If you don’t know, Sydney Water will give you some cash back if you buy a fandagled water saving washing machine. As we needed a new machine, we bought one of those front loader washer/dryer things that coincidentally comply with this scheme. Woohoo!

So, I do as Sydney Water says, fill out the paper work and include an invoice of purchase - the one that was given to me by the shop… in my name, with my address on the top. And off it goes.

Well, weeks later I get a letter from Sydney Water but instead of a lovely cheque for a hundred bucks or whatever, I get a letter saying no money for you…. we want the original invoice. Excuse me? That’s what I gave you. It’s even scribbled on by the shop. WTF?

I have no idea how much more original they want, maybe the non existent carbon paper would do? Bit hard considering everything comes out of a laser printer these days.

The saying goes ‘Beware of Greeks baring gifts’ (all that Trojan Horse stuff ya know). Maybe it should read, beware of government bodies offering to give you money….. you know it’s a crock.