Dear LPG

I recently sent in a little observation about learning the basics of IT.  You may remember my mentioning that I decided to keep a diary and found that learning how to do so on my computer has given me two real advantages.  I learned how to type and a bit about using the computer because of the regular reason it gave me to turn the computer on, and I also have a record of things I have done and when I did them: things I have done like visiting the doctor, buying a particularly significant items and exactly when it was that I last visited my aunt.

But I would like to tell you a little about what I learned since.  Not so long ago I found myself trying to get through to someone I loaned some money to with regard to getting it back.  I was getting nowhere on the phone and they also appeared to be ignoring my letters, so I decided to use their email address to send my complaint through.  I got a reply from them and I sent another that they replied to and this went on for some months, but they then informed me that they had lost the original emails that were exchanged.  

I had my reservations about that but because this had all been done via the internet I had a record of all the emails that they professed to have lost and those emails also served as a record of the dates that each communication was sent and received, resulting in the person in question being left with no choice but to deal with my problem. 

I have learned that when you telephone a company they will tell you that they have recorded the call but you only have their word about what was said, and when it comes to someone you know it is a case of your word against theirs.  Even if you make a written or photocopied copy of a letter and send it recorded delivery, proof that the contents of that original letter is the same as the copy you made can be disputed, but an email is an email and it is also a serious record of what was sent on the day and from what I understand the same can be said of a text. 

There is the added assurance that more and more email service providing companies are now offering a facility that lets you know when your email has been opened, although I have a long way to go before I have mastered how that works. 

I know that nothing is guaranteed when it comes to such things but emails were proof enough in my case and I would advise anyone who can foresee potential problems when communicating to use email as well as letters to prove that. 

JW. Forest Hill

JW does have a point here and mentioned that there was a reply, which is proof that some of the emails sent were received, although it is a fact that the receipt of emails can be blocked.  But as noted in this post there are more and more sites now which offer ways of  letting the sender know if their email was actually received.    LPG has found a little information but advises that it is a little complicated.

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