News from Morning Glen Mall

The new entrance at the east end (Rivonia side) of the lower level of the Mall is now open, leading to the new (not-yet-opened) parking deck.

Protea Home has moved down from the upper level and lies all along one side of that entrance passage, with their door right next to the Mall's Entrance 1.  The new entrance seems not to have a number yet: Entrance zero, maybe?

The photo shows Clicks on the right. Protea Home is in the middle, at the junction of Entrance 1 (on the left), and the new passage leading to the new entrance (curving away to the right).  The patch of red upstairs is Protea Home's old sign.  That area will be remodelled into an entrance passage like the one below, with shops on either side, and an upstairs entrance and scenic lift.

Avoid a bond from SA Home Loans – Unsupportive, Avaricious and Litigious!

Be warned of how badly SAHL treats its customers if they fall behind on payments! With a pandemic and the uncertain economy, it can happen to anyone!

To balance our budget and pay the bond, we take in tenants. Our cottage tenants lost their jobs around the start of the Covic-19 pandemic. The lockdown regulations did not allow us to evict them but, in any case, it did not seem humane to make them homeless. We fell behind on our SAHL bond. SAHL offered us a "sell assist" (at our expense) but also instituted legal action –a "good cop / bad cop" game.

The tenants now have jobs and are holding their own with the rent. We offered SAHL an arrangement, which they accepted. But to stop legal action they want us to sign an agreement that effectively hands them the property if we miss a single payment. We're also expected to know what the arrears are at all times, yet they do not allow us to register for their client zone. They are not willing to budge on their unreasonable and coercive conditions.

We do not have recent experience of other bond suppliers (who may be as bad), but we cannot recommend SA Home Loans.

What do other people say?  On Hello Peter, SA Homeloans has a low rating of 2.01 (out of 5) from 749 reviews, and a Trust Index rating of only 2.7 out of 10.  That includes their insurance department, which has some awful reviews.  Admittedly, Absa Bank, Standard Bank, and FNB have lower ratings (1.49, 1.53, and 1.56 respectively), which include all banking services, not just home loans.  BetterBond and ooba homeloans have top ratings (4.78 and  5), but they are bond originators, a much narrower field.

Odd Jobs:  Back to top

A diplomat is someone who can tell you to "go to hell" in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

Another Mondegreen

“May I say, not in a subway”.

Correct lyric: “May I say, not in a shy way” from "My Way: by Frank Sinatra.

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• Fit24 Gyms, 1st Floor in Rivonia Village – Affordable rates, extended open hours, fit24 classes, top of the range equipment, experienced personal trainers, indoor running track, medical aid benefits.
• Mashumi Art Projects, Shop 16, Lower Level in Morning Glen Mall – Extensive airy art gallery with a variety of art for sale.
• Nedbank ATM, Ground in Woodmead SuperValue Centre – Kiosk next to Continental Linen.
• Protea Home has moved downstairs next to the new entrance, to Shop 22, Lower Level in Morning Glen Mall – Soft toys, plastic toys, plastic flowers, pots, crockery, platters, torches; an amazing array of varied items for the home.
• Moved: Kingsway Dry Cleaners, now up on the 1st Floor in Dunwoody Centre – Specialists in commercial & domestic laundry needs: Laundry, Dry Cleaning, Alterations, Shoe Repair. Moved upstairs.
• Meanwhile, Moopen Dentistry has moved downstairs and is now in Shop 03, Ground in Dunwoody Centre – Family Dental Practice: "Caring affordable excellence".
• Escapology has moved to the left and is now in Shop 10 next to The Baron, Ground in Dunwoody Centre – Health and Skin Institute: Threading, waxing treatments, pedicures, manicures, Indian head and shoulder massages, bridal dressing, make-up, grooming treatments. Stockist of Nimue deep cleanse, Rejuvenation, TCA..
• Coming soon: Best Before, in Dunwoody Centre – Clearance specialist: Up to 50% discount on non-perishables that are close to or have passed their "Best Before" date. Soft drinks, energy drinks, tinned goods, sweets, spices, seasoning, sauces, toilet paper, disposable nappies, deodorants, wrapping paper.

Review: Uber Support (awful) and Webtickets (fairly good)

In dealing with customer queries, Uber is deliberately unhelpful. Or exceptionally incompetent. Or (probably) both.  Webtickets takes a more personal interest, and compensates one when the mistake is their fault.

We got 5 x R100 Uber vouchers bought on Webtickets as a birthday and Mothers’ Day gift. I copied all their numbers into the Uber app.  We were only credited with four.  I could not tell which four, because the app does not tell one.

The Webtickets WhatsApp helpline at 072 137 1226 confirmed that all five were valid numbers. Good of them to work on a Sunday.

Google gives 0800172956 as the Uber 24/7 phone support line. That automated system was apparently written by an imbecile or a sadist. I gave it my phone number as it requested. It said it couldn't find it and then kept asking for a number, while ignoring all input.  I tried three times, with the same result.

I then tweeted Uber Support on Twitter (@Uber_Support). They asked for a screenshot of the gift card codes. When I supplied that, they replied, “Sorry to hear about the trouble. Could you please drop us a note here <link>?"

That <link> says:
Select the order you had a voucher issue with, and then hit NEXT
No orders to display.

How’s that?  To log a voucher issue, choose an order.  But I can't place the order yet because they failed to credit my voucher.

Thereafter their Twitter account endlessly tells one to get in touch through the app’s Help section, which has nothing useful, or drop a note at the non-working link.

I found a way to get email (alleged) support, though I had to use a false case description because there was no option like my problem. They did respond, but were thoroughly unhelpful in identifying the faulty voucher.  They ignored everything I told them and endlessly replied with the same stock message telling me to go back to the ticket supplier.

Do they send Uber support people on Customer Frustration Training? I find it difficult to believe they could achieve such abysmal consistency through natural lack of ability alone.

We eventually found that the problem did indeed lie with Webtickets. The code printed on one of the tickets was a digit short. Instead of copying the number as before, I scanned the barcode, got the full number, and put that into the Uber app.  We then got our final R100 credit.

Webtickets were gracious enough to admit their mistake.  They give me a R500 Pick ‘n Pay voucher, which was some compensation. They were clever enough not to make it an Uber voucher!  After this experience, I will deal as little as possible with that customer-hostile company. I hope Bolt is better!

Thought for the Week:

Borrow money from pessimists ... they don't expect it back anyway.

D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival):  Back to top

• DNA Cars in Bryanston Shopping Centre – specialises in pre-owned luxury and 4 x 4 vehicles. Also source non-luxury vehicles for clients in the market. On Ballyclare Drive opposite Bryanston Shopping Centre.
• SA Brand Footprint, Shop 11B in The Wedge, Morningside – Quirky ladies fashion, shoes, gifts. Was Upper Level.
• Leesk, Shop 44 in Morning Glen Mall – "Authentic clothing" for women and men. Was Upper Level.
• Clicks Covid-19 Vaccination Site in Rivonia Village – was 1st Floor: You can get your shots at Clicks downstairs –just walk in, but they take appointments first.
• Lifestyle Fashion, Shop 5 in Woodmead SuperValue Centre – Stocking Billabong, FUBU, FILA and other well-known brands.
• Plasticland, Shop 2 in Woodmead SuperValue Centre – Widest range of affordable plasticware: Kitchenware, leisure, bathroom, laundry, cleaning and brushware, school, educational toys, DIY, storage boxes, catering, office, kids furniture, garden, pets, buckets and storage of liquids. Moved to the Fourways Branch.
• The Sweet Jar, Shop 10 in Dunwoody Centre – Halaal Confectionery, Local & imported Chocolates, Sweets, Candy, Beverages, Biscuits, Cakes & Savouries.

You're definitely South African if...

You know, from personal experience, the meanings of the phrases "load shedding" and "stages 1 to 4".

Welcome Home, Witsies!

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, is turning 100 this year.  If you are an alumnus or alumna, join in the Centenary Celebrations with a range of events for the whole family over this special Alumni Homecoming Weekend, 2–4 September 2022. Come and enjoy exhibitions, film screenings, musical and theatre performances, campus tours, a spectacular light show as well as school, class and sports reunions.

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Overheard at the Checkout

"Afghans are having a hard time... over a thousand died in an earthquake."

"That's a real shame... they are such beautiful dogs."