extortion

[armaghniac]

Yeah hotel prices are ludicrous too. Absolute rip off.

When I was last in Cork a night in a guesthouse type place was 10% of my car insurance, now it is one third of my car insurance, the former going up and the latter coming down 

[RedHand88]

My car insurance coming in at more or less the exact same as last year (Admiral). Who are people with that are doubling or trebling it?

[lurganblue]

Used Car prices. Horrific.

[balladmaker]

NI rates and how they are calculated is my go to complaint every time ... just because value of the house is higher does not indicate an increased use of council services, nor does it reflect on the occupants ability to pay the inflated rates charge as a result.

[tonto1888]

Broadband - +£3.50 or whatever every April no matter what.

Amazon Prime - pay for no ads on a service you're already paying for. Pure gaslighting.

the prime thing is annoying me. I am considering ditching it over that. What would happen to movies/shows that I ahve bought if I did cancel my prime?

[tonto1888]

It's a pisstake - car insurance is a scam at this stage - my premium almost trebled for no reason.

BT saying they're putting the price up next month.

Grocery shopping another one - everything is up (but in smaller packaging) and is it just me or are the use by dates getting shorter? Tesco is a rip off nowadays.

a lot of companies have pulled out of the 6 counties so thats a factor

[tonto1888]

Just a note on rates, the council workers got a big pay bump last year with backpay/bonus(?) after they went on strike. How else did you think it would be funded?

Yeah, knew at the time the Ratepayer was going to have to take the hit on that. It was a a massive victory for some local councillors though IIRC.

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2024/january/mid-ulster-district-council-leisure-workers-to-continue-all-out-strike-for-improved-coaching-payments

They were still striking outside Cookstown the other day.

I was chastised for not backing the strikes at the time by people who are now gurning about their rates bill.

if thats the reason for the rates increase I am totally fine with that

[RedHand88]

Just a note on rates, the council workers got a big pay bump last year with backpay/bonus(?) after they went on strike. How else did you think it would be funded?

Yeah, knew at the time the Ratepayer was going to have to take the hit on that. It was a a massive victory for some local councillors though IIRC.

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2024/january/mid-ulster-district-council-leisure-workers-to-continue-all-out-strike-for-improved-coaching-payments

They were still striking outside Cookstown the other day.

I was chastised for not backing the strikes at the time by people who are now gurning about their rates bill.

if thats the reason for the rates increase I am totally fine with that

Instructors went from £14/ph to £19ph (backpaid nearly 2 years) after the last round of strikes, with a commitment for it to be increased each year.

How much should a swimming/ fitness instructor be paid in your eyes? £25ph? £30?

[tonto1888]

Just a note on rates, the council workers got a big pay bump last year with backpay/bonus(?) after they went on strike. How else did you think it would be funded?

Yeah, knew at the time the Ratepayer was going to have to take the hit on that. It was a a massive victory for some local councillors though IIRC.

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2024/january/mid-ulster-district-council-leisure-workers-to-continue-all-out-strike-for-improved-coaching-payments

They were still striking outside Cookstown the other day.

I was chastised for not backing the strikes at the time by people who are now gurning about their rates bill.

if thats the reason for the rates increase I am totally fine with that

Instructors went from £14/ph to £19ph (backpaid nearly 2 years) after the last round of strikes, with a commitment for it to be increased each year.

How much should a swimming/ fitness instructor be paid in your eyes? £25ph? £30?

youre complaining they got a payrise. Says a lot about you

[RedHand88]

Just answer the question ffs. You're deflecting. Does a swimming instructor deserve more than £20ph? It's an honest question.

[johnnycool]

38 hour week @£20 per hour isn't exactly a whole pile considering everything, pension contributions, NI, Tax etc etc;

Gross Wage           £39,520   £3,293   £760
National Insurance   £2,156   £180   £41
Pension                   £1,976   £165   £38
Pension HMRC           £395   £33   £8
Student Loan           £0   £0   £0
Take Home Pay           £30,393   £2,533   £584
Tax Free Allowance   £12,570   £1,048   £242
Tax Paid           £4,995   £416   £96
Taxable Wage           £24,974   £2,081   £480

[tonto1888]

Just answer the question ffs. You're deflecting. Does a swimming instructor deserve more than £20ph? It's an honest question.

I have no idea what they deserve but if you go private - and I researched it - you could pay a lot more than that. My point still stands

[RedHand88]

Just answer the question ffs. You're deflecting. Does a swimming instructor deserve more than £20ph? It's an honest question.

I have no idea what they deserve but if you go private - and I researched it - you could pay a lot more than that. My point still stands

That's a fair point about private ones.  I've heard what some people pay for a PT to do a class session (not even 1 on 1) and it's absolutely nuts.

[lurganblue]

McDonalds. used to be cheap sh*te and now it's expensive sh*te.

[RedHand88]

McDonalds. used to be cheap sh*te and now it's expensive sh*te.

Guts of a tenner a head now. Nearly not worth it.