giggirl

I've also heard good things about Top Cashback, but I haven't signed up with them yet. http://www.topcashback.co.uk/quidco

They keep ?5 worth of your earnings in any 12 month period but there is no sign up fee. They keep the site free of advertising, which is nice, so there is no revenue there for them. I think they may keep some percentage of cash back, but I don't know. Most of the criticism will come from money not being paid. Some businesses are really bad at paying and Quidco won't pass on monies that they haven't received, so people get cross and complain. Me, I'm selective about which battles I will fight, and arguing with etailers via Quidco is not the battle for me. I learn fast about who pays up and who doesn't, and I move on. Last week I booked 2 nights in a Paris hotel direct with the hotel's website. Total was just shy of Eur 500. The booking didn't track on Quidco so I cancelled it, booked the same room with Expedia, and I'll get my 8% back soon because Expedia is a fast payer. BA is wretched. Even when they do pay (and they don't always) it takes a year. Virgin is excellent.

?1,995.13 worth of free money actually paid to date + another ?170.38 in the pipeline Not one single penny spent which would not otherwise have been spent Typical payments include ?142.50 for switching internet providers last month ?13 to ?20 per month, every month, on Eurostar alone 40% of my sellers' fees on ebay come to me because if I am shopping on ebay I do it though Quidco - 40% mounts up Huge amounts on hotel bills. If the hotel doesn't offer discount directly via Quidco then I will put the hotel booking through Expedia and that gives me a typical 8% cashback on hotels. Some partners are very bad at paying - I have a lot outsanding from BA from several on-line transactions going back nearly a year. BA does not like to pay up. Conversely, Eurostar transactions track immediately and pay quickly. I am not interesed in Nectar points or other reward schemes; I like cash. This is a considerable amount of cash for flights that I would have taken anyway and hotels that I would have stayed in anyway. Effort is minimal; it's an extra couple of clicks per transaction and it becomes second nature. It doesn't preclude me shopping around for the best deal, this is just extra discount on top.

Yes I love TripAdvisor too and always check out what they have to say. But I only book once I've accessed the website through the Quidco website. Quidco is basically free money and it makes sense to use them as often as possible.

Hi Mia - I would beware of ALL comparison sites. They make their money on commission when you click through and book from their site. It is therefore in their best interests to only offer you products that give them commission. By all means use them as a research site if you must, but then I recommend you do your own online footwork to get the best price. Also, think about going through Quidco to ensure that any click-through commission goes into your pocket.

The staff in LL PO are lovely and I'm not at all surprised they did the decent thing. Nice story though.

OK my mistake, sorry. I urgently need a cup of coffee! Do your very best though Reggie. Charities being, let's say, less than transparent, with money need a kick.

Not so sweet when your garden gets full of cat poo.

I'm pleased for you Reggie. I also think there are more honest people around than dishonest; but somehow wrongdoing makes bigger headlines. Well done to the PO.

Hi Reggie If you have information that a charity is misappropriating money then report them to the Charities Commission. You say "who wants to rock the boat". Plenty of people are whisleblowers when when they see wrongdoing. It isn't uncommon. This is a public forum and you've named this charity - Groundwork - by name and you're representing wrongdoing but not following through. I think you must follow through or ask Admin to take the thread down. You're maligning people on a public forum; I am pretty sure these people could come after the forum and after you. Think about it.

The Hooch remains close to our hearts on the EDF. He has been unwell and is touched that we've missed him. He will come back to us. How good is that news?

How exciting. I'll pick up a copy. I'm a slow reader but I'll definitely post back when I've finished.

Gingerbeer is genuine. I PMd her right at the beginning of this thread and if she's not real then whe's in the witness protection programme because her story is 100%. Come on ED; you've got too much time on your hands. Is't there a Waitrose/Iceland debate you could resurrect? Px

Seconded - what AbDabs said about the monthly standing orders. It's the best way to give. I have 5 or 6 standing orders from my current account every month going straight to the charities with the charities claiming the tax back. Charities are SO GRATEFUL when you email them direct and tell them you want to set up a standing order. They get EVERY PENNY YOU GIVE. I don't understand why more people don't do it. Don't get me started on chuggers! I won't engage with them on the street as I haven't yet once found one who was transparent about how much their service costs the charity. If you are sponsoring a charity through a chugger who signed you up on the street then cancel the standing order and email the charity direct - it makes sense! I still do give to those asking for sponsorship but I'm a lot more picky now than I used to be. I only give when I know for a fact that the person I'm sponsoring has a commitment to the charity. For example, a close friend's husband died of motor neuron disease (sp?) and she ran the marathon for the MN charity as part of her grieving process (well that's my take on her motivation anyway). She was seriously unfit at the time so more kudos to her. I think it's churlish to turn a friend down when they are fundraising for something close to their heart. More and more often though I think people are fundraising for charities just to get to do something on their bucket list. I also give when charities put on events. I guess I'm on various invitation lists so I get asked. Basically it's a night out but you pay for it and the charity makes a lot of money (if they do it right). This coming Monday is the annual Terrence Higgins auction at Christies. So I'll put a posh frock on, drink my own weight in champagne, buy something I don't want, and have a bacon sandwich and a full-fat coke for breakfast on Tuesday.

Posh

Are you trying to predict a riot?

*Bob*, you're welcome round my house next time my builders get going. They're very good at the old loud, pounding, repetitive beats. Just ask my neighbours.

For those about to Baroque, we salute you.

Well done Charlie I think it's a great idea. I hope the day comes when it will be taken as the norm that small green patches will be planted.

I've already said what I think and I'm not going to apologise for having an opinion on an open forum. I don't wish to engage with you.

HA - Paul K isn't happy unless he's sticking the boot in - as you can see from his posts. In the meantime, yes I'm happy to judge someone who starts a thread calling admin rude.

Oh please, not you as well Katie Numbers. Somebody wake me up when the's a thread needing an opinion on John Bonham's right foot.

Marion OHalloran Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi, > > I put a post on here two days ago to let everyone > know the date, place and time of the migraine > support group. But it has been so rudely removed. > It shows these people know nothing about > migraines. It is a very important group meeting > for those who suffer migraine so have some > respect! > These people! By these people do you mean the people who pay for the bandwith that allows you to advertise free of charge Marion? Is that the "these people" you meant? If so, I suggest that you have the good grace to look at the forum rules, start your threads in the correct section, and get some respect for the people who pay for this forum and extend services to you free of charge.

OMG- I didn't realise that you could get away with "bollocks" on the EDF. Note to self: use it more often.

Sorry *Bob* but it's all a load of bollocks.