We have a lawn that used to have a rotting fence around it. It is clearly a lawn still as there are flowers and it’s properly maintained.

I finally find the posts I need to replace the fence and get them delivered. The doorbell rings on the day of delivery and I sign for it.

Delivery Driver: “Where should I put them?”

Me: “Can you put them on the drive? Is there enough room with your van there?”

Delivery Driver: “Well, I’ll have to drive out and reverse.”

Not sure what he means, I grab some shoes and head out to help. I see him drive across my lawn and onto the driveway. For some reason, he drove onto the lawn and through the flower bed rather than on a paved empty driveway.

Me: “What the h***? You’ve ruined my lawn.”

Delivery Driver: “Well, you didn’t say not to.”

Me: “I didn’t tell you not to steal the wheels off my car. Are you going to do that next?!”

Delivery Driver: “Do you want these posts or not?”

Me: “On the drive, not the grass.”

Delivery Driver: “Are you going to help?”

I didn’t even answer him. I got on the phone with the company and demanded they send someone round to fix the damages. They tried to send me a coupon instead and wouldn’t even cover the flowers he killed.

I had to send photos of the damage and the name of my lawyer before they would actually take me seriously. I got my garden fixed (if poorly) and the fence fitted. Hopefully, it will never happen again.

I’m a plumber. Together with a coworker and an apprentice, I get sent to a military base for repairs that will take several days. On the first morning, we show our paperwork at the gate. The sergeant lets us in, handing us each a form that we’ll have to bring back, filled out and signed, when we leave.

In the afternoon, when we’re leaving, the watch has changed. The new sergeant checks our forms.

Sergeant: “There’s a signature missing at the bottom. Your officer-in-charge has to sign the forms before I can let you out.”

Me: “We’re from [Company]; our boss isn’t here on the base.”

Sergeant: “No, no, not your boss. Your officer-in-charge.”

Me: “I’m not sure who that is, sir.”

Sergeant: “Your superior! I can’t let anybody out of here without permission. You’d be AWOL.”

Me: “Sir, we’re plumbers from [Company].”

I try to show him the paperwork we already showed in the morning to get in.

Sergeant: “Someone must be in charge of you! Go and get his signature!”

We retreat around the corner of a building, where he can’t see us. Since we don’t know what else to do, I sign on my coworkers’ forms and one of them signs off on mine. We go back to the gate and hand in the forms.

Sergeant: “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

He let us out. We worked at the base for several more days and signed each others’ forms every time. The soldiers at the gate were happy.

I take a tour of an apartment complex, and everything looks above-board to me. Several staff are in the office, and the tour itself is very professional. [Manager] tells me the rate for a one-bedroom, and I say I’ll need to think about it. I tour a few other complexes. Two days later, I give the first complex a call in the morning.

Me: “I’d like to come in and sign a lease. Would that be possible today?”

Staff Member: “Oh, yes! You can come in at any time.”

Me: “Great! And it’s $575 for a one-bedroom, right?”

Staff Member: “Oh, it’s actually $605 for a one-bedroom.”

This is the first red flag. I decide to go in, anyway. When I get there, it’s mid-afternoon, and [Staff Member] is the only one in the office. She is running between phones and trying to help tenants who come in with issues while I’m there. I end up being there for about half an hour, during which time no other staff makes an appearance.

She gives me a blank application to fill out, and I ask about the price hike. She has to hunt around for a price list and explains that the rate increases with each day that passes, which is the first time I’ve heard this. She also mentions that the rate is now $625. While she helps a tenant, I look over the application. It is generic, with no details about the specific unit I’d be renting.

Staff Member: “If you just sign that at the bottom, I’ll make sure my manager gets that and gives you a call.”

Me: “I’d prefer not to sign a blank form. The monthly rate isn’t even on here yet.”

Staff Member: “Oh, it’ll be $625. It should be fine.”

Me: “Yeah, I’d still prefer for that to be written on the form before I sign it.” *Stands up* “I’m going to have to get some info from my co-signer, too, before I finish this.”

I did not go back.

It’s been a long day, and I have decided to visit my local supermarket one evening after work to grab a few essentials, and as I have had a stressful day, I decide to also purchase a small generic birthday cake.

This exchange occurs at the till whilst I am being served.

Cashier: “Ooh, is someone’s birthday coming up?”

Me: “Nah, just had a long day and felt like something nice for dessert. It’s a strange choice but I do like birthday cake.”

Cashier: “Bit out of order buying that if you don’t need it?”

Me: “I’m sorry?”

Cashier: “Well, I don’t think you should be taking food out of kids’ mouths is all.”

I was baffled. I ignored her for the rest of the transaction as she wittered on about starving kids. The shelves had plenty of birthday cakes. I hadn’t taken the last one either way!

I was a truck driver making a collection from a unit on an estate. The entrance has an “in” and an “out” with a gatehouse in between. I pull up alongside the window and hand over my paperwork. The guy looks at it for a while.

Guy: “What are you delivering?”

Me: “I’m not. I’m collecting.”

Guy: “What are you collecting?”

Me: “I have no idea; the paperwork says one pallet.”

He makes a phone call and someone says that he should speak to dispatch. Eventually, he sorts it out and then produces a clipboard.

Guy: “What’s your name?”

I tell him.

Guy: “Registration number?”

I tell him.

Guy: “What company are you?”

I point to the name on the driver’s door right in front of him. It’s also printed on the paperwork I gave him.

Guy: “Where are you from?” 

Now I am getting a little irritated by the interrogation, but I do accept that it’s not his fault. 

Me: “Do you mean originally, today, or my last call?”

He looks at me, clearly thinking I’m a smarta**e, so I make something up for him to write on his form.

When I get to dispatch, they load the pallet on with a forklift and then give me a multi-page printout to sign. It clearly lists all the various items on the pallet. This happens from time to time, so I write “UNCHECKED” and sign.

Guy: “You can’t do that.”

I point out that I will have to strip the pallet to check that every item is on there.

Guy: “I checked it; you can take my word for it.” 

I mutter something about “Company Policy” and ask if he wants to take the pallet off again.

Twenty minutes and a couple of phone calls later, I set off, complete with the pallet. I stop at the gatehouse and the same guy comes over to the window on this side.

Guy: “What’s your name?”

I just drove off. I never went there again.