Category Archives: Travel

Car Rental Admin Fees for Tickets

What is the last thing you learned?

I’m actually very upset about this. I recently rented the car and driving in the UK while living in Canada is quite an experience. I won’t get into the smart motorway which I think is the stupidest idea ever but those in the UK can tell me if they agree that this is a good idea. For those that don’t know what that is or those that live in Canada a smart motorway is where they have different speeds on the motorway depending on traffic and you have to keep adjusting your speed.

In Canada, if you’re on the motorway or highway you just have one set speed. You know what the speed is unless there is construction or you could follow the flow of traffic if there’s “something” happening on the highway. In the UK they’ve decided it’s a great idea to just change the speed intermittently so that it can slow down traffic in one part and speed up traffic on another part so that I don’t know what exactly is being accomplished but I hate it, and I think it’s dangerous.

So the last thing I learned is that when you have a rental car they let you know that you will pay for your tickets, which I think is fair enough if you get a ticket you should pay for that ticket what I didn’t know was they charge or try to charge you a 68 pound administrative fee. That fee does not include the actual ticket, which if you paid within 14 days you only pay 35 pounds.

Now this is infuriating me because it’s not enough that they just charge the admin fee once they charge it per ticket so right now I have received the three administrative fees of 68 pound not including the ticket that’s either 30 pound or 70 pound depending on when you pay it. What infuriates me is this wasn’t explained to me and I think that this is something that should be explained to people in the same way the re-fuelling fee is explained upfront.

I’m a little bit ashamed because as an administrator I should’ve read it properly and I should know better but this just seems like another sneaky fee and it seems like everywhere you go. I know it should be buyer beware but it feels like you really can’t get a break as a consumer, at every turn someone is trying to rip you off. There are lots of little sneaky fees creeping up everywhere and I’m getting really really sick of it and for one I’m going to be fighting the sneaky fees.

Who’s with me?!?

Dream Job

What’s your dream job?

My dream job has evolved from something specific to a little set of ideals and hopes which are as follows:

  • It must involve travel and ideally first class travel. Shallow I know but I love travelling and any job that incorporates that would be wonderful
  • It involves reading and sharing what I’ve found. I don’t necessarily wish to write about what I’ve read but I do wish to discuss it
  • I would love for it to be closer to home. Everyday I long for working and living in Zimbabwe or somewhere that is not 23 hours away by flight.
  • It should help people in mind. I think an element is to teach but I don’t think I wish to be a teacher in the traditional sense but I do think I have some knowledge to share
  • It should have wonderful colleagues not perfect but people you can have a nice chat over lunch with. I have learnt who you work with is almost always as important as what you do
  • Finally it should allow me to control my own time and location as long as I accomplish the required tasks in a satisfactory manner

Photos and Airports

What makes you feel nostalgic?

From the moment I discovered a camera I loved taking photos. When I was growing up we used to take as many photos as we could with the only problem being how to process all the films.

The digital evolution of photography did not stop me taking photos and I currently have 46,228 photos on my phone (I recently deleted some). In my defence some photos are for content creation but a lot are just funny videos of my family, friends and places I’ve visited.

I often get into a mood where I think of someone or something and the photos and videos I have just ease that feeling of being apart from someone.

Another thing that makes me nostalgic is airports. No matter how happy you are to be going home, going to a new place you are always leaving something behind. I’ve moved quite a bit and so airports always stir up emotions for me. From the last time I saw this person, to the time such and such missed a flight or the first time I went home without someone.

There is a pause that I take in airports that is similar to the one I take when looking at old photos that can only be described as:

a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.