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PROBLEM BANK

THINGS THAT SHOULD WORK BETTER

Everyday problems in work and life that are harder, slower or more frustrating than they should be.  Find yours, or tell us a new one.

Work
Work

I struggle to communicate effectively with different people

I struggle to communicate effectively with different people, I don't always know. Surely Influence...

10

have this problem

Shopping
Life

Working out what to do when a product or appliance breaks

Something I own has broken. I need to work out whether it is covered by a warranty or...

1

have this problem

Home
Life

Checking whether a Council Tax band is wrong

I suspect my Council Tax band is wrong, but I don't know how to check it properly...

1

have this problem

Life Admin
Life

Keeping track of car admin and renewal dates

Owning a car means remembering MOT, tax, insurance, servicing, breakdown...

1

have this problem

Family
Life

Dealing with admin after someone dies

Someone has died and, at the worst possible time, I now have to work out every organisation...

2

have this problem

Small Business
Work

Too much work time is lost to admin

Too much of my working time is spent on repetitive admin, email, scheduling, invoices...

2

have this problem

Family
Life

Keeping funded-childcare eligibility active

I'm entitled to funded childcare, but I have to understand the scheme, get a code, give...

2

have this problem

Health
Life

Finding an NHS dentist accepting patients

I need an NHS dentist. Why do I have to phone practice after practice to discover whether any...

4

have this problem

Life Admin
Life

Getting a practical driving-test slot

I'm ready to take my driving test but getting an actual test slot has become a job in itself...

2

have this problem

Money & Bills
Life

Remembering to claim train-delay compensation

My train was delayed. I know I might be owed compensation, but I have to remember...

1

have this problem

Money & Bills
Life

Working out why an energy bill is wrong

My energy bill doesn't look right. Now I have to work out whether the problem is my usage, the meter, an estimated reading, the smart meter or the energy company.

1

have this problem

Digital Life
Life

Keeping track of passwords and authentication methods

I have so many accounts that I can't remember which password, security answer or...

3

have this problem

Money & Bills
Life

Choosing whether to fix or switch an energy tariff

I don't understand whether I should fix my energy tariff, stay variable or switch supplier...

1

have this problem

Digital Life
Life

Re-entering CV information into job applications

Why do I upload my CV and then have to manually type all the same information into another job...

2

have this problem

Family
Life

Weekly meal planning is exhausting

Planning what we're going to eat every week is exhausting, so we overspend...

4

have this problem

Family
Life

Understanding what pet insurance really covers

Pet insurance is supposed to give me peace of mind, but I struggle to understand what is covered...

3

have this problem

Money & Bills
Life

Understanding and managing a home-insurance claim

Something has happened to my home and now I need to make an insurance claim, but I don't...

2

have this problem

Home
Life

Knowing what home maintenance needs doing and when

I own a house, but nobody ever gave me a list of all the things I'm supposed to maintain...

2

have this problem

Home
Life

Challenging unfair tenancy-deposit deductions

My landlord wants to deduct money from my deposit. I don't know what's reasonable...

1

have this problem

Money & Bills
Life

Working out whether an insurance renewal is good value

Every year I have to redo the same comparison exercise to work out whether my insurance...

1

have this problem

Digital Life
Life

Knowing whether an online message, listing or person is genuine or a scam

I've received a message or I'm buying or selling something online. How do I know whether...

1

have this problem

Money & Bills
Life

Unused subscriptions keep costing money

I am paying for subscriptions I don't use, forget about or can't easily cancel...

1

have this problem

Life Admin
Life

Keeping on top of household and life admin

Running a household and a life means remembering a constant stream of bills, appointments...

3

have this problem

Health
Life

Managing repeat prescriptions every month

I take medication every month. Why do I have to remember when it's running out, request...

2

have this problem

Money & Bills
Life

Understanding and challenging private parking charges

I've received a private parking charge. I don't understand whether it's valid, whether...

2

have this problem

Family
Life

Managing the admin of caring for an ageing parent

I'm helping look after an ageing parent, but managing appointments, prescriptions...

1

have this problem

Travel
Life

Knowing whether a passport is valid for a destination

My passport says it hasn't expired, but I still don't know whether it's actually valid for the...

1

have this problem

Work
Work

Claiming back work expenses

I use my own money for work and then have to keep receipts, fill in forms and wait weeks...

1

have this problem

Shopping
Life

Online returns are unnecessarily complicated

Returning something I've bought online shouldn't involve finding the policy, generating...

1

have this problem

Home
Life

Finding a reliable tradesperson

Finding a reliable and trustworthy tradesperson is ridiculously difficult and takes ages...

2

have this problem

Family
Life

Finding childcare that fits real working life

Finding childcare that actually matches our working hours, location and child's needs...

3

have this problem

Money & Bills
Life

Finding pensions from previous jobs

I've changed jobs several times and now I have no idea where all my old pensions are...

1

have this problem

Small Business
Work

Chasing overdue business invoices

I've done the work. Why am I now spending hours chasing a company to actually pay...

1

have this problem

Life Admin
Life

Customer-service problems take hours to resolve

Getting a company to solve a simple customer-service problem takes hours and I have to explain...

1

have this problem

Travel
Life

Claiming for delayed or lost airline baggage

The airline has lost or delayed my suitcase. I don't know what I'm allowed to buy, what...

1

have this problem

Digital Life
Life

Too many different parking apps

Why do I need a different app depending on where I park?

1

have this problem

Home
Life

Knowing which permissions a home alteration needs

I want to alter my house, but I can't confidently work out whether I need planning permission...

1

have this problem

Travel
Life

Planning a group holiday becomes project management

Organising a holiday with friends has turned into project management: dates, budgets...

1

have this problem

THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY

What's making your work or life harder then it needs to be?

Tell us the problem.  You don't need to know the answer, that's where we start.

More time for what really matters.

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