FIREFOX BIDS FAREWELL TO XP

Corporate Office Supplies

The final version of Firefox to work with Windows XP and Vista has been released. Anyone who wants to use future versions of the browser will need to use Windows 7, 8.1 or 10. Firefox 52 is a major release because it’s the first to support Webassembly, a radical new programming language that makes online tools work faster, leading to a smoother internet experience overall.

The money I’ve forked out for half-empty ink cartridges would fund my gas bill for months. But it could be worse. Elderly farming couple Rod and Charmaine Sharp were bullied out of nearly £50,000 by a cold caller who sold them enough ink to last 1,700 years.

The Sharps had built up a farming business in Melbourne, Australia, when one of Corporate Office Supplies’ salespeople phoned them one night in 2015 and sold them 56 cartridges, and then kept on calling – using aliases such as ‘Travis Johnson’. Eventually, the couple owed $78,196 (£48,600) for 2,040 cartridges.

Given that the Sharps get through one cartridge every 10 months, 2,040 cartridges would last 1,700 years.

Corporate Office Supplies is headed by 28-year-old CEO James Murray, who claims to “hit 250k targets in one morning” (his parents must be so proud). The company isn’t taking calls, funnily enough.

Cold calling is a modern scandal. Our Government is considering a ban, but it’s not exactly a priority given current distractions. One of the best ways to protect yourself is by signing up to the Telephone Preference Service ( www.tpsonline.org.uk).