minister) - perverting the course of justice
- Jim Devine - expenses fraud
- David Chaytor - false accounting
- Denis McShane - expenses fraud
- Fiona Onasanya - lying on oath
and all of those were convicted in court. A wonderful example to Joe Public from their elected representatives. Is it any wonder people have little respect?
For many 'asylum seekers' and similar - it often isn't even possible to be certain who they are and where they have come from. They have no documentation (apparently often taken and destroyed by smugglers) and you are reliant on what they say - which may in fact have been 'coached into them'.
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The UK has a reputation (worldwide) for being very generous with benefits.
By saying generous I include;
- Paying a wide range of applicants - not limited to UK nationals and/or those who have previously contributed
- Being very receptive to 'assisting' anyone who is 'on the run' from anything they can claim (whether true or made up)
- Not challenging 'claims' or trying (where possible) to check on any actual 'validity'.
Therefore if someone is prepared to come here, make some claims (true or false) that the would 'suffer' in their country of origin for their beliefs/ethnicity/sexuality etc. they are very likely to be assisted.
Once here and 'on the system', if you are prepared to lie, then there are lots of things you can claim - and make multiple repeated claims for. The UK system (both benefits and courts/justice) relies a lot on 'truth'. In the past this has generally worked sort of OK in most cases because the majority in the UK are reasonably truthful - and if they were born here - it is possible to check. However, some 'incomers' neither have the same culture of truth, nor do we have any easy way of checking on their claims, so they are given the benefit of any doubt.
We are MUCH too 'easy' in these matters.
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Try this place for blanks
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Just now, jan8p said:
Might as well surrender your certificates now, you're screwed, you psychopath!
Absolutely!
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1 minute ago, jan8p said:
'Does your partner have a fascination with non licensed weapons such as cross bows or knives?'
Guilty already!
I have a nice collection of old folder penknives that have been handed down from my ancestors including my great grandfather's nicely engraved silver folder which was a 21st birthday present from his parents, my grandfather's nice small folder from his parents, again engraved, several of my father's pocket knives - so yes, I have 'a fascination' with knives. My collection also includes a few more modern (again folders) items like Swiss army types and multitools. I am even a member of a 'multitool' forum.
As a keen cook, I have a nice selection of quality cooking knives - as we (quite a number of us are cooks or do game preparation) have discussed elsewhere in these pages - that could also go down as being 'fascinated' with knives.
Not guilty on the crossbow interest though.
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1 minute ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:
Be VERY careful how you answer any of these new questions.
Indeed - and there are those who would believe that killing anything (shooting, slaughterhouse, pest control or traffic accident) is hurting it.
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8 minutes ago, Red696 said:
There is a big difference to hurting an animal and shooting an animal.
And therein lies a problem.
Example; I shoot game and some mammals (e.g. rabbits, rats, squirrels). My aim in shooting is always a quick clean kill. Because I'm realistic and accept I don't always succeed - I carry a priest. Overall, I do not see my shooting as 'hurting' an animal. However, there are others who see any form of live quarry shooting as 'hurting' animals. They have a different viewpoint. How are the police/licensing office staff to decide whether a 'yes' response to these questions is a real 'risk', or just a response from someone who doesn't like any form of killing live quarry?
I certainly know people who shoot mainly clays, but do have an occasional few shots at game/vermin with friends - and their partners would wholeheartedly disapprove - and very probably see it as 'hurting' animals.
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15 minutes ago, ditchman said:
Masala has medicinal properties
Masala is also an Italian fortified wine, slightly similar to a Port or Maderia wine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsala_wine
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If the locks are Chubb (Union) 3G110 (BS3621) locks, blanks (often called Chubb 110 style) are available for around £4. Most locksmiths can cut these.
Older cabinets with two locks often used this type.
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Yet again re-awakening an old topic, I read today the fraudster who stole £70,000 (see link to Bristol Post in my post of 26th September 2023 above in this thread) has to pay back just £1 (though she did get a custodial sentence as well).
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I don't know what became of mine. They have not been fitted to cars for a great many (maybe 50?) years, and I can remember them 'around', but can't remember seeing them in years. Maybe given away, or 'lurking' in a box somewhere - no idea where to even begin to start looking!
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We had another that was chromed (presumably steel) with a yellow background. I can't remember if it had a number. Like this (internet photo)
Grandfathers was something like this;
English muck
in Food and Drink
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Looks nice and I have seen the Co-Op's caramelised onion pork sausages praised elsewhere (maybe somewhere else in this section?).
I tried some caramelised onion pork sausages from "The Jolly Hog" and I wasn't all that impressed - they were decent quality meat, but had a quite sweet taste which I didn't really enjoy much.