Why are UK authorities useless?

[Mr $quandaŁot]

This is something that has been bothering me for some time. Why is it that there seem to be no rules for anything in this country?

If you actually happen to write to any authority or your MP, you are lI key to get a standard reply saying they aren't willing to get involved, apologising for their response nor being what you would like to hear.

One of the best examples are fixed odd betting terminals, found on most high streets. These evil machines can eat hundreds in a matter of minutes, many lose thousands. Yet our lovely regulators claim there's no evidence... you know the rest.

Either authorities are in bed with likes of William Hill and Ladbrokes or extremely stupid. Any wonder this country is going down the hill?

[enaid]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

Just my opinion on rules and regs on the whole. I think it's our laws that if not outdated are so grey they can be manipulated to suit.
Things should be black or white, you do or you don't simple as that, especially in this very techi age we are in now.
I also believe prevention is better and cheaper than cure, so if more time and effort were put into businesses before start up (ie vetting T&Cs and the people involved in the business) a lot of rips offs would be prevented.

[des8]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

But is anything really just black or white?
I thought it was all fifty shades of grey:bounce::bounce::bounce:

[meellis]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

Sorry mr squandŁlot but I have to take issue with your statement. There are too many rules and regulations in this country it is more a case of a lack of strength by the people paid to enforce and as Enaid states the grey areas within these rules that are manipulated for somebody's own use. We live in a country of spin where we are constantly told the cup is half full when it really is half empty and too many people fall for it. If the truth was known and taken account of it would be a lot different. Its like when the gov't came outwith the headlines about wages outstripping inflation for the first time in ages, they let people believe it was something great they had achieved whereas it really was a barely noticeable margin which was due to inflation falling not wages rising. If the truth was known about pension reforms I am sure we will find that it was set up so that we would remove our funds from badly administered and under funded schemes and then when we run out of funds we will be blamed not the finance industry who have got off the hook.

[EXC]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

I think it's easy to forget that the society we live in is based on free market enterprise and regulation is purposely designed not to conflict with that fundamental principle and that's why, in many ways, business comes before people. I'm not saying I agree with it but that's how democracy functions. It's a question of degree. The alternative is socialism which has never worked.

[PAWS]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

We may have too many rules and regulations meellis but I think what Mr $quandaŁot is saying is that none of them are enforced with any vigour. Just watch how the pension providers/brokers will mess people about. When someone complains about them they will be passed from pillar to post then have to wait for months before anything is done despite the new rules. Look at how banks and other organisations can get a credit licence despite having unsatisfied CCJs! The rules might say this should not happen but the rules are only for the little people.
I too am appalled by the way gambling is promoted on TV and the fact that one does not have to leave their armchair to lose a fortune. I know of two tragic cases where gambling has destroyed a family and in one case a woman had to resort to stealing to feed her children as her husband gambled away his substantial income. The other woman had to beg for cash subs from her husband’s employer.

[wales01man]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

Betting shops? I pass these have yet to s see anyone being fiorced in to one and forced to Gamble?

Gambling drinking and all the other (EVILS) in this world are a choice why do we have to have more rules?.

Trying to get someone in authority to help is in itself a gamble IMO they are there for themselves and their friends

[meellis]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

Paws mr Squandalot starts his post with the statement that there seems to be no rules in this country. I am not attacking him though but what I was trying to point out was exactly what you have said that they aren't applied. One of the reasons I feel they aren't applied is because there are too many and what I mean by this is there seems to be one rule that makes sense in a situation but then some clever person finds another that brings the first into question and then the grey area exists and the more powerful argument wins not necessarily the correct argument. As for gambling as walesman states nobody is forced to gamble, saying that the country excepts people gambling on the lottery because of the good causes it supports they just seem to take a bigger dislike when it is private companies making the money. I know some people will say that people lose more in betting shops and online but if it is your last Ł2 then it is just as devastating losing that as it is losing thousands.

[Mr $quandaŁot]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

I think it's easy to forget that the society we live in is based on free market enterprise and regulation is purposely designed not to conflict with that fundamental principle and that's why, in many ways, business comes before people. I'm not saying I agree with it but that's how democracy functions. It's a question of degree. The alternative is socialism which has never worked.

Saying that alternative is socialism is black and white. Alternative would be free market with some rules that are enforced if necessary. We do have rules relating to selling alcohol which are enforced more than most other regulations.

I quite enjoy betting on football but I don't want to do it online as it's far too easy to act. Most times I visit a local betting shop I see trouble. This is caused by fixed odd betting terminals. By the way, they are illegal in most European countries, If they are allowed, maximum stakes are much lower than here.

I have seen punters losing thousands in a matter of half an hour. Subsequently some of them smash the machine or door, windows afterwards!

There has been much talk about these betting terminals. Yet authorities sing the tune they always do "There's no evidence of these machines causing problems".

How much evidence would they need?

I for one would not put a penny on those terminals. I have taken part on free promotions and just collected the money and walked away. Of course, the idea of those free promotions is not what I do but to get people hooked. Somehow when I see people selecting 30 numbers on the roulette and pretty much every time one of the remaining seven comes up I think those machines are rigged. I very much doubt this happens in a real casino!

[enaid]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

Gambling is ok if you control it, if it controls you then it is a completely different kettle of fish. I worked in a Bookies and to be fair 95% of the customers were in control they did their bets either went home and looked up results or watched the racing on tv.Some would stay in the shop nearly all day sort of made it a social event.
The other 5% were a nightmare for us, often we knew they were down to damp, but even a friendly word was treated with contempt.
The Gambling Commission was set up and we could set limits as to the stakes if a customer agreed but often this failed.
While there may well be fiddling going on in the horse and dog racing world I think people get a much better chance of a win as to the gambling machines that are now the only thing keeping some Bookies shops open now. They are lethal IMHO as people playing them think they have an even chance of a win. They are not designed or set for even chances, they are set for only one winner and I have personally seen hundreds put into them with no decent payout at all.

[Mr $quandaŁot]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

I'm not sure if we were missing much should those fixed odd betting terminals be banned and most bookies disappear?

Some arguments have been that bookies create jobs. But what kind of jobs? I believe most of them are minimum wage (or slightly above) jobs with little prospects.

If FOBTs were banned, then the best bookies would survive and we could even get our high streets back!

[EXC]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

Saying that alternative is socialism is black and white. Alternative would be free market with some rules that are enforced if necessary.

I don't disagree, like I said in a democracy regulation is a question of degree.

[Excel]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

I have seen punters losing thousands in a matter of half an hour. Subsequently some of them smash the machine or door, windows afterwards

Some arguments have been that bookies create jobs. But what kind of jobs? I believe most of them are minimum wage (or slightly above) jobs with little prospects.

Read this

[teaboy2]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

Read this

well 10/10 for using his head to keep one step ahead of the police. Not that i condone his criminal behavior lol

[Mr $quandaŁot]

Re: Why are UK authorities useless?

A couple of weeks ago I was placing a football bet at a local Paddy Power in a - supposedly - wealthy North London suburb. As usual, there were Eastern European types playing FOTs. One of the lost quite heavily and smashed the machine.

The shop was full of broken glass. What happened next? Not much. The Paddy Power cashier just wiped the glass away as if nothing had happened!

It's obvious that the betting industry doesn't want to involve the police. At the end of the day, too many calls to the police and someone might even take notice and restrict, if not ban these machines.

The government officials keep on saying that there's no evidence that the FOTs cause problems and anti-social behaviour.

Unfortunately, the UK is no longer the country I want to live in. I am currently making arrangements to move. At least I'm lucky to be fluent in another European language, hence not stuck here forever.