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Am wondering whether anyone's got helpful ideas plse ...

I've recently bought a Parallel Centronics to USB adapter cable, to link my super-reliable, very old HP Deskjet 520 printer to my just as well-behaved laptop. The computer sees the printer and the printer works (eg all the right lights light up).

Sadly nothing prints (the printing error message comes up each time I try).

Because I bought the cable locally (at PC Clinic Broughton Astley, to give them a well-deserved plug for excellent customer service), the shop tested the printer and cable on various PCs and laptops in the shop - with the same results on all of them as I was getting.

PC Clinic are going to talk to their supplier on Monday to see whether he can suggest a way round this non-communication; they'll also see whether anyone else they know might have some bright ideas. They've offered to refund my money but what I'd much rather have is a functioning computer-printer set-up.

Has anyone here experienced a similar problem and "fixed" it please?

Yours hopefully, Linda

Not really ... I think the cheapest and safest way to provide adequate pensions for all is to go for a relatively high state pension (funded by taxing employee and employer according to ability to pay). This approach stops us wasting money on expensive private pensions and is the best protection we have against fraud (remember Maxwell?) and other corporate disasters affecting retirement income.

I want a political about-turn on pensions (and almost certainly won't get it!).




I see things differently. I feel our governments have been mainly regressive (not progressive) but above all, they haven't been competent. Governments have presided over a continuing slide in the country's ability to earn its living in a global world and in the life chances of UK middle-income and low-income citizens. They've wasted money hand over fist. thumbsdownthumbsdown

They might be trying to work out whether:-

- there's evidence of a "change of use" from "domestic premises" to "business premises" (with all the implications that would have on local authority charges - council tax v business tax)

- there's nuisance for neighbours (eg over car parking); maybe one has complained

I'd ring up your Council visitor and ask why they'd visited and had taken photos of your home. You can expect straight answers from them.

If there's anything that worries you in the answers you get, ask for advice from the local Chamber of Trade, your bank, etc. Remind yourself also to always check why people want to see you before they turn up (eg "Do you want a cut and blow dry or just a haircut please?").

My accountant advised me to leave a large, self-evidently "domestic" item of furniture in my "office" premises. This is feasible for me to do because I see clients elsewhere.

Good luck Lina.

Typically very small businesses have cost structures that give us an advantage in surviving bad times. We've much lower fixed costs than our larger peers and are more able to flex variable costs in line with sales.

That said, no-one I speak to seems to be hoping for much more than to survive.

Wouldn't dream of having a go at you Steve ....

However, I think Maggie took us down the wrong turning in 1979 (by and large) and no government since has tried to repair the economic and social damage she did.

Maggie set up the long term destruction of the value of the state pension scheme(s). The continuing decline in the state pension makes the employer-supported pension (if you have one and if it's a decent and secure scheme) even more critical to everyone of working age.

The public sector pension scheme has been both decent and secure; it's also actuarially affordable.

Stupidly, governments have also allowed employer-supported pensions in the private sector to decline.

Private pensions are costly and will cover only a very small minority of those who can expect to need support in their old age. thumbsdown

Huge numbers (perhaps the majority of UK citizens) face poverty in their old age. They'll be claiming benefits but benefit levels aren't high enough to meet their basic bills.

I want those striking to protect their public pensions to win, in their interests and mine.

If they win, it'll put a little more pressure on private sector employers to keep on funding their pension schemes and maybe even improve them.

It'll reduce - directly and indirectly - the future numbers reliant on taxpayer-funded means tested benefits.

It'll increase the spending power of the OAP part of the lower income bracket, resulting in more sales to local businesses and a more stable national economy.

So how do I end this diatribe? Should I shout "Power to the people" or "Everybody out!"?????????

?????????

Ask the suppliers of powerpoint (it'd give the staff there something interesting to think about)?

Do you know anyone who never throws anything away - including old PCs / software? Some geeks hold onto their software much longer than you'd expect.

Have you tried the obvious -searching on Google how open powerpoint [version X] or putting your question to an IT forum?

Ho-hum

I'd be a mite suspicious of anyone I didn't know coming on to my premises to carry out an inspection service I wasn't sure I needed .....thumbsdown

Explain (briefly) how their post fits into your medium-term career advancement plans; then why the projects they want the post-holder to complete in the first year appeal to you so strongly. Talk about the measurable improvements (eg cost savings) you'd aim to achieve in your first year with that employer.

This advice assumes you've got at least the basics of a plan for your career and you've done a good job of researching the post and company. You're unlikely to be offered the job if the recruiter has any doubts about your commitment to the post and the company.

I'd do two things, in this order:-

- explain your problem and the checks you've already made to the local Trading Standards department. Ask their advice on how to check whether you're getting what you paid for and whether they have any knowledge of similar problems experienced by customers of your supplier.

If there is anything dodgy, they may follow things up themselves. As a by-product you may get your money back - if the supplier's not legit or the work they've done for you is unsatisfactory, they may hope paying you off will minimise hassle from Trading Standards.

- with a witness to hand taking notes of the conversation, tell your supplier about each of the detailed ad verification checks you've made and ask them to account for the results of these checks. Probe each apparent discrepancy until you get a satisfactory answer.

I'd suggest you act on this as fast as you can. Good luck, Linda

Agree. I don't like commission deals (for recommending specific companies) either so won't take them.