The broad sunlit uplands of next March. Yeah, really. .

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

I bet Virgin isn't one of them

Right first time...... As of the other day, according to a well known comparison website, it was Three and Smarty, whoever the latter is.

[Dan Rear]

Roaming charges is about the only thing I can think of which is beneficial about EU membership. And that's 'cos it was imposed on Commercial companies by the Eurocracy. Big Government interfering in a supposed free market. Maybe cheap airlines is another. I may be naïve, and many other things, but I can't see anything good from Brussels that couldn't have been negotiated by countries or Companies with no EU input.

I'm on a Boys Beer day out on March 29 to celebrate!

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I expect them all to remain unchanged since they all want to retain your/my business.

Such trust is charming!

We've been screwed often enough by utilities. It appears to me that they have total contempt for the consumer, they may lose a few subscribers initially but when it all settles down they'll have bulldozed through yet another price rise, because we'll all have forgotten at contract renewal time and the vast majority of the populace doesn't use roaming anyway.

5 Live "Wake up to Money" came from a fish processing factory in Scotland today. The boss there could have been reading my posts, he agreed with my every word about delays, the lack of clarity on paperwork etc etc. He used the word "difficulties" instead of "chaos" but was speaking off the same page as me.

I genuinely thought a "Leave" vote would be the start of a new world order. How naive. Same old same old isn't it? Incompetence, delay and obfustication with us all picking up the tab.

[Mike Harte]

As there are only four different network providers (or owners might be more accurate) if I remember correctly, and whatever one does the rest will follow. Virgin Mobile, by the way, piggy-backs on the EE network the same way that Tesco Mobile runs on the O2 network.

[The Fat Clerk]

Originally Posted by bauble

I have seen/heard a number of TV/Radio phone in programmes and in every case where the member of the public had voted to leaver, that was all they wanted, and expected. Not one person mentioned 'deals' or negotiations, just get out of the EU on March 29th.

It may be that Remainers will think that a naïve approach to a complex situation, but 'Leavers' simply prefer the consequences to the on-going corruption of the EU.

Jumping off a sinking ship may not be an option of choice, but it gives some hope of survival, while going down with the ship is certain death.

Leave means leave surely? simple as that.

[bauble]

Originally Posted by The Fat Clerk

Leave means leave surely? simple as that.

Well 17 odd million of us voted for that, but a handful of politicians have other ideas. A bunch of Jocks, a handful of 'Liberals, six Paddies, and mob of self seeking Labour MP's, added to a Tory awkward squad, mean that the 'will of the people' can be thwarted without any meaningful means of enforcing that will.

Where can I buy a yellow vest?

[The Fat Clerk]

Originally Posted by bauble

Well 17 odd million of us voted for that, but a handful of politicians have other ideas. A bunch of Jocks, a handful of 'Liberals, six Paddies, and mob of self seeking Labour MP's, added to a Tory awkward squad, mean that the 'will of the people' can be thwarted without any meaningful means of enforcing that will.

Where can I buy a yellow vest?

Can you get me one as well please?

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by The Fat Clerk

Can you get me one as well please?

I'm quite happy to arrange an export order if your local Halfords is unable to supply. There would be a minimum quantity however.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Such trust is charming!

Don't be daft. It's good business sense.

[gary396]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Don't be daft. It's good business sense.

Apart from that would there be anything to stop the UK Gov imposing the same roaming conditions on the mobile phone operators as the EU do now?

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Right first time...... As of the other day, according to a well known comparison website, it was Three and Smarty, whoever the latter is.

O2 is not changing its policy.

[Mike Harte]

What the 4 networks, EE , 3, O2 and Vodafone have actually said is that they have no plans currently to re-introduce roaming fees. And the government are not currently considering legislating to stop them; they say that will be a commercial decision for the networks to make.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

O2 is not changing its policy.

The providers were asked if they would guarantee that charges wouldn’t be re-introduced. Only the two mentioned did that, O2 and several others said that they had no immediate plans to re-introduce, but they would be monitoring what happens. In other words, as Mike says......

[Peter Mallett]

Fair enough. But as I said they'd be daft to change things.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Fair enough. But as I said they'd be daft to change things.

Yep.

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

The providers were asked if they would guarantee that charges wouldn’t be re-introduced. Only the two mentioned did that, O2 and several others said that they had no immediate plans to re-introduce, but they would be monitoring what happens. In other words, as Mike says......

Like the government and VAT. "We have no plans to raise the rate..."

"....ah, well, the finances are worse than we thought so we're putting VAT up. "

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[Peter Mallett]

BTW I read the O2 bit on my web account. They make no mention of changes.

Bit I think the thing as it stands is that pretty much nothing that affects consumers is due to change, at least in the short term.

Agreed there may be more effort for businesses but they are there to adapt to different trade requirements anyway.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Like the government and VAT. "We have no plans to raise the rate..."

"....ah, well, the finances are worse than we thought so we're putting VAT up. "

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Interestingly i think that was imposed by the EU.

[Mike Bell]

It’s very easy for such things to get promised in such a way that the ‘promiser’ leaves themselves an escape route!

Sort of like ‘we didn’t actually lie, just not tell the whole truth.....’

I can only comment on Three with regard to mobile roaming charges. They have texted customers with a message stating that ‘you’ll still be able to use your phone in the EU as you do now, after 29 March.’

Mmm...

[Willmaz223]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Just saw a tweet from someone called Terry Christain. Apparent he knows a number of companies that will sack any staff who voted leave in the event of a no deal Brexit.

Doesn't realise that not only would that breach employment laws it crashes straight through the Human Rights Act.

What are these people smoking?

What!Thats just ridiculous.I'll leave it at that.

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Interestingly i think that was imposed by the EU.

Peter I think maybe you've got two different situations mixed in together. Under EU law VAT cannot be less than 15% (Source: Wikipedia). However the VAT rise from 17.5 to 20% was definitely a Conservative/Lib Dems coalition choice as this article sets out:

http://www.channel4.com/news/article...t/3688427.html

As an aside, because I'm not VAT registered I buy goods from Europe with VAT added on as any consumer would. Racewear comes from Germany attracting 19%, awning spares from Italy attracting 22%. If we leave on WTO terms presumably I'll pay VAT at 20% via the import agent as I do on my Far Eastern purchases - and on the smallest packages there's never any VAT or duty added. So I may be better off, although delivery times are all over the place if customs get involved.

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[midgetman]

Terry Christian is a lightweight TV presenter who made his name on "The Word" in the 80s. He always portrayed himself as "out there", it seemed to me he made outrageous, attention-seeking comments for effect.

Seems he hasn't changed. Presumably he hasn't been in the press enough lately.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Terry Christian ........

Seems he hasn't changed. ..........

Oh, he has, he's developed into a proper raving nutter....

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Peter I think maybe you've got two different situations mixed in together. Under EU law VAT cannot be less than 15% (Source: Wikipedia). However the VAT rise from 17.5 to 20% was definitely a Conservative/Lib Dems coalition choice as this article sets out:

http://www.channel4.com/news/article...t/3688427.html

As an aside, because I'm not VAT registered I buy goods from Europe with VAT added on as any consumer would. Racewear comes from Germany attracting 19%, awning spares from Italy attracting 22%. If we leave on WTO terms presumably I'll pay VAT at 20% via the import agent as I do on my Far Eastern purchases - and on the smallest packages there's never any VAT or duty added. So I may be better off, although delivery times are all over the place if customs get involved.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Yes I do recall the coalition doing it. So outside the EU it can reduce to below 15% although I doubt it.

[PeterMorley]

Here's what I've been thinking about why the Irish border has become such an issue.

The Thatcherite/Tory idea of competition is to reduce costs (e.g. wages, investment, standards etc.), whereas the more humane approach is to improve productivity (by investing in staff, equipment etc.), which is less profitable for the “mill owners” but is popular with those who do the actual work and customers who benefit from better quality products.

So as Britain heads off into the unicorn filled, candy-floss lined post-Brexit world, what their former partners are worried about is the UK’s continuing race to the bottom.

They have long accepted the remarkably low banking standards etc. but are worried that reduced product standards could see an unwanted influx of lower quality, unacceptable produce (e.g. modified or treated foodstuffs and poor-quality goods) that does not meet the minimum standards that have been determined over many years by the EU members.

Not to mention the potential re-emergence of the great smuggling/tax evasion industry.

And it is hard to ignore the irony that the Leave campaigners who claimed they wanted to “take back control of our borders” (which of course they already had) now appear to be saying there is no need for the border that they wished to take control of.

Is it any surprise that the rest of the EU are still asking “what do you want?”.