Death. Warmed. Up.

[erastes]

I should have seen the signs with all the sleeping I've been doing recently.. But I'm sick. Raging headache, a bit of a temperature and I feel sick. Been in bed most of the day (snuggled up with cats, bless 'em, Mummy being sick is the best day!) and have now got up but I'm not feeling any better.

I had to ring the Council this morning, because we all how much fun THAT is, right? I'd got a letter saying that I hadn't replied to a request for further information regarding my claim for Council Tax Benefit. Well, that's probably because I never received any such request!  So. I rang the Council and after 20 minutes of "You are number 1 in the queue" and "Your call is important to us" and "you can also get further information online" I got through to someone. All I can say is that it seemed like his first day on the job.

Me "Hello. I've got a letter here saying I didn't respond to further information yada yada, but I didn't get that first letter."

Him "What does the letter say?" (Obviously they have no copies on file)

Me: "Reads letter to him, although it's obviously a stock letter."

Him: "That means that you didn't reply to the letter we sent you."

Me: "Strangely enough I understand that part. But I didn't receive an earlier letter."

Him: *panicking* this is obviously reaching the realms of Quantum Council work, and he's unsure of his ground. "The computer said that it was dispatched on 25th June."

Me: *sweetly* Yes, but the thing is - you may have dispatched it, but I never RECEIVED it.

Him; *puzzled silence. Rustling*  Are you saying you didn't get the letter sent on 25th June?

Me: *PH balance shifting* Yes - that's exactly what I'm saying.

Him: "Hang on while I find what else we need"

Me: *waits*

Him: "We need two proofs of your ID."

Me: "Even though I've been paying Council Tax on this property for 8 years? So you need my ID for benefit, even though you should have it - but you don't need it for me to PAY you."

Him: "Er... hang on....*rustling*....yes?"

Me: "Ok... What else?"

Him: "Er... hang on....*rustling*... proof of your National Insurance number.

Me: "What? How the hell am I supposed to prove that? And anyway, didn't I give all this stuff to the Jobcentre?"

Him: "Er. I don't know. It just says you need it. If you have a letter from us with it on, that'll do."

Me: "So you are saying that a proof of that, is a letter from you?"

Him: "Yes. *sounds pleased with himself* Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Me: "What do you mean, ELSE?"

No wonder I went back to bed with a sick headache.

Comments

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

*Huggity huggity huggity*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

'nk u. *pathetic whine*

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

*sends paracetamol and codeine and these two lads to administer it*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Bah. Nice thought, but they aren't going to fluff my pillows and pour my lucozade are they? They'll just retire to another room to boink!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Appearances are deceptive.

Aahm sure zey would love to plump your leetel pillows and wipe your feevaired brow.

[zamaxfield.livejournal.com]

Oh, so sorry you're sick, take a large glass of water, and cat hugs as needed.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Sick of water. *glugs more*

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

{offers bowl of virtual soup}

Seriously, the letter from them makes sense--it tells the silly buggers you are in their files already. Sounds like Laughing Boy couldn't find his own bum with both hands and a roadmap.

Hope you and Severus are better soon. I know some bugs are contagious to both and his sounded like a doozy.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I've got Severus-itis? Wouldn't surprise me,he does smoosh his horrible dribbly face all over mine a lot.

Thanks!

[crawling-angel.livejournal.com]

That is a laugh-and-a-half about them needing ID. Like you say, it's ok when you pay them but not the other way round. Pricks! And that's insulting pricks! *uses Speshul Steve icon*

Poor 'rastes and Sevvie. Have lots of cuddles and sips of water til you both feel better. xx

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Stupid. Stupid people. *smites them*

I love the icon. Thank you!

[adventurat.livejournal.com]

What do you mean, ELSE?

Oh, that so deserves to be iconized.

Sorry you're feeling poorly. And having to deal with the stupids to boot. Here's hoping for the curative power of cat-napping. (LOL!)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Do not mess with a headachey Erastes, that's the rule.

[tharain.livejournal.com]

"So you are saying that a proof of that, is a letter from you?"

Clearly, Darwin was wrong.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Very, very wrong. I think you could disprove his theory with nothing more than one council worker and one call-centre operator.

[aunty_marion]

Well, that's the bloody Council for you, inni', eh? I've been through those (moebius) hoops myself a few times, so I can sympathise!

Take care of yourself; liberal application of ibuprofen and fluids (internally) and cats (externally) should do the trick. Do not confuse the two methods of application - the hair tends to stick in the throat.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Now that's where I was going wrong.... *chokes*

:)

[enolabloodygay.livejournal.com]

Stop drinking water - alcohol is the way forward when sick!

Funnily enough, in the Jobcentre, a letter from us to you is not proof of your ID even though we won't send you a letter till you prove your ID to us.

Government, whether local or national, is very speshul.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I got told off by yobs of your ilk today.

TWICE!

For being five minutes late!!! (after they kept me waiting 10 minutes!)

*stabbity*

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

Not long ago, I went to show the tax people my receipt for having paid my car taxes. I brought two copies of the actual bill and two print-outs of my check (so that the clerk and I could both refer to the document, which I knew might be necessary). The clerk just kept telling me that the evidence of my payment wasn't in the computer. I wanted to stab her. *commiserates*

I hope you're feeling better soon. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes - they are all IDIOTS. As I found out when I went down there today...

Thanks - HUGELY better today, thanks!