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Regifting and how to get it right, (if you’re going to do it!).

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Is passing on an unwanted present plain bad manners or actually a savvy way to save money and recycle to find a new home for an  unwanted or duplicate gift? 

Four out of ten of us admit to ‘regifting’ some of our gifts according to research from gadget insurance provider Protect Your Bubble.

Whether you do this or not is up to you, but, if you are going to ‘regift’ anything make sure you stick to the rules or you could be banished from the Christmas list next year!

So if  you are going to regift here’s how to do it and get away with it!

Take out the tags

Sounds obvious, but make sure you take off the original tags before rewrapping, tagging it and handing it over.   And check inside boxes for rogue tags too!  Several years ago a friend of mine was given a lovely box of wine glasses by her ‘prospective’ sister in law, only for her to open the box and find the original tag inside wishing the sister in law a ‘Merry Christmas’ along with a gushing message from the original sender.  Needless to say the incident didn’t go down well!

Check the expiry dates

Check dates on wrapped boxes of biscuits and chocolates and the expiry date on vouchers if you’re thinking of passing on a voucher or gift card that you can’t use.  You won’t look great if it’s later discovered that your ‘generous’ gift actually expired last year.  And as some gift cards or vouchers may only last 6 months it’s definitely worth double checking first!

Check the wrapping

Don’t hand over gifts that look like they’ve been in the back of your cupboard or with tatty shrink wrapping or you could be rumbled!  Always make sure the wrapping and packaging all looks new before you wrap it up again!

Don’t regift home made presents

Goes without saying, but don’t pass on homemade gifts, unless they’re your own creation of course!

So you can’t pass on those hand knitted socks from great Aunt Ethel or the lurid scarf  the neighbour down the road made for you…..  Home made gifts can be lovely and thoughtful if you’ve genuinely made something yourself, but if knitting isn’t your thing and you suddenly start presenting family and friends with home made creations chances are you’ll soon be rumbled………

Don’t come a cropper with ‘Secret Santa’

Check who gave you that gift before you hand it back; especially if it’s something you were given at last year’s office ‘Secret Santa’.

I’ve always been lucky with ‘Secret Santa’ and had some lovely fun gifts but if you’ve been given a matching stapler and hole punch set; (and no reason of course why you shouldn’t be super happy with this!), then don’t be tempted to pop it back in the ‘Secret Santa box next year in case it ends up back in the arms of the original present giver!

 

 

 

 

Why it always pays to shop around for home insurance.

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Two big investigations into the rising cost of home insurance have just hit the headlines.

The first comes from market research agency Consumer Intelligence claiming the ‘average’ household policy price rose by 8.5% over the last year; that’s nearly three times the rate of inflation, (currently 3%).  And another investigation out today from Citizens Advice found a third of households stick with the same provider for over five years; which means they can end up paying a whopping 70% more for their home insurance than if they bowled up to the very same insurer and went through its doors as a ‘new’ customer.

I always shop around for insurance every year, and that goes for car, home, breakdown and travel cover.  And I reckon I’ve rarely been with the same insurer two years running.   If insurers didn’t hike up their rates so much, things might be different, but shopping around each year is often the best way to secure a competitive policy price and that means money saved! 

Like it or not, it’s a fact that loyalty doesn’t pay in the insurance industry, and sticking with the same insurer year after year can mean sky high premiums.  Sad truth is that those who play the loyalty game and don’t shop around get penalised, while the moneysaving discounts, deals and offers are thrown at new customers to lure them in.

I’ve just had a renewal quote from Churchill for my house insurance and it’s a whopping 40% higher than last year!  Yet, yes you’ve guessed it, I’ve not made any claims and nothing’s changed.

Naturally there was no way I’d be accepting it, but couldn’t resist the chance to challenge it and see what their reasoning was, so I rang up customer services to ask why the price had gone up so much when nothing had changed?

First up, they tried to tell me this kind of annual increase was ‘standard’ across the industry.  Really?  ‘Over 40%?’ I asked?  I don’t think so.  After more pushing, they then decided it was down to the fact that I’d bagged a discount last year which had brought down the original price; hence this year the premium looked much higher……..  So that ‘deal’ I bagged would have cost me a whole lot more in hiked up premiums if I’d decided to stay put over the years.   Of course Churchill isn’t the bad boy of the industry, it’s just the insurer I happened to be with which is why I thought it was only fair to say so.

And when I told them that I wouldn’t be renewing and would shop around; the response was to warn me that I’d end up  having to ‘shop around’ every single year if I wanted to try and get a better price.

Yes and I’m happy to do that.  Got to practice what I preach and as you’ve guessed, of course I’ve waved goodbye to Churchill and paid literally just a couple of quid more than last year to get the same level of cover with my new insurer.  Job done!

 

Beat the hotel booking sites

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We’ve probably all used the likes of Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com and Trivago at some stage.

But now the big players in the hotel booking market are under the spotlight from the consumer watchdog which is about to do some digging into the way they work.

The Competition and Markets Authority say it’s investigating hotel booking sites as it’s concerned about the the way deals are presented and the accuracy of information which could mislead consumers.

Now I’ve often used these sites for a bit of research as they can be great way to see what’s around if you’re going somewhere new.  But if you’re not careful you can pay over the odds as you may be able to save money and get rooms cheaper by going to the hotel direct.

So here’s how to beat the hotel booking sites.

Do your own deal

I’ll often do a quick search on a couple of the hotel booking sites; see what comes up and check out the reviews and prices of anything I like.  Then I check the room rates on the hotel’s own website as many have their own ‘special offers’ or deals and give them  a call.

Booking agencies routinely charge hotels around 15-20% commission so lots of places will actually discount rooms if you book directly.

Earlier this year I spotted the Urban Beach hotel in Bournemouth on Booking.com.  The price advertised was exactly the same as the standard room rate so I rang the hotel directly and they offered to include breakfast in the price and beat the offer on Booking.com too.

And breakfast wasn’t just a cup of coffee and slice of toast, but a choice of anything on the breakfast menu.  In case you’re wondering I went for the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs which was fantastic.

It’s not the first time I’ve bagged a cheaper deal this way.   I’ve often found hotels are happy to discount rooms if you book direct, and if you do go through a hotel booking site; they may well  offer you a discount if you book direct on any return trips.

 

Sydney on a budget

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Sydney on a Budget.  Yes I know that Sydney, one of the most stunning cities on the planet, and the word ‘budget’ don’t exactly go hand in hand.

But there are ways to see the sights of this amazing city without spending a fortune, so here’s some of my tricks and tips on ways to save and see the sights of Sydney.

Cheap travel with an Opal card 

Opal is the way to get around Sydney.  It’s a free card you pick up at stations, newsagents and convenience shops.  Just load it up, ($10 minimum),  and you’re good to go.  ‘Tap’ in and out on buses, trains and ferries for a quick and easy way to get around.

Sunday travel around the city is capped at $2.60 so worth saving your ‘big travel day’ for a Sunday.

Postcard views

I reckon some of the best views of Sydney are from the water and there’s no shortage of boat tours and cruises.  Captain Cook is one of the big operators but for a cheaper but stunning close up of the Opera House and iconic Harbour Bridge,  jump on the ferry at Circular Quay to Darling Harbour   Costs less than £5 with  your Opal card and you’ll be guaranteed some stunning shots.

Or catch the Manly ferry from Circular Quay and you’ll go right past the Opera House for close up views.

To see the city light up at sunset you could take a trip to the observation deck at Sydney’s tallest building; the Sydney Tower but it’ll cost you around £16.  ~So why not head for the Blu Bar in the Shangri La Hotel on Cumberland Street, where for the price of a drink you can bag a window seat for jaw dropping views over the harbour.

Sydney harbour bridge 

Climbing the bridge is an amazing experience and I loved every minute but it’s not cheap at around £160 plus, depending on the exchange rate.

If money’s tight, (or you don’t have a head for heights), take your snaps from the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout  Far fewer steps and costs $15 a time; that’s around £9.

Or walk across the bridge for free at street level. Takes about 20 minutes and the best way is to catch the ferry to Milsons Point Wharf and walk across from the Kirribilli side towards the Opera House and the Rocks.

Free city tours 

Tours and trips can eat into your budget so head for the Rocks, which is the oldest part of Sydney, and join the free daily walking tour.

Tours leave Cadmans Cottage at 6pm every evening and take around 90 minutes.  Or for city sights meet at the Town Hall Square at 1030am or 2.30pm.

Is it ok to offer free gifts with loans and credit cards?

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Spa days, hotel trips and free MOT’s are just some of the free gifts being dished out by banks and credit card companies when you take out loans and cards.

But is it ever ok to offer incentives like this when some consumers could be lured into taking out deals that aren’t the most competitive or may not be right for them?

I’ve just written a piece about this so here’s my views on whether loans and credit cards should be incentivised?

 

 

Why can’t all holiday hire car companies be like this?

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Booking holiday hire car can sometimes seem like a lottery when it comes to weeding out the good guys from the rip off brigade.

So having written a fair few pieces over the years about the ‘problem’ side of car hire, I wanted to share my experience of how car hire can be done well.   And to say ‘well’, is doing this company a disservice as it’s not just doing it well, but five star well, amazing and immaculately well, and all topped off  with super friendly service too.

I’ve recently got back from a trip to the Greek island of Kos.  It’s a beautiful island, I absolutely love it and while some parts are known for a bit of party lifestyle, we always head for the laid back village of Kefalos.

And we always book our hire car direct with Dimitris Rent A Car   It’s a family business, based in Kefalos, and run by Dimitris and his wife Maria, who are two of the most friendly and welcoming people on the planet.

Super clean cars

I’ve got to start by telling you how clean these cars are.  They’re not even super clean; they’re absolutely immaculate; both inside and out.   I have no idea what Dimitris uses to clean his cars, and I’ve often told him that they’re the cleanest hire cars I’ve ever seen.

I reckon he must use some kind of ‘dust repellent’ on them as however much Greek dust you drive through, they still come out looking clean!  We’d had ours the best part of a week by the time we took this snap and as you can see it’s still looking good!

Easy to read contracts

Now while my smattering of Greek means I can get by ordering drinks in a bar and ask for the bill, I’d be seriously in trouble if I had to translate a hire car contract.

But easy enough as here the contracts are written in both Greek and English so you don’t having to worry about missing anything and it’s all super straightforward and easy to understand.

Forget bumped up fuel bills

Some hire car companies insist on filling the tank and whacking on a surcharge before they’ll hand over the keys.

But not with Dimitris, it’s all done on trust.  You check what’s in the tank as you drive off and make sure you return it with the same amount.

Goodbye to airport surcharges

Some companies try and add on a surcharge for nearly everything.  Want to collect  your car from the airport?  That will cost you more.  Want to drop it back at the airport?  That can bump up the bill again.

But here’s the deal with Dimitris Rent A Car, no hidden extras or charges; you pay a flat daily rate with all the prices clearly listed on the website.

Rates & deals

Prices start from a very reasonable 20 Euros a day and insurance is included, so no hidden extras, or push for any more cash.  And you get a free road map and 24 hour breakdown cover as part of the deal.

Hand in the keys

Once you’ve handed in the keys or finished up for the day don’t leave Kefalos without popping into the Acropol bar on the harbour road.  Just a couple of minutes walk from the hire car office, it’s owned and run by Dimitris, Maria and the whole family and it’s a great place for watching the sun go down with a beer in your hand or enjoying a cocktail or two.  And make sure you try Maria’s Mum’s lemon cake too; it’s beyond amazing!

 

 

Was on Sky Sunrise talking about the ‘Side Hustle’

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I was chatting on Sky News on Saturday morning about the ‘Side Hustle’.   And if you’re scratching your head and wondering what on earth I’m talking about, well it’s not a new dance move, but a way to make some spare cash on the side.  So no need to give up the day job, well not yet anyway!   

A spot of ‘Side Hustling’ means you can ‘dip your toe in the water’ when it comes to testing out your new business idea.  And according to the folks at Go Daddy who are behind the research, they reckon one in five of us will be doing this over the next two years.   Though a large number of us won’t be sharing our plans with  our boss!

And if you want to find out more, here’s the feature I wrote after the Sunrise slot on ways to be a successful Side Hustler!

 

 

How to get the red carpet treatment at the movies

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Want to get the red carpet treatment at the movies?

If you love going to the movies but hate crowds and cramped seats, some cinemas are rolling out the red carpet  with exclusive lounges, free drinks and super comfy seats. 

Odeon and Cineworld are among the cinemas offering the ‘VIP’ treatment.   While they do all cost more than a standard ticket, you can save money this way if you want to enjoy  drinks and snacks during the movie.

Odeon’s VIP offering is the Gallery Experience which is available at locations including Cardiff, London, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Metrocentre and Norwich.  Includes use of its exclusive bar area both before and after the film along with unlimited popcorn, nachos and soft drinks and the option to buy alcoholic drinks.  And when it’s showtime you get shown to a special area with extra wide comfy seats plus  you can take in your snacks, which are all served in china bowls not your usual plastic trays!

Prices vary according to location, but based on the Milton Keynes prices you can pay £10.95 for a standard ticket or £17.95 for the Gallery on a Sunday afternoon.  Add a portion of nachos and a drink to the standard ticket price and you’ll fork out over £19 so the Gallery ticket can mean a saving. However if you’re on a super tight budget then best to hunt down deals for the standard ticket price and take your own snacks.

Cineworld offers an ‘Experience VIP’  option in Sheffield and Glasgow for £29 a ticket.   For this you’ll get into the VIP lounge which includes a ‘light’ buffet and unlimited snacks and soft drinks along with leather reclining seats for the movie.  At both Odeon and Cineworld there’s a bar but you’ll pay more if you want a glass of wine or a beer.

But while the big chains are trying to give movie goers a more exclusive experience, I reckon for the ultimate cinema experience you’ve got to go ‘old school’ to the likes of the stunning Rex in Berkhamsted, (where you can book tickets from £5), the Electric Picture Palace in Southwold, the Electric Cinema in London, (either Notting Hill or Shoreditch), or the Dominion Cinema in Edinburgh which proved to be a great find after a tip off from a local taxi driver!

 

How to avoid getting stung with holiday hire cars

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You’ve landed and just want to pick up the keys and hit the beach.

But you can bet your holiday hire car company has other plans for you……

You may think you’ve paid an all inclusive price for your car but there’s plenty of ways some dodgy hire car companies will try and rip you off.

Here’s how to avoid getting stung with extra charges that will put a big dent in your holiday budget.

Pumped up petrol charges

Go with a company that wants the car back with the same level of fuel in the tank as when you first drove off.
Sounds easy enough; but lots of companies, especially across Spain, try and bill you for a full tank; even if you’re not likely to use it. Plus they’ll add on a sneaky surcharge so you’ll pay more than the pump price.

Scratch damage

Unless you get a brand new car; which is beyond unlikely in hire car land, there’s bound to be a few marks or scrapes. But some dodgy dealers try and bill you, (and everyone else before and after you), for the very same scratch, nick or dent.

I always take photos and a video on my phone while walking round the car. And point out any obvious dents or marks and make sure they go down on the hire car agreement.

Park properly

Check where you need to drop the car at the end of your holiday. If it’s early in the morning or late at night when the office is closed you need to get it right or you may get a bill for parking charges!
And do one last quick video of the car before you leave it to prove you left it in one piece!

Protect your excess

‘Excess protection’ is one ‘extra’ worth having.

Your basic insurance should cover the bulk of any damage; but in the event of a prang you’ll still be liable for the ‘excess’. With some hire car companies this can be anything from £500 – £1,000.
So yes you’ve guessed it, those helpful people at the car hire desk will warn you about this and try and flog you their own expensive ‘excess protection’ insurance which can cost a whopping £20 a day.

Don’t get caught out. Buy your own before you go. Costs from under £3 a day from places like www.carhireexcess.co.uk or www.insurance4carhire.com

Don’t get scammed with ‘Phantom Goods’

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I was chatting about this on Sky Sunrise this morning as Citizens Advice say more of us are getting ripped off this way with a 17% increase in people caught out with these scams.

So what are ‘Phantom Goods’? Yes you’ve guessed it; just as the name suggests; it’s when you ‘buy’ something online that doesn’t exist or if it does; it’s fake and the average loss is around £1,000 a time.

Booking holiday flights that don’t exist is one of the big ones so here’s how to avoid getting caught out.
First up always check the company’s ATOL licence. By law every UK travel company selling flights or a flight based holidays must have an ATOL licence. Stands for Air Transport Organiser’s Licence and means you’re protected if the company goes bust or you don’t get your flight or trip.

The ATOL number should always be on the company’s website but don’t take their word for it! Jot down the number and check it back with the Civil Aviation Authority who run the scheme, to ensure it’s genuine.

Never ever pay for flights, holidays or accommodation by bank transfer. Protect yourself paying by credit or debit card or PayPal. All offer protection if things go wrong, but fraudsters want your cash so they’ll come up with heaps of rubbish reasons why they need a bank transfer or payment by Western Union.

Maybe they’ll tell you their systems are down? Maybe they’ll claim it’s ‘easier’ if you pay this way. All rubbish reasons and don’t believe them as paying by bank transfer or Western Union is just like handing a pile of cash to a stranger in the street so forget it.

Fun Father’s Day Offers

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Beyond the free pints, burgers and puds how about this for something with a difference…..

It’s Father’s Day on Sunday and most of the major restaurants and pubs are offering ‘Dad Deals’ with offers of free pints and lunches but how about this one for dinner with a twist?

The folks at Kilnsey Park in Yorkshire are hosting a ‘Catch & Cook’ event where Dads can go on a fishing trip, catch their own lunch and there’s a chef on hand to cook it up and serve it for you with all the trimmings.

It’s on from 11am – 2pm with all fishing gear provided and the ticket price means fun and dinner. And obviously Dad doesn’t have to eat alone. All the family can join in with the fishing, eating or both!

Father’s Day Catch & Cook Event

Don’t let the rain ruin your day

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Here’s how to make sure you don’t miss out in the washout…….

If today’s summer washout took the fizz out of your day, you could be in with a second chance!

Lots of places shout about their ‘rainy day guarantees’ which can mean just one hour of rain and you get a free return trip.

Sounds like a sweetner if your day’s a washout, but on the downside, every place sets its own rules. And this applies to everything from how long the rain must last, who can claim, (as in most cases the ‘rainy day guarantee’ only applies to online ticket holders), and even if you qualify for a freebie, when you’re actually allowed back in for that promised free visit!

Here’s a round up of some of the places offering rainy day guarantees so do check the full terms and conditions on the individual websites and keep hold of your ticket as you may need to show it second time round.

Chessington World of Adventures – One hour of continuous rain means a free return visit. Rainy days are posted on its website but popular times like school holidays are often ‘excluded’ from the free return deal.

Warwick Castle – Must rain for one hour or more during your visit.

Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park – One hour or more of ‘persistent’ heavy rain means a free return visit.

Pleasurewood Hills – 90 minutes of rain needed for this one and only available for Silver and Gold ticket holders.

Drayton Manor Theme Park – Constant rain for 2 hours or more between 10am – 5pm during April, May or June means a free return trip.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach – Must rain for 3 consecutive hours or more before you’ll get a free return visit but this only applies the following day. Or you can go back half price any Sunday during the season.

Just returned from a fabulous trip to Australia

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Here’s my top tips for ways to save in Sydney……..

Just back from a fantastic holiday in Australia and love it so much this was my third trip there.

Spent a week in Sydney which is a stunning city and if you want to take in the sights on a budget here’s some of my top tips.

* You’ll need an ‘Opal’ card to get around Sydney on buses, trains and ferries. It’s a free card and you can pick one up from stations and convenience stores. Then just load it up before you travel and tap on and off every time.

Sunday travel is ‘capped’ at $2.50 so worth saving your ‘big travel day’ in the city for a Sunday to save money.

* Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge is an amazing experience and I loved every minute. But it will set you back around £160 a time depending on the exchange rate. So if money’s tight, (or you don’t have a head for heights), take in the views from the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout. Far fewer steps and it costs $15 a time; that’s around £9.

Or why not take in the views walking across it at street level? I caught the ferry from Circular Quay to Milsons Point Wharf. Then just a few minutes up the road at the junction of Broughton and Burton Streets you’ll find the bridge stairs. Great walk back to the Rocks area across the bridge and all for free!

* Tours and trips can eat into your budget so to learn more about Sydney’s history why not take the free walking tour around the Rocks area. Leaves every night from Cadmans Cottage at 6pm and no need to book; just turn up!

 

Why tea and coffee are such valuable commodities

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And I don’t mean on the trading floor………

Spotted a piece on the BBC News website this week about the politics of the office tea round.

And how, if you’re slow to take your turn, it can mean you’re out in the cold.

I’m a great believer in the power of mug of tea, or coffee for that matter, as a non tea drinker myself.

If I’m having work done around the house I’m straight in the kitchen getting the kettle on and dishing up some decent biscuits. In my personal research always found chocolate ‘Hobnobs’ go down best!

And never under estimate the power of a mug of tea as it can save you some serious cash!

When our washing machine was playing up a couple of years ago I called out a repair engineer, (as it was under warranty), and while chatting over tea and biscuits he told me he often got called out to fix machines that had fallen victim to kids ‘posting’ things through the door or the fact that filter had never been cleaned.

He said that strictly speaking under company rules, if the machine was under warranty, he was supposed to bill for his time, unless the problem was an actual ‘machine fault’ but let slip that ‘if they’ve given me a decent cup of tea I don’t usually bother’.

Now I’m not suggesting this works in every case but many’s the time I’ve managed to negotiate a deal over a cuppa when it comes to the DIY so it’s not just in the workplace that it pays to do the tea run!

BBC News – The politics of the office tea round

The Chancellor cracked some jokes but the Budget wasn’t much of a boost for the pound in your pocket……

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Here’s my one minute guide to today’s budget…..

The Chancellor had earned the nickname of ‘Spreadsheet Phil’ however his debut Budget performance was peppered with a fair few jokes although when it comes to the pound in your pocket he didn’t plunder the Treasury coffers to dish out much cash…..

While there were announcements regarding funding for social care, the NHS and education here’s what it means for the pound in your pocket.

* You can earn more before paying tax. The ‘personal allowance’ rate, (the chunk of cash you can earn before paying tax), goes up from £11,000 to £11,500 from April. And the limit will go higher still, up to £12,500 by 2020.

* The self employed took a bit of a battering with changes to National Insurance. The main rate of Class 4 National Insurance goes up from 9% to 10% from April 2018 and again to 11% from April 2019. But a small sweetener in that Corporation Tax will fall from 20% down to 17% by 2020.

* Savings rates have been shabby for some time, even to the point of being threadbare in some cases! From April the new NS&I Bond (National Savings & Investments) means you can save up to £3,000 over three years years earning 2.2% interest.

* Small print gets checked out. While it’s not instant cash in your pocket, this one could save you money in the long run; although it’s early days yet. If you’ve ever signed up for a ‘free trial’, not read the (often very lengthy!) terms and conditions, and found you’ve been clobbered with a big bill, this is one issue the Government’s keen to investigate.

* And finally if you feel like you need a drink after that little lot….you won’t pay more on wine or beer. Unlike previous budgets where a few pence went on wine, spirits or beer this time round there’s no increase.

PPI Claims Deadline Announced…..

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May seem a while off but get those claims in now…..

This week the Financial Conduct Authority announced the deadline for new PPI claims.

It’s 29th August 2019 which may seem a long way off right now but if you haven’t made a claim and think you’re owed money, it’s worth doing it now as if there’s a big rush of claimants there could be a backlog.

 

Pancake Week at Bill’s Restaurants

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Why enjoy pancakes on one day when you can make a week of it?

I’ve just been told by the folks at Bill’s Restaurants that they’ll be having an entire week long celebration for Pancake Day. Runs from 20th – 28th February and not just your standard lemon and sugar versions either but its special pancake menu will feature lemon cheesecake, salted caramel and banana split versions!

Plus there’s a free jar of pancake topping for customers on Pancake Day itself which is 28th February.

How do Hermes couriers manage to leave a parcel in a locked shed?

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They don’t; they just say they have but pop it in the bin instead!

Came home yesterday to find a note from the Hermes delivery people saying my parcel was in my bin! Nice one!

Stranger though was the fact that when I checked my order status on its website, my parcel as listed as ‘left securely in shed’.

Now maybe Hermes couriers have some special hidden powers that none of us know about; but I’d be curious to know how they could have got into my shed to leave a parcel when it’s in my back garden and got a big padlock on it?

And of course that would mean they then got it back out again, to leave it in my bin! Ok so sarcasm aside, I know it’s probably a thankless job and they’re not earning huge sums of money, plus, as is often well documented, couriers may not get paid until a delivery is made; hence parcels are often pictured on social media after they’ve been left in all sorts of daft places.

Am guessing maybe there’s not a ‘tick box’ to say ‘dumped in bin’ so looked better to claim it was left in a locked shed; except they didn’t have the key……..