Hi Dave, And the other bone of contention......help lines. Don't you just love hanging on to a phone line and hearing the recorded message say "may we remind you that .......... online at www........ aaaarrrgh!!!!! I wouldn't be hanging on the help line if I could have sorted it out online!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the time I get a human voice at the other end I could strangle my phone.....lol Regards, Maggie

Hi Maggie, I think the biggest problem with help lines is the 50p or £1 per minute jobs ......... It's a strange world where products are almost given away and nobody can afford the staff to provide support ............ Well known script from what used to be my office when ringing the spares department of a well known manufacturer: Welcome to xxxxxxxxxx You are currently 4th in the queue, one of our operators will be with you shortly (music ......................... ) You are still 4th in the queue, we will attend to your call as soon as possible ........ ( more music) You are 5th in the queue ..... one of our operators has retired ........ (repeat until no more music, the line goes dead or hell freezes over) "yes" Can you tell me the price and availability of xxxxxxxxxxx ? "Have you got a part number ?" No, you haven't issued a manual for xxxxxx yet ...... "Sorry can't help you if you haven't got a part number, we haven't got a manual see ...." How do we get a part number then? "You'll have to order a manual (true!) or ring this number - but there are 10 people waiting ........... we close at 4:30 you know ?" Thanks ........ Click! Meanwhile, call from sales "xxxx wants to know why you haven't rung him about the spare part xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ". Tell him the spares manager's been taken away by men in white coats ....... Or by e-mail ........ What happened about that query on xxxxxxxxx I sent 3 weeks ago ? "Sorry mate, the factory in /China/Taiwan/Outer Mongolia/ is closed for xxxxxxxxxxx holiday, won't get an answer till they're back at work, then I'm away for a fortnight on a customer care course." Then there's always the old standby : "sorry, you'll have to ring back - the computer's down again" If I mentioned the brand names - you'd recognise them ! Regards Dave :-) > Hi Dave, > > And the other bone of contention......help lines. Don't you just love > hanging on to a phone line and hearing the recorded message say "may we > remind you that .......... online at www........ aaaarrrgh!!!!! I wouldn't > be hanging on the help line if I could have sorted it out > online!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the time I get a human voice at the other end I > could strangle my phone.....lol > > Regards, > Maggie --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.230 / Virus Database: 111 - Release Date: 25-Jan-01