(14 Mar 2015, 5:14 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote The Saltwell Park Streetlite I boarded.

Was an alright bus in itself, but I was a bit annoyed that I mistakenly hopped on a 54 instead of a 53 on Market Street West...wound up getting a tour of Gateshead!

Not only that, a drunken Irishman was sat in front of me on the phone. That was hard to not listen to...

You can't have been far behind me. I done a 54 round Gateshead to see how the Streetlites performed, as I've never done the full route since the Versas went! 

The woman who served me in Argos earlier today. 

I paid for my item and got my receipt type thing so stood waiting. My number briefly appeared on the screen, only to disappear. I waited about 10 minutes before realising my item was on the table waiting to be gave to me, amongst other items. 

I then asked where my item was, and got a snappy "I called you ages ago", now my hearing is quite good, and as I was standing maximum of 2 metres from the collection points, I would have heard her. Even if I didn't, why didn't she call again, I'm hardly going to pay for an item and leave the shop without it am I?

Her tone with everyone was snappy, and only appeared to cheer up when she served her friend. It looked like she was more bothered about laughing on with the other person who should have been giving people their items.

(14 Mar 2015, 6:16 pm)mb134 wrote The woman who served me in Argos earlier today. 

I paid for my item and got my receipt type thing so stood waiting. My number briefly appeared on the screen, only to disappear. I waited about 10 minutes before realising my item was on the table waiting to be gave to me, amongst other items. 

I then asked where my item was, and got a snappy "I called you ages ago", now my hearing is quite good, and as I was standing maximum of 2 metres from the collection points, I would have heard her. Even if I didn't, why didn't she call again, I'm hardly going to pay for an item and leave the shop without it am I?

Her tone with everyone was snappy, and only appeared to cheer up when she served her friend. It looked like she was more bothered about laughing on with the other person who should have been giving people their items.

Ashington Argos?
The staff there don't care about the customers wanting to place an order.

(14 Mar 2015, 7:55 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Ashington Argos?
The staff there don't care about the customers wanting to place an order.

Yep, found out that they had what I wanted, and as I was there anyway it saved me going to Cramlington, Blyth or Newcastle. However, I'm not going to go back... 

Monday tomorrow...

I hate Mondays.

I love Mondays!

Joke

I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow... Got a lot of work I need to finish!

I'm sure the novelty will wear off...

(15 Mar 2015, 12:29 pm)Dan wrote I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow... Got a lot of work I need to finish!

I'm sure the novelty will wear off...

Is it a permanent job or is it just a placement?

That I've got to pay around £10 for an Arriva Teen Card.

At least it lets me travel to Central Station and back for £3.20!

(15 Mar 2015, 12:33 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote That I've got to pay around £10 for an Arriva Teen Card.

At least it lets me travel to Central Station and back for £3.20!

£10! I only had to pay £5 for mine?!

(15 Mar 2015, 12:34 pm)mb134 wrote £10! I only had to pay £5 for mine?!

£5 - postal order plus surcharge
£5 - passport photos

Also got to photocopy my passport and send it to them in the post.

(15 Mar 2015, 12:37 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote £5 - postal order plus surcharge
£5 - passport photos

Also got to photocopy my passport and send it to them in the post.

Can you not self print? Pretty sure that GNE allow you to upload your own photo, rather than faffing on sending pictures through the post?

(15 Mar 2015, 12:39 pm)aureolin wrote Can you not self print? Pretty sure that GNE allow you to upload your own photo, rather than faffing on sending pictures through the post?

That's why I never bothered with a Teen Card. The discount is great, but it's such a faff to actually get it.

Much prefer Go North East's completely free Key Card, with the option of doing everything online. You only get charged for replacement cards.

(15 Mar 2015, 12:37 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote £5 - postal order plus surcharge
£5 - passport photos

Also got to photocopy my passport and send it to them in the post.

Hmmm, contact customer services ask if you can just hand it in at Blyth, if they say yes go for it (even though I got told not to when I went there because customer services had told me it was alright!), and explain to the woman that customer services told you to, she'll be unhappy, but if you're in Blyth it could save you £5.

(15 Mar 2015, 12:39 pm)aureolin wrote Can you not self print? Pretty sure that GNE allow you to upload your own photo, rather than faffing on sending pictures through the post?

Don't have a printer.

Also I find that the leaflet/form is easier than the online things. But don't Arriva require people to print a form?

I wonder why the three primary operators in the North East don't just get together, and come up with a universal teenager pass? Or at least an agreement to accept each other's cards, for the purpose of age verification?

If you live in somewhere like Newcastle or Sunderland, you're potentially going to need three different cards... just in case! Seems a bit ridiculous, when the ID of each card could be registered on each company's DB.

(15 Mar 2015, 1:04 pm)aureolin wrote I wonder why the three primary operators in the North East don't just get together, and come up with a universal teenager pass? Or at least an agreement to accept each other's cards, for the purpose of age verification?

If you live in somewhere like Newcastle or Sunderland, you're potentially going to need three different cards... just in case! Seems a bit ridiculous, when the ID of each card could be registered on each company's DB.

If I got stopped on the Metro, would I be able to show them my card or will I be charged a full adult fare?

(15 Mar 2015, 1:08 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote If I got stopped on the Metro, would I be able to show them my card or will I be charged a full adult fare?

No. You'll be charged standard adult fare if you look 14 or over, and live outside of Tyne and Wear. 

(15 Mar 2015, 1:27 pm)aureolin wrote No. You'll be charged standard adult fare if you look 14 or over, and live outside of Tyne and Wear. 

That's a bit discriminative, bit hard to look under 14 when you're 13 and don't live in Tyne and Wear. 

EDIT: I meant showing the card as proof of age.

(15 Mar 2015, 1:38 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote That's a bit discriminative, bit hard to look under 14 when you're 13 and don't live in Tyne and Wear. 

EDIT: I meant showing the card as proof of age.

It's not about age. It's a subsidised fare for children living in Tyne and Wear, because all Tyne and Wear households pay a levy to the ITA. For the same reason, the 'Gold Card' costs more for those not living in Tyne and Wear.

I doubt an ID card from another operator would be acceptable proof of age. As adults, we expect only Passports or Driving Licences to be accepted.

Facebook is just taking the piss now.

We removed the post below because it doesn't follow the Facebook Community Standards:

Thomas Simms
Applied for my Arriva Teen Card. Gets me bus fares for £1 Sean, Thomas, Anthony and Lee this means that I could be doing Newcastle almost every Saturday!

THE CARPHONE WARHOUSE IS ****

IS THIS MY LIFE NOW, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THIS PHONE IS THAT I'M ALREADY BEING CHARGED FOR IS AND BEING PUT ON HOLD AND LISTENING TO LOUD AWFUL HOLD MUSIC AND ANSWERING SECURITY QUESTIONS TO PROVE WHO I AM, I'VE CONTACTED THEM SO OFTEN THEY PROBABLY KNOW WHO I AM BETTER THAN I KNOW MYSELF NOW AND IT NOW APPEARS THAT THERE IS INFORMATION THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD TO ME AND THEY HAVN'T. ALSO THE FACT I CAN'T PHONE A SHOP THAT SELLS PHONES IS QUITE FRANKLY ALARMING.

I felt it necessary to place that in block capitals to show how angry I am with them right now and chances are I'm going to be getting even more angry with them.

Seriously DON'T EVER get a phone from them.

(16 Mar 2015, 1:06 pm)Jimmi wrote THE CARPHONE WARHOUSE IS ****

IS THIS MY LIFE NOW, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THIS PHONE IS THAT I'M ALREADY BEING CHARGED FOR IS AND BEING PUT ON HOLD AND LISTENING TO LOUD AWFUL HOLD MUSIC AND ANSWERING SECURITY QUESTIONS TO PROVE WHO I AM, I'VE CONTACTED THEM SO OFTEN THEY PROBABLY KNOW WHO I AM BETTER THAN I KNOW MYSELF NOW AND IT NOW APPEARS THAT THERE IS INFORMATION THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD TO ME AND THEY HAVN'T. ALSO THE FACT I CAN'T PHONE A SHOP THAT SELLS PHONES IS QUITE FRANKLY ALARMING.

I felt it necessary to place that in block capitals to show how angry I am with them right now and chances are I'm going to be getting even more angry with them.

Seriously DON'T EVER get a phone from them.

Jimmi, just end the contract with them, no matter how much it costs to end the contract.

It's unacceptable for a phone to be held for that long. Honestly, just end the contract and buy a new phone.

Well I now finally have my phone, the staff in this branch are incompetent baffons had to speak to head office (again) to try and find out where my phone was, it was there today but we received no phone call from them so we went to the shop and the staff couldn't find it so told him to go look again and it had dropped behind something and then we asked to see the manager to complain about the hell they have put me through and it appears the reason we weren't given a phone call was because there was no number in the system despite us giving them one. So now I'm wondering when the phone ACTUALLY arrived considering it had been dropped behind somewhere and the box looks to be dented too.

(16 Mar 2015, 4:02 pm)Jimmi wrote Well I now finally have my phone, the staff in this branch are incompetent baffons had to speak to head office (again) to try and find out where my phone was, it was there today but we received no phone call from them so we went to the shop and the staff couldn't find it so told him to go look again and it had dropped behind something and then we asked to see the manager to complain about the hell they have put me through and it appears the reason we weren't given a phone call was because there was no number in the system despite us giving them one. So now I'm wondering when the phone ACTUALLY arrived considering it had been dropped behind somewhere and the box looks to be dented too.

I agree with Tommy. 

If you're not happy with the service you've received simply cancel. It's their loss not yours.

There should be a 'cooling-off' period stated within your contract - usually it's 14 days. It's unlikely the period has expired in your case so you might be able to cancel without incurring any penalties. 

Here's a link to the Citizens Advice website if wish to explore that option further:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland/c...ntract.htm

I have got the phone now and just want to get on with my life now, although when this contract ends I'm going somewhere else next time.

Speaking of which it is a Sony Xperia and I am currently having problems downloading apps, it gets to a certain percentage then gives up and just sits on that percentage - anyone have any ideas?

(16 Mar 2015, 4:58 pm)Jimmi wrote I have got the phone now and just want to get on with my life now, although when this contract ends I'm going somewhere else next time.

Speaking of which it is a Sony Xperia and I am currently having problems downloading apps, it gets to a certain percentage then gives up and just sits on that percentage - anyone have any ideas?

Which Xperia have you got? Have you ensured your software on the phone is up to date? It can be done by plugging into your computer via USB, and using the PC companion software?

Xperia Z1 Compact.

Sony Ericcson phones are crap.

Constantly used to get notifications advertising 'battery life extension' and 'McAfee protctiom'.