Critique my letter...

[BentMikey]

That's right Catrike, that's how I took it.

 

[swee'pea99]

Excellent letter, tho' I endorse earlier comments re no need to apologise.

The only thing I would add is, make damn sure it doesn't end here, or even with some lame 'I'm very sorry and I'll make sure they're given a good telling off'. Call me vindictive, but I think people like this should be sacked, and prosecuted toboot. Not just because they deserve it, but to 'spread the word' ('Did you hear what happened to Darren and Steve?') about what is and what isn't viewed as 'acceptable behaviour' round here.

If it was me, I would give BT a week to respond, no more. If I wasn't 100% satisfied with the response, I'd send copies of my original letter and their response to the CEO, with a brief and courteous cover letter asking whether he thought it constituted an adequate response, and what, if not, he proposed to do about it.

I personally would also have sent a copy to plod, asking whether the events described would justify a prosecution, cc'ing that letter to my MP.

You obviously didn't get mad - and well done for that. Now get even.

 

[GrahamG]

I had no idea you were from SA - such a shame I found out because of this crap rather than whilst on skates outside the Albert memorial

*Edit - I'd also take the matter to the police, get an incident reference number and include that in the letter.

 

[Mr Creosote]

It is unlawful to spy on your employees. There have been a lot of companies "done" for exactly this reason.

Just to be clear: It is not unlawful to "spy" on your employees so long as you have been informed that you will be monitored, what data will be collected, how it will be used and the reason for the monitoring.

I "sign" such a notice every morning before I am allowed to log onto the corporate network.

To Bentmikey: I would take this to the police as a racially motivated verbal abuse and then watch them swing...

 

[Andy 71]

I don't think saffa on it's own is abusive, but as an accompaniment to "****ing foreigner" it does become abusive.

Surely what matters is the impact it had on the victim.

Personally, any term, used to demean someone on the basis of colour or nationality is racism in my book. Otherwise, why say it in the first place?

 

[Riding in Circles]

Surely what matters is the impact it had on the victim.

Personally, any term, used to demean someone on the basis of colour or nationality is racism in my book. Otherwise, why say it in the first place?

I'm not sure where you are going with this you honky biatchhh!

 

[leoc]

What they did is totally unacceptable

I would write to say you are considering bringing police prosecution, and would like the details of the driver.

+1 to this.

Really hope you get somewhere with this, and well done for not losing it!

 

[JamesAC]

.. Oddly enough, there are two blokes painting the outside of my house as I type .. err they're Darren and Steve

 

[BentMikey]

LOL, well I sent the letter off, with some changes as suggested. Thanks for the help.

Oh, sent off another email to Group 4 Securicor for one of their armoured vans steaming through a red light at 30mph as well. If they don't respond the video will be up on youtube....

 

[hackbike 6]

Blackmail-I love it.

 

[BentMikey]

*cough* no, not at all. I reserve the right to put it up anyway, but I'll at least give them a chance to respond first.

 

[BentMikey]

Got a very nice and sympathetic call from the West London manager, it's going to be fully investigated.

Of course in fairness to Openreach, all the other times I've encountered their drivers they've been nothing but polite and considerate in their driving around me as a cyclist.

 

[swee'pea99]

Good. So it should be. And TBH I'd be surprised by any other outcome - I think BT are genuinely one of the more ethical organisations around. At least in part due to their public sector heritage.

 

[PBancroft]

Resurrecting an old thread... BM did you ever have any joy with your letter? And positive results?

 

[BentMikey]

Yeah, I did. I addressed the letter to the MD, and I had action. I'm really really impressed with the way Openreach dealt with this. Several managers phoned me as the action moved down the chain to the manager who was assigned to handle the investigation. They interviewed the drivers, both of whom denied everything of course, but I'm sure they must have had the frighteners put on them. I didn't expect any more than this, and the way Openreach dealt with it was exceptionally good.

It's just a pity I didn't have my video camera with me, and running, because I'm sure that would have seen them fired.