I have been looking around at bank accounts as my current bank, Nationwide are being awkward bastards by refusing me a debit card consistently. I did apply online to the Woolwich, but they only offered me a VISA Electron card, which is of no use at all for purchases online as nearly every e-tailer I have seen don’t accept Electron cards. It doesn’t matter anyway, the Woolwich wanted either a full drivers licence, full passport, EU National ID card or a benefit book as primary ID, which I have none of, so that’s dead in the water before it gets started! Seems that I am being penalised for being employed, how can a benefit book be used as ID, yet a work payslip can’t? I looked at the Natwest, who don’t do a VISA card, but do offer a Solo/Maestro card, which is accepted by many e-tailers but they have the same inflexible ID methods as the Woolwich, so that idea is dead in the water as well. Been looking at the Abbey, which looks like the best idea so far, their current account offers a full VISA debit card, and a cheque book (subject to status). I will go into one of their branches and ask some questions this time; I am fed up of applying online, waiting two weeks, and then finding the account is useless to me. First question will be “can I have a VISA debit card?” – If their answer is “no” then there is no point in continuing with the application, it’s not worth the hassle of moving if I get no benefit from the move. I don’t require an overdraft, or a cheque book, just a current account with VISA debit card, ability to pay by direct debits and standing orders, which isn’t too much to ask is it? I can use my dad’s debit card to buy stuff online and transfer funds to his account, but I shouldn’t have to do that considering that I will be 30 years of age this year. These anti-terrorist/money laundering measures have gotten out of hand; the regulations have gotten so tight that Mr/Mrs. Average finds it very difficult to get a bank account, let alone a debit/credit card; I for one am getting very pissed off with all this bureaucratic bullshit going on in this country. Speaking of national ID cards, have you seen the list of info that will be included on the card, no wonder that civil rights people are up in arms, see the full list here.
In Formula One, it seems that the fears that the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps has been removed from this years calendar by the FIA. Seems that the FIA’s insistence on pit upgrades being completed by the time of the race in September have killed off this year’s Grand Prix in Belgium as the modifications can’t be made in time. The Belgian GP is due to be included in the 2007 championship season, but I fear that we will never see a Grand Prix from Spa ever again after being absent for a year. History shows that circuits that have been omitted from the calendar find it hard to get reinstated in future championship calendars. I sincerely hope that I am wrong about that, but I won’t be holding my breath. It will certainly be missed from the calendar as Spa has been voted as the best track by fans and drivers alike consistently, it’s certainly the best track of its type on the world racing scene!