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Can any large organisations be trusted?

(9 Posts)
Eloethan Sun 21-Jul-13 19:01:21

It seems that not a day goes by without some scandal being unearthed - G4S, A4E, the energy companies, the fixing of the LIBOR rates, misselling of financial products, etc. etc.

And now we hear that an organisation that are supposed to process charitable donations are under suspicion too.

Is capitalism today about providing satisfactory goods or services for a reasonable profit, or is it about ripping off employees, customers and the state while profits - often untaxed - continue their relentless upwards spiral?

bluebell Sun 21-Jul-13 19:19:13

Eleothan- you know the answer!!

Eloethan Sun 21-Jul-13 19:50:03

I think I do - but how do we, as individuals, combat it?

bluebell Sun 21-Jul-13 20:35:55

As individuals, it seems all we can do is make small gestures- they seem to be about making me feel better rather than having any impact on the big bad wolves out there. We've stopped using Amazon, we only use independent coffee shops and we try very hard to use small local businesses which still offer a genuine service ethos. We haven't used a high street bank for 30 years ( use a building society ) but we just feel so helpless about most things

bluebell Sun 21-Jul-13 20:36:09

As individuals, it seems all we can do is make small gestures- they seem to be about making me feel better rather than having any impact on the big bad wolves out there. We've stopped using Amazon, we only use independent coffee shops and we try very hard to use small local businesses which still offer a genuine service ethos. We haven't used a high street bank for 30 years ( use a building society ) but we just feel so helpless about most things

HUNTERF Sun 21-Jul-13 21:08:22

My wife worked for a high street bank and I was entitled to half her pension as a staff widower.
When I asked for it the first reaction of the lady was to say she had been dead for 5 years and she would not expect the pension in view of the time scale.
Their first offer was about £3,000 short and I complained about this. After some time they got the figures right.
What they said had caused the problem was she paid AVC'S from the day she joined, she changed divisions and due to mergers etc they were dealing with 28 different pension schemes.

Frank

nanaej Sun 21-Jul-13 21:12:27

Also see that the Academy Schools Trust and some academy chains have been paying 'mates' generous fees for services!!

nanaej Sun 21-Jul-13 21:28:48

www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/jul/20/education-school-academies-michael-gove?INTCMP=SRCH

In case anyone wants to read it!

Eloethan Mon 22-Jul-13 10:48:54

bluebell We do what we can to avoid these sorts of organisations but it seems that almost every large concern is up to no good these days. We've been with the Co-op Bank for over 40 years and even that is looking rather tarnished now.

Very interesting nanaej. This is basically corruption - the sort of thing that we castigate other countries for. Last week it was the drugs companies charging up to, I think, 200% more than they should be.

It seems that the only way these companies are making huge profits is through, at best unethical and at worst criminal activity.