HMRC?

Is this the right room for an argument?

A man walks into an office.

Man: (Michael Palin) Ah. I'd like to have an argument, please.

Receptionist: Certainly sir. Have you been here before?

Man: No, this is my first time.

Receptionist: I see. Well, do you want to have the full argument, or were you thinking of taking a course?

Man: Well, what would be the cost?

Receptionist: Well, It's one pound for a five minute argument, but only eight pounds for a course of ten.

Man: Well, I think it's probably best if I start with the one and then see how it goes from there, okay?

Receptionist: Fine. I'll see who's free at the moment.

(Pause)

Receptionist: Mr. DeBakey's free, but he's a little bit conciliatory. Ahh yes, Try Mr. Barnard; room 12.

Man: Thank you. (Walks down the hall. Opens door.)

Angry man: WHADDAYOU WANT?

Man: Well, Well, I was told outside that...

Angry man: DON'T GIVE ME THAT, YOU SNOTTY-FACED HEAP OF PARROT DROPPINGS!

Man: What?

A: SHUT YOUR FESTERING GOB, YOU TIT! YOUR TYPE MAKES ME PUKE! YOU VACUOUS TOFFEE-NOSED MALODOROUS PERVERT!!!

M: Yes, but I came here for an argument!!

A: OH! Oh! I'm sorry! This is abuse!

M: Oh! Oh I see!

A: Aha! No, you want room 12A, next door.

M: Oh...Sorry...

A: Not at all!

A: (under his breath) stupid git.

(The man goes into room 12A. Another man is sitting behind a desk.)

Man: Is this the right room for an argument?

Other Man:(John Cleese) I've told you once.

Man: No you haven't!

Other Man: Yes I have.

M: When?

O: Just now.

M: No you didn't!

O: Yes I did!

M: You didn't!

O: I did!

M: You didn't!

O: I'm telling you, I did!

M: You did not!

O: Oh I'm sorry, is this a five minute argument, or the full half hour?

M: Ah! (taking out his wallet and paying) Just the five minutes.

O: Just the five minutes. Thank you.

O: Anyway, I did.

M: You most certainly did not!

O: Now let's get one thing quite clear: I most definitely told you!

M: Oh no you didn't!

O: Oh yes I did!

M: Oh no you didn't!

O: Oh yes I did!

M: Oh no you didn't!

O: Oh yes I did!

M: Oh no you didn't!

O: Oh yes I did!

M: Oh no you didn't!

O: Oh yes I did!

M: Oh no you didn't!

O: Oh yes I did!

M: No you DIDN'T!

O: Oh yes I did!

M: No you DIDN'T!

O: Oh yes I did!

M: No you DIDN'T!

O: Oh yes I did!

M: Oh look, this isn't an argument!

(pause)

O: Yes it is!

M: No it isn't!

(pause)

M: It's just contradiction!

O: No it isn't!

M: It IS!

O: It is NOT!

M: You just contradicted me!

O: No I didn't!

M: You DID!

O: No no no!

M: You did just then!

O: Nonsense!

M: (exasperated) Oh, this is futile!!

(pause)

O: No it isn't!

M: Yes it is!

(pause)

M: I came here for a good argument!

O: AH, no you didn't, you came here for an argument!

M: An argument isn't just contradiction.

O: Well! it CAN be!

M: No it can't!

M: An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.

O: No it isn't!

M: Yes it is! 'tisn't just contradiction.

O: Look, if I *argue* with you, I must take up a contrary position!

M: Yes but it isn't just saying 'no it isn't'.

O: Yes it is!

M: No it isn't!

O: Yes it is!

M: No it isn't!

O: Yes it is!

M: No it ISN'T! Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.

O: It is NOT!

M: It is!

O: Not at all!

M: It is!

(The Arguer hits a bell on his desk and stops.)

O: Thank you, that's it.

M: (stunned) What?

O: That's it. Good morning.

M: But I was just getting interested!

O: I'm sorry, the five minutes is up.

M: That was never five minutes just now!!

O: I'm afraid it was.

M: (leading on) No it wasn't.....

O: I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to argue any more.

M: WHAT??

O: If you want me to go on arguing, you'll have to pay for another five minutes.

M: But that was never five minutes just now!
Oh Come on!
Oh this is...
This is ridiculous!

O: I told you... I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you PAY!

M: Oh all right. (takes out his wallet and pays again.) There you are.

O: Thank you.

M: (clears throat) Well...

O: Well WHAT?

M: That was never five minutes just now.

O: I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you've paid!

M: Well I just paid!

O: No you didn't!

M: I DID!!!

O: YOU didn't!

M: I DID!!!

O: YOU didn't!

M: I DID!!!

O: YOU didn't!

M: I DID!!!

O: YOU didn't!

M: I don't want to argue about it!

O: Well I'm very sorry but you didn't pay!

M: Ah hah! Well if I didn't pay, why are you arguing??? Ah HAAAAAAHHH! Gotcha!

O: No you haven't!

M: Yes I have! If you're arguing, I must have paid.

O: Not necessarily. I *could* be arguing in my spare time.

M: I've had enough of this!

O: No you haven't.

M: Oh shut up!
... Or you could have just posted the video ?...

 
Anyway, as the Oxford Mail seem to know how to find out if the winding up order has been withdrawn, surely an update each day can't be too much to ask? I don't know the procedure as to how quick they are to do this when (if) they have been paid.
 
Unfortunately though, nobody has been able to highlight any. And that includes the club!
I beg to differ. I have, on at least two occasions, posted a link to the green belt study for Oxford City. The stance on development has softened and there will be opportunities similar to the Grenoble Road plans coming up. Granted, most will be earmarked for housing but, other development would be considered.
 
I beg to differ. I have, on at least two occasions, posted a link to the green belt study for Oxford City. The stance on development has softened and there will be opportunities similar to the Grenoble Road plans coming up. Granted, most will be earmarked for housing but, other development would be considered.
Yes but (IMO of course) there is a difference between a softening of the planning and development approach and the actual willingness of anywhere to have a football stadium built on their doorstep. My point really was that the club has told us that they have identified these five sites (wherever they are - within the city boundaries/green belt/brownfield/Bicester/Timbuktoo) and would tell us what they were. They haven't.
 
Anyway, as the Oxford Mail seem to know how to find out if the winding up order has been withdrawn, surely an update each day can't be too much to ask? I don't know the procedure as to how quick they are to do this when (if) they have been paid.
I know it's getting into legal technicalities, but the petition can't be withdrawn once published. As other creditors now have the opportunity to take forward the case, it has to run its course until the scheduled hearing on 19th December.

If HMRC have received payment, they essentially offer no evidence (yes, I know that's putting it in criminal law terms!), and the court dismisses the case. If, in the meantime, another creditor has indicated that they want to take it forward, the court will have to hear their case. So, even if we hear that HMRC have been paid, people shouldn't breath a sigh of relief until after 19th December.
 
I know it's getting into legal technicalities, but the petition can't be withdrawn once published. As other creditors now have the opportunity to take forward the case, it has to run its course until the scheduled hearing on 19th December.

If HMRC have received payment, they essentially offer no evidence (yes, I know that's putting it in criminal law terms!), and the court dismisses the case. If, in the meantime, another creditor has indicated that they want to take it forward, the court will have to hear their case. So, even if we hear that HMRC have been paid, people shouldn't breath a sigh of relief until after 19th December.

Situation explained , and very well explained too @myles
 
Apologies if this has been covered, but in case not, a by product of this HMRC saga is player recruitment in January. I think some prospective players (and their agents) will be put off joining and see us as a club struggling to pay the bills.
 
Apologies if this has been covered, but in case not, a by product of this HMRC saga is player recruitment in January. I think some prospective players (and their agents) will be put off joining and see us as a club struggling to pay the bills.

Disagree. The players have always been paid on time including bonuses so from that side of things a new player / agent won’t have an issue signing for us.
 
When I think about the club at the moment, I feel like I have split personality disorder.

On one hand I have the confusion/concern/frustration at the lack of communication from Tiger and others on the board on a variety of issues, particularly with HMRC.

On the other hand, having read the most recent academy update (see link below), I feel extremely proud of the club and the way the academy has developed over the last 12-18 months, as well as strong optimism about our future. I also found myself gripped to twitter on Tuesday, to follow the Youth Cup tie.

https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2018/december/academy-update/

I just wish I could have those same feelings about the club as a whole. I await with interest Tiger's "statement" on Saturday.
 
An interesting tidbit in the OM article today about transfer re the HMRC issue:
The possibility of spending money comes hot on the heels of United being served with a winding-up petition by HM Revenue & Customs over a bill of almost £150,000.

It was paid before the High Court hearing and Tiger, who put the issue down to external factors over moving the money into the UK, is optimistic it will not be repeated.
 
What would be the normal arrangements for moving money into the country? Would this cause the kind of delay we saw in making this payment?
 
What would be the normal arrangements for moving money into the country? Would this cause the kind of delay we saw in making this payment?

It’s really not that difficult these days. I imagine it may have been him looking to take advantage of fx fluctuations and expectations of a gbp dive around Brexit negotiations. Pure conjecture of course but struggling to see what else it would be unless he was trying to release equity tied up in other investments
 
Everything is fine here. Just some problems moving money into the country and he’s optimistic it won’t happen again. As you were.
 
Moving large sums of cash into the UK will no doubt involve some red tape to prove it is not related to money laundering before the funds can be freed for use.

The amount of bureacracy will depend on the amount and origin of the funds. Shouldn't be an issue in a competently managed business with sufficient funding mind...
 
It’s really not that difficult these days. I imagine it may have been him looking to take advantage of fx fluctuations and expectations of a gbp dive around Brexit negotiations. Pure conjecture of course but struggling to see what else it would be unless he was trying to release equity tied up in other investments
Maybe the instant access account wasn't what it seemed. who knows..high finance and all that
 
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