Who Will Be The Next Manchester United Manager?
Just watch the betting!
Years ago, I had a friend, who’s since died, who told me that some heavy punters have a direct line to what goes on at Manchester United.
At the moment David Moyes is well ahead on Betfair.
Seb Coe For London Mayor
He was impressive today on BBC Breakfast.
I think he would make a wonderful successor to Boris. He’s also only 20/1 with Paddy Power.
Trainers Boycott Race at Worcester Over Low Prize Money
It had to happen, as after all bookmakers can go off-shore to avoid paying tax and the levy, which funds prize money, but trainers can’t train horses in Gibraltar and fly them in for the race.
Unless a solution is found, racing will die in the UK and the mugs will bet on football, videos of horse racing and flies crawling up the wall.
If the British public reckon bankers are an evil lot, then they should take a strong look at bookmakers.
A Lady After My Own Heart
I’ve never heard of Merryn Somerset Webb, but I have heard of the magazine she writes for; Money Week.
One of my alerts pulled up an article entitled, For better returns, ditch traditional investments. This is something I definitely believe in. But I would say that after once investing £10 e.w.on a nag at 500-1 in the Derby, I don’t think conservatively. In the end as Terimon came second, I trousered upwards of a grand.
If you read the article, Merryn makes some interesting points. She mentions the first two of possibly many alternative banks aimed at SMEs; Cambridge and Counties Bank and Silicon Valley Bank, who have opened or are rumoured to be opening in the UK.
I don’t need such a bank, but I’ll be watching how both progress in the next few months.
A Four Horse Steeplechase
A friend of mine, long since dead, was a bookmaker.
He gets a call from a jockey, who was on the second favourite in a four horse steeplechase. But the favourite will surely win it, says my friend. Oh No! Says the jockey, we’re all in on it. At the last fence the favourite was ten lengths clear, but sadly upended on landing, allowing the second favourite to come through to win. My friend said the favourite’s fall was the best bit of riding he’d ever seen.
He’d of course been prudent and laid off the bet to a major bookmaker, who could afford it. Adding a bit of the action for himself of course!
How To Manage Dormant Accounts
This afternoon, I got an e-mail from William Hill, the bookmakers.
It said that I hadn’t used the account for some time and would I like to use some of the money there to have a bet.
Quite frankly, I’d clearly forgotten I had the account and I think the last time I used it was well before 2007, as I know C was still alive. I think she had asked me to put money on a horse in the Grand National.
They said there was about £50 in the account, which let’s face it, buys a reasonable meal around here for two.
On trying to login, the site told me the account was locked and would I contact them through the on-line chat button.
I did this and after about an hour of patient chat, I got a new password and they unlocked the account so I could log in.
I then updated the account with my new address, phone number and credit card and then duly withdrew the balance.
Perhaps after the good service I’d got, that was a bit mean.
But it does show how if you manage your customer support well, you can get customers pleased with your company.
So thanks to William Hill, I’m now going to have a free meal.
How many other betting companies or financial institutions would have left the money there earning them interest?
I should also contrast this episode with the service, I’ve received from a well-known energy company (Not nPower or British Gas!) who supplied electricity and gas to the tenants of this house, before I bought it.
When I took over the house, I felt that it might be easier to stay with this company. But after waiting on the phone for twenty minutes or so to contact them, I gave up and went elsewhere.
I did owe them a small amount for when they supplied me until nPower took over, but they did try it on a bit and I still haven’t received what I consider to be a properly audited bill. E-mails to the company are unanswered and I have spent quite some time trying to phone them. I have spoken to friends and most feel that this company has a miserable standard of cutomer support at best.
So if I haven’t heard by Friday, I’ll probably pay the bill in a manner that A P Herbert would have approved of.
I of course advise anybody who uses the company to seriously think about getting an alternative supplier.
It Pays to Go By Bus
Steve Whiteley used his bus pass to take up the offer of a free day’s racing at Exeter yesterday. Knowing nothing about horse-racing he put a single bet on the Tote Jackpot which cost him just £2. His was the only winning ticket and he won £1,445,671.20. The complete story is in the Independent.
