So, two other things happened today, besides my ACC phone call (see earlier post), both of which I wish to mention, because Im just deeply confused about what the heck Im doing with my life, with a BA in Linguistics, and quite a lot of experience in esoteric stuff, but actually no clue what my career(s) will now consist in, or *should* now consist in, since I quite sincerely want to do something of real value to the human community. The first thing that happened was that I contacted Horleys, a company that makes a protein shake I occasionally drink, because vanity. I had earlier gone to drink one of these shakes (because gym), only to discover, with my tongue, that the shake had gone bad. Real bad. Like chunky yoghurt obviously-bacteria-in-my-mouth bad. So I checked the expiry date, as you do, and discovered that the shake wasnt due to sour for a year and a half, which is like forever. Now being a hypochondriac, I was anxious that this all might represent some kind of Fonterra infection situation. So I decided to report the batch number of the bottle to Horleys. I cant deny that I was *aware* of the possibility that I might be offered free otherwise-very-expensive protein shake, but I *did* drink rank milk product, and I *was* a little concerned for my health, and this *is* how capitalism works. So, Im on the phone, telling my story, and the woman on the other end of the line is super lovely and understanding. And I give her the batch number and expiry date, and she says shell totally get me some replacement product, which sounds like more than a bottle. About the time Im telling her theres no need for her to send me free product, while feeling great knowing that Im gonna get free product, it occurs to me to check the bottle for imperfections. And, lo!, there is what appears to be a hole in the bottom of the bottle. So, I explain this to the Horleys rep, and I acknowledge that there is no way I could possibly hold Horleys responsible for a hole in a bottle, however the hole might have arrived there. But she says, Horleys rep does, that she is still very sorry for all my bad experiences (words to this effect), and shell certainly send out some replacement product. Okay, so Ima get my freebies anyhow, think I, how cool is this?! Shes even going to send me a courier bag, so I can send back my bottle (*winks*) for inspection. And theyll certainly be checking some other random units from the same batch. And basically, I did entirely the right thing in calling. Which, of course, I could only take the time to do because I am a mostly unemployed recent graduate. Okay, *takes a deep breath*, so the second thing that happened was I got a letter from IRD about changing my tax code, because I am likely to earn under $24,000.00 this year which means [Im] not entitled to the independent earner tax credit. (Sounds swell, no?) This was like an hour ago, so after both ACC call and Horleys call. I spent staggeringly large amounts of time on the phone today, organising totally unimportant stuff masquerading as, well, important stuff. (Thats *actually* why Im writing this. Im fascinated by questions of importance.) Now, Ive received maybe three letters from IRD this year advising me that I am using the wrong tax code. Its quite splendiferous. I seldom have any idea which code I should be using. Every time I get a new job, I use the little flowchart that comes with the IR330, or whatever the heck its called, to work out my tax code. However, I never seem to get the code right. You may be thinking, Francis is clearly moronic. Well, I cant pretend to have a good handle on the machinations of taxation in New Zealand, but I *can* work a flowchart. My understanding is that I end up with the wrong code mostly because I, like many, have no idea how much money I will be earning in the current tax year, which is because I have, for most of the current tax year, been out of full-time work - first being a student, then not being one - and have taken to taking on whatever part time work I can find, because living is *expensive*, hella expensive. Even when one has the student allowance (and I am tremendously grateful that I *did* have a student allowance) one kind of wants to earn as much money as humanly possible, so one can do something else besides pay rent. (Thats *actually* why Im writing this. I just always want to be complaining about rent.) IRD has, of course, changed my tax code for me, because theyre not really *about* being an annoyance, they just *happen* to be one, especially for people who are not full-time earners, and so are not living the good life that is PAYE (oh, how I miss my PAYE life!). Like, this letter is a bit of a slap in the face, at once admonishing me for my stupidity - Its a good idea to check youre using the right tax code each time you change jobs - and my failure to get a regular job paying a decent wage. I would love to be able to. Just as I would love to know what I could be doing that would be both useful and well-matched to my abilities. (I am pretty able, yall. I take on new skills like, wow!, because human.) I should say at this point that I have no problem actually being taxed, by which I mean contributing my share to society. Heck, its all I ever want to do (besides complaining about rent - *shakes fist*). Show me where to sign up! I require little more than a place-to-live with some comfort and privacy, and enough income for some good quality clothing, some delicious nutritious delicious food, and maybe some travel. But, Im rambling. The reason Im actually writing this is to try to work out whether, if I get sick from the Horleys shake (man, theyre really getting a plug here!), it will be covered by ACC?!
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 10:39:56 +0000
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