whos struggling in these tough times?

[callyboy]

Not Barclays by the looks of it. Its from the Guardian so is prob a load of bollocks

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011 ... ration-tax" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pete

[Fastasfowey]

Wow Steve I feel for you mate!
I had to close my business down some years ago when divorce left me as a single parent to my 3 kids. After voluntary cessation I had a call from the Chambers of Commerce, who bollocked me for not shouting for help. Like you in some ways, I provided a service (coachtrimmer) so my job depended on what I could do. I couldn't train anyone up quickly enough to make a difference so closed down. They said there were initiatives that could have provided someone free of charge as an extra pair of hands for the investment of teaching them what to do by me. Could be worth some enquiries mate as you don't know what help is available until you ask, but we need a bit of guidance to know what to ask and of whom.
Good luck mate and hang in there
Mark )

[bobster]

Also feel for you m8.
Times are getting a lot harder for everyone, thankks to Blair and Brown nearly bankrupting the country and then bailing the banks out with our money.

The only thing I can say to you and you'll probably tell me where to get off , is:

There's now 2 of you doing the job which should mean you can do the job ( theoretically ) in half the time. So if you do the job in half the time , you can do twice the jobs that you would have been able to do in a day. I know it sounds easy if all the jobs were in 1 street and you were just going next door to do the next job..............And I know it never happens like that!

Good luck with what ever you decide to do..................But there's probably some polish Tw'ts who would do your job for a lot less money..............and that stinks too!

good luck...........

bobster

[stevepeanut]

bobster in theory you are right, 2 workers are a hell of a lot faster and makes things easier but not quite double fast. But bad organisation in the office is stopping us earning, A lot of time is travelling too. Like yesterday, we are based in Leeds, we got sent out with 6 jobs, 4 in hornsea, 2 in hull. Took an hour and a half to the coast, did 2 in hornsea, next 2 had cancelled with our office and no-one bothered telling us. After lunch we got to Hull and both jobs in Hull cancelled. Then rang up for more work, by the time time they found us one, it was 3pm and we'd lost well over 2 hours. Did that job and left Hull at 4pm, dropped my mate off and got home for 5.45pm. Houses are paid at £12.50 each so got a whopping 37.50 for the day. I'll have to argue with the boss and I'll get paid 8 hours at minimum wage for that day and should end up with £50 (the company call this day-rate, ie if you broke down or everyjob cancelled, you'll get £50)

In the past on my own I would have got £25 a job and got £75 which is not too bad.
Same again today, sent to Hull with 10 jobs, got 4 in, drove round the others which took a couple of hours, to drive, knock on doors, ring mobiles of customers and the other 6 cancelled

[callyboy]

Houses are paid at £12.50 each !!!!!! even £25 on your own aint much better.

Thats disgusting how much does your company get for each job ? is this loft insulation grants from the government ?

Pete

[stevepeanut]

yeah pete it is the government grants, they get anything from £200 - £1000. It used to be alright on my own, I'd work late and through my breaks and do 4 or 5 and lift £100-£125 for a days pay which pays my bills and lets me have the bikes. Right now we are getting £50 or £62.50 most days.

[callyboy]

Nice earner for the company you work for.

Hope things get better for you mate.

I am not working at the moment. Got 4 kids under 10 and i am on my own. Youngest turned 7 this year so have come off income support and gone onto job seekers so have to look for work. Been looking for something that i can fit around the school runs etc. Not much about, and what there is is very low paid. enquired about delivery job for a catalogue company. Expected to deliver 50 items a day. 40p to 50p a item. You do the math !!!!

worked all my life and this is the first time i have been struggling to get a decent wage.

Goodluck anyway mate.

Pete

[stevepeanut]

good luck to you too Pete, my dad got made redundant after 36 years in the same job, never claimed anything in his life, had about 10 days off in 36 years and he got a pittance of the government to live on. Its a shame but this country is slowly going down the pan

[callyboy]

If i had the bottle and the right idea i would work for myself. Cant think of what to do though only ever worked in a office counting beans

Cant complain too much though. Lots of people worse off than me.

Cheers

Pete

[stevepeanut]

Bit of an update, things are on the up, I started work at British Gas this week, doing the same loft insulation fitting job, but it looks to be a decent wage, and a much better company to work for. Gonna get my head down and graft hard for them. On a better basic wage already and the rest is on a points per house system, where the more houses you do in a month = more points which adds up to my monthly bonus.

Hopefully soon I can get some of my debts paid off which I ran up while work has been bad, and play on my 2 bikes for the summer, kat is ready for its mot soon as I get paid