Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

I don't and I suspect that I know a lot of people who also hate the off shore taxes and jobs issue who wouldn't pay cash in hand..That's the way of cowboy builders.

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

Similar for me Maggy but I also know a few who would. Tax avoidance takes place all over the place though, just yesterday I stopped off at some motorway services and went to get a sandwich from Greggs, the shop assistance asked the chap in from of me wether he was eating in or out, he said out and then went and sat down and therefore he avoided paying vat. Small scale compared to the value of some of the rich folks avoidance but if a number of people do the same thing its still a fair chunk of money.

In Richards post I don't get why he thinks this issue affects our ability to function as a society as its been happening for years?

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

It has, but at one time tax was 90%.

Governments in more recent years have believed that taxing the rich less brings in more overall revenue overall, so have lowered it. Despite this, they are still participating in eleborate schemes that aren't in the spirit of the law to pay even less. Raw greed IMO.

They could do the right & moral thing and pay up whilst still enjoying a lavish lifestyle, but instead they would rather have even more for themselves at the expense of public services and the most vulnerable in society.

You're right in that some lower income people do the things you describe, but there's a world of difference between someone on a modest income carrying out petty evasion/avoidance and what these people are doing.

In days gone by the rich have got richer and taken an ever increasing portion of the cake, whilst the average person has been happy with a enough crumbs to buy an average house & car, raise a family and go on holiday for two weeks a year.

The trouble is that the rich now want to even keep some of the crumbs for themselves too which is causing allsorts of problems and anomalies as awareness & resentment increases.

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

I have never resented rich folks who have come from humble backgrounds and have done well for themselves but I do not like some of the rich who have inherited their money.

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

I agree with you about those who just happened to get lucky, but believe that even those who have achieved wealth through their own efforts should share a reasonable amount of their income to help those less fortunate.

Whilst having a good career or owning a successful business can very often involve risk, hard work, long hours, personal sacrifice etc a lot is simply down to good luck (of course, good luck can simply mean not having any bad luck!)

Good luck can involve having a good upbringing, being born with a decent level of intelligence, being born with some sort of extraordinary marketable talent, not being born with any kind of debilitating illness or disability, etc.

I know many successful business people and some just happened to be on the right place at the right time, conversely, I know many who have worked really hard and who have had excellent business acumen, but have failed simply due to bad luck of reasons out of their control.

I also think that if you view life as a race where we all start at the starting line, those able to run fast and progress quicker than the others have a moral duty to help pick up anyone who stumbled and falls on the way or even help to carry those that are unable to even move from the starting point through no fault of their own.

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

What a strange post. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the compensation culture and people who milk the system for all its worth.:rolleyes:

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

I don't understand what you mean by that, could you explain more clearly please?

I think that as these offshore people are costing the UK in terms of lost income tax, employer/employee National Insurance Contributions, possible increased benefit payments and disposable income is being lost that there is a case for companies that indulge in this practice to be taxed in the same way that robotic 'employees' is being suggested.

It would discourage it and at least share the (alleged) economic benefits of this practice.

---------- Post added at 12:18 ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 ----------

Excellent news, I may change to Vodafone in support when I get a new smartphone.

I'm sure that Vodafone must have looked at this holistically before reaching this decision and realised that commercial benefits extend beyond the simple fact that they can on paper save money by using foreigners as a means of cheap labour.

I remember reading a report about this 20 years ago, but never thought that companies would be stupid enough to do it to the extent that they are doing today.

There's an advert on TV that reinforces the fact that they have UK based call centres, not sure if that's Vodafone or another company like a bank.

Hopefully the tide is turning.

I caught a repeat of fonejacker the other day and thought of this thread :D

https://m.youtube.com/results?q=inte...jacker%20&sm=1

Whilst it is funny, there's a serious message in there because many people, especially the elderly and vulnerable, such as those who are mentally impaired find these people impossible to deal with.

Also, there was a documentary series about a man who formally had a business in Wales who tried out this offshore lark:

https://m.youtube.com/results?q=nev%...0india%20&sm=1

It was so farcical that it was more of a comedy.

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

There is a difference paying cash in hand to someone whose done a small job for you and doing it on a large job to get a "discount" knowing that it's done to avoid tax.

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

Both are done to avoid tax, so there is no difference, other than value.

Re: More VM could be lost to the Philippines.
 

I take it all back just ordered a new mobile and came up with a problem when trying to sign the new contract agreement. I phoned VM and I got put through to a off shore call center and I gave it chance, instead of doing my usual and hanging up at the first hurdle or I'm sorry Mam I don't understand.

I must say the lady was so nice and extremely helpful sent me a new link to my email and spoke myself through the whole process, she even stayed on the line to make sure it went through smoothly, to say I'm very pleased with the service that VM provided is a understatement.

The language barrier was a slight problem at times example saying passwords etc but saying that I sorted that simply by speaking slower, so maybe all that is and was needed is for myself to remember this is there 2nd language and that with a little patience on both sides the problem can be fixed.

Today's experience getting through to a off shore call center was indeed a pleasant surprise but like I say I spoke more slowly and was far more patient than usual, all in all it was a far better experience and I shall be doing this for now on.

Re: More VM could be lost to the Philippines.
 

Good on you, weenie. :clap:

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

When I'm wrong I do sometimes admit it ;)

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

Some are good, but it's a lottery as to who you get.

Also, as I found with a fault the other day, even when they are giving out correct information I am wary of them because of their poor comprehension of English & because they tend to just read off prompted scripts.

I have a feeling that some do this job partly to better their English as some want to have a chat too! The other day one was asking what the weather was like, who I lived with and if I liked soup!

---------- Post added at 17:47 ---------- Previous post was at 17:32 ----------

What's the compensation culture got to do with anything :confused:. Who is milking what system?

I'm not sure what you mean, but it could be me as my brain injury has affected my cognitive skills. If you mean those who need to be carried in my anallergy, I meant those unable to work at all due to things like disability or caring responsibilities.

Those who need to be helped up after stumbling refers to those temporarily unable to work due to temporary sickness or a period of unemployment whilst seeking work.

I wouldn't say that any of those groups were freeloaders. In fact, carers save this money billions of pounds in return for £62.70 a week:

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

If you meant me personally then I've done some sort of work since I was 12 years old and still go into work as and when I can on a zero hours contract.

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

Its a lottery no matter if they are in England, Wales, Ireland or Scotland as well. Nationality has nothing to do with companies employing the occasional idiot.

They get a job to earn money and many in India having a degree is part of the job requirements! Nothing to do with learning English as they all can speak it.

Re: More VM Jobs could be lost to the Philippines.
 

Been saying this for years now. Many people aren't declaring there income ECT

---------- Post added at 20:19 ---------- Previous post was at 20:10 ----------

Speaking a language is one thing but have they been taught the language properly or have learn't it?

Pronouncing the words properly, pauses ect when speaking with many people from India for example they tend to speak in one long sentence similar to how they speak there language. Simple words we would use to explain many situations are not common to them so this can also lead to frustration and anger. Older people do struggle understanding them.

So to say they can speak English is enough, isn't enough at times.