The End of the Kirkcaldy Dream?

Just when it seemed there was a glimmer of hope on the horizon I have received a ridiculous email from Thorntons solicitors which casts doubt on the professional standards of my local Australian solicitor.

Hawks, Geese but no Chooks yet?

Recently I booked flights with Qatar airline and was amazed to discover that up to six hawks could be taken accommodated as cabin luggage. This morning I was sent this link...

Another day of underachievement!

I'll be glad when today is over. Another day of underachievement.

Every worry this widow has is not directly related to pensions, but they are all connected because where I live, how I live, and how quickly I can relocate are all determined by financial considerations.

Dedicated Employee Enjoying Bank Bonus?

This morning Paul's youngest daughter commented on how Paul was a dedicated employee of Barclays Bank. She was right, he was dedicated, conscientious and hard working. But when it came to being paid a big bonus for his efforts, well his wasn't quite in the league that we all hear about bankers receiving these days ....

Only Six Working Days....

I thought the Facebook response was hopeful. 
I was wrong.

Hybrid Pension?

Although the outcome was not what I had hoped for I am extremely grateful to Sam Brodbeck at the Telegraph for looking into what was for me a confusing issue. 

Sullen Silence?

Have I offended Barclays?
My rejection of Malone's findings has been met with a wall of silence.
How can I extract a confirmation that Barclays has received my letter?

So F***ing Sorry

I am beginning to tire of people telling me they are sorry. Everyone claims to be sorry, but this doesn't improve anything. The video clip of bankers telling the nation how sorry they are made me smile. I can only smile, they can laugh all the way to the bank!

Comments on the Stage 1 decision

Comments on the Stage 1 decision letter dated 13 September 2016

The grey text is Mr Malone’s, indented.

Letter to Colin White

Dear Mr White

Mr Malone’s findings of IDRP Stage 1 notified to me 13^th September 2016

I am writing to request reconsideration of my complaint as I reject the conclusion detailed in Mr Malone’s letter which included some creative temporal adjustments and much unsupported speculation. Full details of my disagreement with the content of his letter are attached and if you require further explanation or information please contact me by email. The devil is in the detail and I urge you to read it.

Barclays Stage 2 Complaint

I've had to respond quickly to Malone's rejection of my complaint because I feel an urgency to get a written record that others can see. Pursuing Paul’s pension monies might be futile as far as my future is concerned but the issues raised, the unnecessary delays and lack of humanity and sense of urgency by Barclays could offer some crumbs of support to others who are struggling with pensions administration in widowhood, or even just others struggling to wrestle their funds away from Barclays.

Time is of the essence

Mr Malone's response to my complaint relating to the failure of the Barclays team to administer the transfer of Paul's pension uses some creative temporal argument. I am not using the time is of the essence phrase here to denote any legal contractual obligation but in the way that many of us use it to recognise that certain actions in life demand swift responses.

Contemporaneous Notes

What do we mean by a contemporaneous note, and why do they matter so much when we are investigating? Contemporaneous notes are written at the time or immediately after an event, action or decision occurs. There are many reasons why contemporaneous notes are important but here are just two;

Malone's Response

How disappointing to receive Ian Malone's response to my complaint. Disappointment may be too strong a word for the emotion I felt because of course his reply had been anticipated, Ian Malone is part of "The Barclays Team". 

Go Gentle Australia

Paul's brother Dave phoned on Tuesday evening and he mentioned that he was going to write to his local politician about assisted dying. This is something that I’ve thought about often since watching Paul suffer so much.

Dependencies?

Kate shared a link on the Delta Airlines shambles currently unfolding due to 'systems failure'. Her comment was that too many people aren't aware of the global dependencies due to IT systems. She's not wrong there.

Tough - we just haven't done it!

The administration story continues. Willis Towers Watson are determined to defend their position as the powerful institution that must not be challenged, especially not by an old widow woman of fragile disposition.

Groundhog Day at Barclays?

Paul worked for Barclays between 1985-1990 and if I hadn't already been aware of why he left them to work for Chase Manhattan then I would have discovered the secret while disposing of his mountain of papers.