British Expatriate Network

I'm sorry but I really can't help but laugh at this BBC article on Jeremy Clarkson's boob!

http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7174760.stm

Hubby used to work in banking many years ago, and he has the same outlook as Clarkson on the point that no one can take money out of your account without you giving them permission to do so in the UK! I can't wait to show him this article.

That was a big risk he took, putting that in the paper - and I was under the same impression as he was! It gave me a few things to think about. I often give my UK bank details to family and occasionally the odd friend so they can deposit money in my account but I'm surprised that a person could arrange a direct debit like that. I wonder if it was done online or on the phone.

Here the banks and cc companies often ask for your mother's maiden name - that used to be something no-one would usually know unless they knew you well, but now, thanks to online genealogy sites, it's possible to find out anyone's maiden name so if someone was determined to mess up the life of another individual it wouldn't be that hard. Besides which, a lot of mothers still use their maiden names so that's not a secret at all. I think the banks need to update themselves a bit.

If the retard did something stupid like publishing his account details where anybody could get a hold of them he deserves to have money stolen from him ..

Do you know how offensive that word is?

It's not horribly offensive to Americans, apparently. Different PCs for different countries.

Besides, John probably meant to call him retired, anyway -as a clever pun on his career of course ;)

More of a sneaky dill hole, now the banks really will have to justify their claims and charges. I guess it's even easier here. After all, one of the sets of missing data discs was being processed here on the East coast.

I know what you mean, John, but there has always been this belief in the UK that the banks are extremely safe and no one can get your money. Like KG, it wouldn't occur to many people that there would be a problem with a direct debit.

However, here in the US direct debits are still frowned upon. Many people believe them to be unsafe and won't trust them. Both hubby and I thought that was crazy, but now it is making us stop and think.

It wouldn't surprise me if this stunt by Clarkson will shock a lot of people. the more I think about it, though, the more I can't help being pleased that he did do this - at least it has highlighted a real flaw in the banking system (all cheques have bank account and sort code, and it wouldn't take much to find the address of a person who issued a cheque).

I tried to speak with our cable company this morning about cutting down our cable bill, as it was an eye-watering $208 this last month!!! They wouldn't have anything to do with me until Mike called them to add me to the account administrators!

Never had a problem when I was ordering High speed internet and HDTV though.... roll

Mike said it was just that my voice wasn't deep enough......ha, bloody ha.


Anyway, the point is that it's easier, seemingly, to make a charitable donation out of a fashion dinosaurs bank account than talk to a damn cable TV employee.

Grumpy old woman regards....

Debs x roll

Don't worry Deb, I had the same problem with At&t until I made them say who was signing the cheques for their bills. After that the bill comes in two names and besides, with divorce laws as they are over here, as a married woman you need your name on as many bills as you can get, otherwise, you have no credit credit rating.
Sexist country. Good ole boys, bunch of effing barstewards, no matter, ensure your own credit rating with utilities. He'll get one regardless. You, as a woman, won't.

On the other hand, it used to be easier for a divorcing spouse to screw around with the utilities and start closing accounts down so perhaps this tightens that up a bit?

Not one of my prouder moments admittedly but been there, done that....

Yeah, we had something similar a few years ago. It just so happened at the time my father was over from the UK so the deep voice was handy :D

If they are going to insist on the named person talking about an account, that should be required for anything to do with the account.

never thought of that a retired retard sounds better hehehehe

if you stopped to consider every word you used to discribe somebody upset SOMEBODY you would end up saying nothing .

i could get offended by many words used here on this board if i choose to .

Seems the guy is a complete idiot thats as i see him .( using my freedom of speech right here )
Many folks here see G bush , B o'reilly etc, as idiots and call them names that could be taken as offensive .
example mitt roomey being called a nitt

the criteria is any one politician /radio personality or otherwise in the public eye is fair game for jokes . criticism ,satire ,etc .it comes with the territory .

I dont see you guys of left leaning political dogma complaining about * offensive * words used to discribe others of differant political or religious persuasion that say or do something you disagree with .

so much for the democrat party line of * tolerance and equality *

Some more of jeremy clarksons moronic remarks .

seems he can insult people , and make blanket statements about citizens of other countries .



Anti-American remarks

Throughout Top Gear, Clarkson has made anti-American remarks, often stereotyping Americans as fat and dull-witted. For example, in September 2005 Clarkson wrote an editorial for The Sun: "Most Americans barely have the brains to walk on their back legs".[49] He has also said on Top Gear when comparing a rural British village with a rural American village that "If this were America, it would be full of people doing… whatever it is they do. Incest, mostly".[50] During the 'American Roadtrip' episode of Top Gear, he says, "If you're thinking of coming to America this is what it's like. You've got your Comfort Inn, you've got your Best Western, you've got your Red Lobster where you eat. Everybody's very fat, everybody's very stupid and everybody's very rude. It's not the holiday programme it's the truth!" [51] Later, when being chased by a gang of rednecks, he says "I honestly believe that in certain parts of America now, people have started to mate with vegetables."[52]

Allegations of bigotry

In October 1998 Hyundai Motor Company complained to the BBC about what they described as "bigoted and racist" comments he made at the Birmingham Motor Show, where he was reported as saying that the people working on the Hyundai stand had "eaten a dog" and that the designer of the Hyundai XG had probably eaten a spaniel for his lunch. Clarkson also allegedly referred to those working on the BMW stand as "Nazis".[53]

Allegations of homophobia

In July 2006 Clarkson attracted complaints after agreeing with a Top Gear audience member that a featured car, the Daihatsu Copen was a bit "gay" or "ginger beer" (rhyming slang for "queer"). The complainants felt that the presenter was using the word pejoratively. In December 2006 the BBC ruled that his remarks had the potential to offend and should not have been broadcast.[54]

However, when presenting a programme about the Colossus computer Clarkson expressed disdain about Alan Turing being driven to suicide after being convicted of committing homosexual acts.[55]


taken from .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Clarkson

Although I have been known to make some rather caustic remarks myself, I don't like how nasty those remarks are.

Same as Simon on American Idol, sometimes being plain mean is not very funny.