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Veteran's ID
From the horse's mouth, so to speak. Of any potential use (some discounts from sympathetic retailers/suppliers would be usefu)l:
Gavin Williamson announces new package of support for veterans, includes Veterans ID CardThe Defence Secretary says the Government will set veterans up for success "because they deserve it". "More than this we want to celebrate everything they have done to keep our families and communities safe," he says. "So we will introduce the new Veterans ID Card for all our service leavers. It will give them the recognition they deserve and help them if they ever need to seek support for housing, health or work." |
Ok where to start...
Define 'veteran'... Ex-servicemen? No disrespect, that term is meant to cover both sexes, call it service personnel if you wish. Ok, we all know that covers a huuuuuuge spectrum of involvement, risk, effort etc. Do ALL qualify? What about my mate, a copper. Now I haven't read the attachment, so if it was covered, sorry. He ran teams breaking into drug houses. Do he and his team qualify? Do we want to mention firemen, nurses, coastguard, HMP, etc. All of whom face risk and danger. I know I have missed some, I'm sorry. And yet I don't think that any of this is actually that important. It's about national Psyche. We are a traditionally reserved people. We tend not to congratulate or thank people easily. Until we do, and I am not convinced it is necessary, this may well be devisive. So, and with no desire to be unappreciative, kinda 'Thanks but no thanks?'...... Obviously that's personal, but I can, by logic, speak only for myself. |
Sorry chaps, Sunday evening, perhaps I should have put the malt down before typing.....
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we do reasonably free speech here, isaneng ... from my POV, taken as meant! ;)
As to the "Card" ... if it means anything, instead of just a gesture, I'm all for it. But it will COST. My RAFA "Retired Service Card" say I was Military already, so what is this supposed too actually achieve? I'd best stop chittering and read the details! |
I never found that a veteran's card/badge afforded me any benefits at all until setting foot on a P&O liner for a cruise when a credible proof of service bought £75 worth of drinking vouchers. The mysteriously lost F1250 which surfaced years later was worth a headache or two. Veterans card, if it qualifies, bring it on!
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Dougie,
We have a few hours together on Albert. Ok, you got me, free drinks,....yeah!!!!!! |
I used to be able to blag Mil Discount in stores in the USA until they tightened up. Do we really imagine that UK retailers will be so keen to say “Thank you for your service”? I severely doubt it! |
You may buy a Defence Discount Card at just £4.99 and valid for 5 years. It is now the only proof that P&O will accept for on-board credit. All Carnival cruise computer give on-board credit. The card gives you discounts in many places. Some discounts can be quite significant.
The DDC is available to widows and MOD Civil Servants (not retired), and like the veterans ' badge, even a day's service counts. Regarding the OP, what about the . . . Sorry, this is the Ministry of Defence. If the police want recognition lobby the Home Office etc, etc |
Try bluelightcard.co.uk. It’s virtually the same as DDC and we all qualify whether currently serving or veteran. As the title suggests, this is also available to Police, Fire, Ambulance etc. Costs £4.99 but accepted in lots of places. Sales pitch over! |
BTF, quite, horses for courses, though why stores don't advertise 10% off everything all the time☺
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Never understood this need to be recognised and rewarded just for being ex military. You, me, we were all paid, nobody forced us to join in the first place, although I do remember the shock when the Falklands broke out, when some people suddenly realised they may have to actually go to war.
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Dan, the answer is you are probably too young. Look at those WW2 veterans, many just chucked their medals in a drawer or let the kids play with them. Now, with the war reduced to TV and Hollywood they are the remaining living history. Even now many don't remember the Cold War and for many civilians the terror. Maybe not constant fear but fearful never the less.
Another more subtle use for veterans ID as in the discount cards is advertising. The more people showing these cards will advertise the presence of quite ordinary people in the community. Quite when a simple Veterans ID would be useful however is questionable. What happened to the PM's great idea of displaying it on your driving licence? I also remember when you did NOT show Armed Forces in your passport. I imagine there are places where you do not want to show an ID. |
My DDS card got me £5,000 off a new car. I also use it when I go for lunch with my sons and grandchildren (one of my sons has also got one) for 20% off at Frankie & Benny's which the little ones love; free balloons etc.
Not sure what a Veterans ID card could offer in the way of additional benefits ? My surgery ask all registered patients for proof of service iaw government policy, although the struggle to get appointments isn't any easier. When I was in hospital undergoing treatment for cancer and malnututrition nobody asked whenther I was a Veteran and I can't see how the care I received would have been enhanced if they had. NEO |
NEO, I have a card and it works. I think it is novelty value. It is supposedly to give me priority, within medical need, and only in relation to my service related disabilities. When it worked for me was unrelated in A&E. The receptionist were busy nattering. Their conversation was more important; there was a 4 hour wait so I could waiting until they were ready.
I snappy the card on the counter; I was seen by a consultant within an hour☺ |
Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
(Post 10262958)
I also remember when you did NOT show Armed Forces in your passport. I imagine there are places where you do not want to show an ID.
I often wonder if at renewal, I'd lied, would anyone have checked? |
I think it is all so simple. If it saves me any money at all - great and it's all so simple. If you are offered but want to decline yours you've guessed it- it's all so simple. Nobody really cares if you want one or you don't,
but in all honesty, why bother bleating about it. It's all so simple. |
We had to change ours to Government Service.
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Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
(Post 10263266)
We had to change ours to Government Service.
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Originally Posted by MPN11
(Post 10262475)
I used to be able to blag Mil Discount in stores in the USA until they tightened up. Do we really imagine that UK retailers will be so keen to say “Thank you for your service”? I severely doubt it! |
Veteran's ID
Good Luck with that.
When i was in uniform, it was the norm to be charged 10% Extra for everything and in some cases be denied services, because i was a service man. Obviously things have changed. Maybe. Ex. |
Just looked up the requirements for the DDS card:
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212man and adult members of the ATC!
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As we are on about discounts for anyone engineer related in the RAF or Ex, you may be unaware Halfords do a trade card that can save a fair bit of money, only flaw is you do not know until you pay at the till.
see https://www.halfords.com/advice/moto...ard/trade-card The Trade Card is available to all UK residents aged 18 or over and who are in mechanical or engineering professions, tradespeople (builders, plumbers etc) driving instructors and taxi drivers. https://i1.adis.ws/i/washford/tradec...-060918?qlt=95 |
No-one appears to have considered one possible factor behind the veteran's card concept; that of the US support for their veterans. This used to give access to such things as military medical facilities and education (My knowledge is not very current); a significant benefit given the civilian cost of these services in the US. The equivalent services come free, or very much more cheaply, here in the UK. If one factors this in, all we are left with is a second DDS card. The only other use it would have is for claiming priority over civilian service users and are we really that precious?
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I am with isaneng.I dont want a penny discount because I formerly served in HM Forces. He lists many people who are at least as deserving as "veterans" but receive no such favourable treatment. If any ex service people are in financial distress they should certainly be looked after, but please dont include those of us who are not in need. And I certainly dont ever want anyone to "thank me for my service". Save that for the poor buggers who had their legs blown off in Afghanistan or are suffering from PTSD. Someone said I dont need to have one, but shouldnt bleat about it. Sorry, but JB is all about bleating, and I just think the whole thing is a bit tacky, so I feel quite entitled to bleat
P & N - do you not see the irony of praising the virtues of your card because it gets you some sort of discount on cruises? |
TTN, why? I am with 5aday.
If you are suggesting my being able to afford a cruise means I don't need a discount? Consider this: In an organisation to which I belong we can claim certain expenses which are funded by the members ' subscriptions. Now one person does not claim his expenses as his contribution to the organisation. Ultimately it means that each members subscription may be a few pence less. OTOH I claimed every penny due. I was refunded a few months later. As my expenses had been paid from current cash I had no need of the refund. I paid the money directly to our charity account with a beneficent chancellor adding 25%. I told the other, by not claiming his expenses, that he was reducing his ability to contribute to our charity. The same principle applies to any discounts I can get. |
If you are suggesting my being able to afford a cruise means I don't need a discount? My point is that, rich or poor, why should we be offered discounts by virtue of our military service? As isaneng says we are no more entitled than many other groups, but I would extend his list of police, fire service etc. I could argue that someone who has swept the streets or collected the bins for 40 years has made an equal contribution to the public good as people like us who sat in the back of an aircraft and flew to interesting places at HM's expense. And yes I know some people's military experiences were far worse than that, but I don't need to be included with them so that I can get the discounts that maybe they deserve Fat chance of there being a street sweepers' or dustbin collectors' discount card. |
Originally Posted by Tankertrashnav
(Post 10264760)
Fat chance of there being a street sweepers' or dustbin collectors' discount card.
As it happens I forewent my 10% at Topps in favour of my tiler's 15%. |
Belonging to AARP (I don't) gets one discounts for just being old:
https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discou...its-photo.html |
TTN
Fat chance of there being a street sweepers' or dustbin collectors' discount card Oh yes there is Council Staff Discounts |
Where do you live? Round here bin collections round here were privatised years ago. Maybe that's why we get ours emptied every week not every 2, 3 or even 4 years which some councils do
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TTN, many discount system apply to hangers on, sorry associates.
BTW, you can also get additional credit with P&O as a share holder ☺ |
I’m not sure if many folks pay book price for anything these days. Daughter works for Lucazade. Drag just gave the 7 seat family car to youngest son with four kids. Their car was BER. Eldest son works for Porsche. He could get me a few grand off list price. Apparently their policy is to not make profit from staff sales, just cover costs. Tempted but outside my budget. So coincidentally daughter gets e-mail regarding new car discounts. I think their motive was to encourage staff to move over from company cars to car allowance. She is taxed quite heavily on her company car. Even more now she has elevated within the company with commensurate wheels. (One of those with optional indicators!). Their scheme is open to family members. Just log on with the appropriate details to find as Ex MoD Civil Servant I qualify in my own right. Not open to Civil Servants in other departments. A few days later I have been validated and given a code. This qualifies me for 17% off certain Nissans. Conversation with the dealer: do you want leather? Not really but I would like nice bright headlights. Ok that comes with the leather and all the tech. I figure that my budget would cover the top spec since without the discount l may have bought the base model. CSMA or whatever they call themselves now could not even come close. poor experience with the Blues and Twos card. Sister in Law has one. Got 10p off a £40 Pizza Order since everything was on special offer and always is. A bit like the Dfs sale! when I used to drive around with the Army they always asked for Service Discount in one of the Burger Joints. He would always make a point in goading the other one who did not give Service discount. I think this was lost on the “would you like fries with that” servers. |
Any Porsche 917's in the offing?
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Drag indeed, BiL worked for BAE. BAE had a scheme with Rover so could get a staff discount but also for his family, parents, siblings, spouses, children. At the time of came to around 22 and probably many more.
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Originally Posted by Nigerian Expat Outlaw
(Post 10262963)
My DDS card got me £5,000 off a new car. I also use it when I go for lunch with my sons and grandchildren (one of my sons has also got one) for 20% off at Frankie & Benny's which the little ones love; free balloons etc.
Not sure what a Veterans ID card could offer in the way of additional benefits ? My surgery ask all registered patients for proof of service iaw government policy, although the struggle to get appointments isn't any easier. When I was in hospital undergoing treatment for cancer and malnututrition nobody asked whenther I was a Veteran and I can't see how the care I received would have been enhanced if they had. NEO The interviewer seemed surprised to find an-ex squaddy (as she colloquially referred to me) had a postgraduate education, no convictions and a normal family life. Curiously she did not elicit how long I’d served for. I followed up this point later: as pointed out by others, one day of service can qualify one as a veteran. I am minded to recall that in my youth in New Zealand, a veteran was someone who’d returned from operations; indeed the NZ equivalent of RBL is the RSA - Returned Servicemen’s Association. (In Australia it's the Returned Services League). |
WUH, I bet you didn't change her perceptions. My uncle was a Digger. When we flew in to Amberley he was able to come on base and visit us as we passed through. He was amazed how we all pitched in refuelling and servicing, no officers with swagger sticks watching the erks. He had obviously gained an impression of British officers, private folk lore from Gallipoli.
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Never understood, well I have, the expectation of getting a discount once you become "ex " and are plain Mr given there are plenty around if you search for them plus a bus pass and senior rail card is more than adequate for transport savings.
Best discount I got when in was the "10p café " so named because it was run by a former W.O and anybody serving would get their meal for 10p.....but... adjacent to the till were a small selection of charity boxes......the offer was never abused by those who dined there Formerly located where the A449 meets the Junction of Death on the M4 for Newport, now a McJunk / hotel and housing estate. Also the location for several enjoyable encounters with the then driving school staff at a certain Welsh Station near Cardiff who used to get "a shade upset " at the 71MU driving standards....and uniform standards. |
veteran was someone who’d returned from operations *That includes FZjnr. |
Originally Posted by FantomZorbin
(Post 10266431)
for those who have . . . at etc
As young and bold I thought nothing of some things that happened. Usually so brief that there was no brown underpants job. I think a good percentage of my nav cohort never got their gratuity. |
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