What makes you grin? Antidote to grumpy thread

[Negative Creep]

Pushing QPR towards the trapdoor is a bonus, although admittedly they aren't as hateful now Warnock isn't in charge

[warren t claim]

LOLING muchly at various mugs posting on a consumer forum about getting ripped off by the likes of CARCRAFT/BRIGHTHOUSE.

 

Some of these people even go back to buy off these sharks for a second time!

[cobblers]

I remember reading a few years ago about some poor 18y/o lad who'd brainwashed himself into thinking that the 5 year old 1.2 clio he'd just bought from Carcraft for about 5 grand would still seem great 5 years down the line when he was still paying £200+ a month for a 10 year old hatchback, worth about £800 by then (IIRC it was already pretty leggy when he bought it, something like 85/95k).

 

Best part was, his finance had "front loaded interest", so at 20+% APR over 5 years, when he walked out of the showroom, he owed £10k+ for a 5 year old Clio 1.2.

 

Pages and pages of people were literally begging him to take it back and do everything he could do to get out of the contract - people even showing him how he could buy a brand bastard new Clio for more or less the same. He wasn't having it at all. "I'm happy with my new car, it's great. I got a good deal! £200 a month is what I can afford, I need a reliable car now that I'm an apprentice bricklayer"

 

Poor sod will still have about 2 years of ~£200 a month on a 2003 1.2 clio

 

 

I can't really talk cos I owe SLC more than the GDP of Andorra, but atleast I didn't waste that on a Clio (it was mostly beer)

[Cavcraft]

I remember reading a few years ago about some poor 18y/o lad who'd brainwashed himself into thinking that the 5 year old 1.2 clio he'd just bought from Carcraft for about 5 grand would still seem great 5 years down the line when he was still paying £200+ a month for a 10 year old hatchback, worth about £800 by then (IIRC it was already pretty leggy when he bought it, something like 85/95k).

 

Best part was, his finance had "front loaded interest", so at 20+% APR over 5 years, when he walked out of the showroom, he owed £10k+ for a 5 year old Clio 1.2.

 

Pages and pages of people were literally begging him to take it back and do everything he could do to get out of the contract - people even showing him how he could buy a brand bastard new Clio for more or less the same. He wasn't having it at all. "I'm happy with my new car, it's great. I got a good deal! £200 a month is what I can afford, I need a reliable car now that I'm an apprentice bricklayer"

 

Poor sod will still have about 2 years of ~£200 a month on a 2003 1.2 clio

 

Remember that well, one of the funniest things I'd read in ages. He just wouldn't listen to the advice he was given and, to be honest, I felt sorry for him in a way as he'd been well and truly smarmed by some shiney suited twat.

[retrogeezer]

yeh, I remember that...much lolz at the time.

[RedSparrow]

Yes I remember that. His final desperate justification was that 'the saleswoman was fit'. I'm sure she had a good laugh about it with her collegues afterwards.

Poor lad did seem genuinely clueless.

[mattblack]

Took the V****a to a backstreet tyre place I use yesterday to get a couple of tyres on the back (ROADSTONE FTW!), in the corner of the workshop was a part stripped P6 Rover 3500, still on it's Dunlop Denovos and and with a copy of the 'Weekly News' from 1982 on the driver's seat. Bloke was saying it had sat in a garage for 20+ years.

 

Oh, and they had the world's oiliest cat...

[warren t claim]

Reading through the many pages of OMG VICTIMZ OV GARINTEED FINASE I'm noticing a common denominator in every post which is they try to justify their purchases with the word NEED. I NEEDED a new £900 laptop cos I'm going to home school my bullied child....I NEEDED a 57 plate Audi A3 cos my old car didn't have ISOFIX mountings for my child seat.......

 

Did they FUCK, they WANTED a new laptop rather than a £50 secondhand PC out of the paper or WANTED a nearly new Audi when a £600 Focus would of done the job just as well. Sadly they now paint themselves off as victims.

[Cavcraft]

Reading through the many pages of OMG VICTIMZ OV GARINTEED FINASE I'm noticing a common denominator in every post which is they try to justify their purchases with the word NEED. I NEEDED a new £900 laptop cos I'm going to home school my bullied child....I NEEDED a 57 plate Audi A3 cos my old car didn't have ISOFIX mountings for my child seat.......

 

Did they FUCK, they WANTED a new laptop rather than a £50 secondhand PC out of the paper or WANTED a nearly new Audi when a £600 Focus would of done the job just as well. Sadly they now paint themselves off as victims.

 

+ sixty times more than infinity.

[warren t claim]

"I got a 20inch reconditioned TV from them in 2008 this tv either was used by someone else and is an ex display one. The tv price states £305.53 and i was paying it £5.16 a week this included osc at £1.57 and dlc at 67p. All in all this TV ended up costing me £763.68"

 

 

What a PRICK!

[RedSparrow]

I too am not very sympathetic towards these people. Call it a stupidity tax.

[retrogeezer]

can we have a link to this consumer forum?

[warren t claim]

Here's a typical CARCRAFT dickhead...

 

"After two months of having the vehicle the service light came on, I rang the service department at the Leeds branch and explained I had warranty with the vehicle and I had not long bought the car and asked how often it needed to be serviced and asked if it needed interim services because I had warranty?

They advised me that this would be within manufactures guidelines. I researched this with my vehicle not coming with a manual to find it didn’t need a service yet.

I was never told that the car wasn’t serviced when I bought it and that it needed servicing within 6 months or 6000 miles."

 

Who'd of though that a nearly new car would ever need servicing?

[warren t claim]

can we have a link to this consumer forum?

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/forum.php

[eddyramrod]

Have a real grin, on me...

 

Paphos CVC held one of its twice-yearly Skills Events today. Morning session is timed autotest, over two courses of cones; afternoon being precision tests, untimed. Not having my Granada on the road, I volunteered to marshal, and was given the stopwatch and clipboard for start/finish purposes. (Hence no photos of today's event, sorry...)

All the classics went through, some throwing themselves (and their cars) into the test harder than others. You really want to see Ken in the Zephyr! A Mk3 is definitely one of the "big" cars, but has the smallest engine at 1703cc. Oh, and a column shift, not known for their precision. But he easily set the fastest times of the "big-car" group, against two Mercs, a Stag, an XJ6 and a Rolls Royce.

There was only one entry in the "Moderns" class: former chairman John in a Golf Cabrio, so current chairman John suggested I have a crack. In my pickup. Er, yeah, ok.... so I did.

Something snaps when I get my wheels on the startline. I turn into Russ Swift, I think! Physically, my pickup is bigger than the Rolls, but with a knackered 2.5 litre diesel. But, ahem, I was fastest round the course. Outright! Faster than Ken, which takes some doing, faster than the MG Midget, faster than the highly-tuned Golf. I fared less well on the precision stuff (backing into the post didn't help, when I was only supposed to get close to it ) but still got a trophy for second in class (of 2, yes I know...).

 

It'll be my last competitive event with the club, so nice to go out on a high. And of course I now have two* PCVC trophies for my cabinet in Barrow....

 

*Same event, 2010: third overall in my Capri, having never done an autotest before.

 

I've asked current-chairman John to email me some of the snaps he took, so I should be able to show you later. Not wishing to make anyone jealous or owt, but we had a glorious day by the beach. So glorious my feet are sunburnt!

[Cavcraft]

Here's a typical CARCRAFT dickhead...

 

"After two months of having the vehicle the service light came on, I rang the service department at the Leeds branch and explained I had warranty with the vehicle and I had not long bought the car and asked how often it needed to be serviced and asked if it needed interim services because I had warranty?

They advised me that this would be within manufactures guidelines. I researched this with my vehicle not coming with a manual to find it didn’t need a service yet.

I was never told that the car wasn’t serviced when I bought it and that it needed servicing within 6 months or 6000 miles."

 

Who'd of though that a nearly new car would ever need servicing?

 

The whole sorry story of that is fucking laughable. They'd tried to stitch her up big time and the daft cow had the chance to tell them to shove it, but she went and re-signed the paperwork anyhow.

I'd like to know how a fauly cam belt that's going to cost £400 made it run sluggish for a few weeks or months though.

 

*Edit: much LOLAGE at the bloke who paid £2,500 for an extended warranty on a Freelander!

[Cavcraft]

Here you go, for those of you who may have missed it. 26 pages of fun from someone with 'wise guy' under his username!

 

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showth ... t=18019506

[Negative Creep]

The Brighthouse threads really are depressing/hilarious

[warren t claim]

Here's a happy CARCRAFT customer.

 

"puchased a car for 12, 000 pound within weeks car was cost more money to have repared contacted customer servise, who lied no ending. car had more problem than you can think of.

Car lost cvalue of 5, 000 in two months, they over price there cars by far and tell all there customers lie after llie after lie.

tThe mangers are lying coniving arse wholes who talk to you like shit have no morrells."

 

What a prick.

 

"MY STORY

I received a fine for failure to have an MOT certificate whilst I was at college on Wednesday 24th Feb 2010. I had completely forgotten about the renewal of the MOT due to the amount of stress I am under at present and immediately booked the car in the next day. The car failed and would cost me nearly £1000 for work to be carried out; money which I do not have…. I asked a friend for advice and her husband took the car and carried out a service; however the car still failed the MOT on 9th March 2010.

 

Later that day on the 9th March 2010 I asked a friend to accompany me to look at cars over at Carcraft at Lakeside, they are not tied to any specific main dealer and I thought they had a range of different cars so I can look at what I needed. I also thought that such a large company would advise me on what is best suited to my needs and intended use.

 

As soon as I arrived; together with my two children, my friend and witness Mr P Scott, I was met by a salesman “Danny†who pounced on me immediately and started quizzing me about my situation. I outlined the problem that I had with my present vehicle and said I would just like to look round. I had never purchased a car before and did not know the first thing about what to ask or look for; only that I had a “S†reg Volvo S40 and normally would cost me £40 in petrol a week and road tax is just under £180 a year. I need a car for picking up my children from school, running the children around locally to and from friends, clubs etc., and for making local deliveries for my work.

 

The salesman kept coming over and this time wanted to know my old car registration number; when I asked him he replied “so I can look up how much it is worth as part exchange!†At this point I did mention that it had no road tax….

 

I looked around at the cars and there were 2 that were priced around the £5000 mark; which was the lowest price they had. The salesman kept harassing me and questioning me about “what can you afford a month?†I did mentioned that I was living off benefits and that I do not have an income ….. The salesman failed to listen to me at this point therefore replied £25 a week - hoping that he would say we can’t help you and that he would leave me alone ……

 

With one car in particular a Chevrolet Tacuma Estate 2.0 CDX I ask the salesman if the fuel consumption and road tax was the same as the Volvo S40, to which he replied “yes, exactly the sameâ€Â. I can confirm and my witness can confirm this conversation. Looking back now I can only assume that the salesman “Danny†mislead me into thinking that fuel consumption and road tax was similar to the car already in my possession just to obtain a sale.

 

The salesman engaged in, what only I can describe as, a highly aggressive selling technique to pressure me into buying the car by constantly asking me “how much I could afford a week?†and failing to inform me about a car that was suited to my needs. After over an hour I sat down with the salesman and gave the salesman my personal details and mentioned that I am self employed and do not have any accounts as the business is just over a year old; I also mentioned that I was living off benefits and due to my financial situation cannot get credit. Danny then asked me what I did previously before becoming self employed and I told him that I was a floristry lecturer at Hadlow College; I thought that because I was self employed for less than 2 years he would need a reference, therefore proceeded to give him the information …. He then went on to say “Oh yes … that will get you your credit!†I then turned to my friend and said … “surely it is not this easy !â€Â

 

The salesman approached his “number cruncher†colleague and after 20 minutes came back, looked around and said to him “so you’ve reduced the price!†….. “yeah, ok, I’ll tell the customer you’ve reduced the price…†Danny then told me that the price of the car had been reduced by £1, 000 and they would throw in 2 years parts guarantee for free.

 

I was then led into a different area “the finance lounge†after being with the salesman for over an hour and kept me waiting yet again; the children were hungry and tired at this time and all I could think of was I just want to get out of here!â€Â… in total I was there for about 4 hours.

 

The finance women led me into a sealed room and rushed thought the credit agreement and got me to sign many, many papers; which I never received copies of! At this stage I was exhausted from the whole experience and kept thinking of the children outside… all I wanted to do was get out of the room. She thrust some more papers under my nose and then told me to read through them and sign them; she left stating that she would be back shortly; however it seemed like ages. I brought the car on disadvantageous terms than I would have otherwise done so (credit finance deal) although it worked out £108.97 per month I realised that the APR was 26.28% and would have to pay back a total of £7812.20 on a loan for £3990.00

 

The next morning (10th March) after I had purchased the car I looked on line to find out prices of cars similar to the one that I had brought. I went onto Autotrader and noticed MY car advertised for £4, 295. The forecourt price was £5, 995. I questioned the salesman, only to be told “that price didn’t include the 2 years guarantee; which I have now found out only covers £300. Again, I think that Danny’s misleading actions forced me into buying a car at a much higher price and on a more disadvantageous term than I would have otherwise done so.

 

Also on the same day I contacted DVLA to find out the cost of the road tax, only to be told that it was over £400 and that the fuel consumption was only 20mpg.

 

On the 11th March I contacted Carcraft and asked if I could exchange the vehicle for something more economical and suitable for my needs as the salesman had sold me a car that was totally impractical for my needs; I explained that the fuel consumption and road tax was practically double what I normally pay on the Volvo S40 and that the salesman had misinformed me. The salesman mentioned that they would buy the car back off me for £3, 000 and if I was to put MORE money into the deal I could have what I want…. What I wanted was to have a car that was suited to my situation in the first place after explaining the situation to the salesman in the very beginning. I feel that whatever car they sold me would have been completely irrelevant .. It was just the financial transaction that matter; at such a ridiculous rate of interest.

 

I tried desperately to reach a mutual conclusion at this stage and contacted them several for several days following to try and attempt a successful conclusion for both parties; however all I received was aggressive and verbal abuse from the customer service department and the salesman themselves; stating that there was nothing I could do as they had no written complaints procedure. I also tried may organisations, which all advise me of my rights and what action I could take.

 

On the 28th March I was literally at my wits end; I had not been sleeping and now under the doctors for depression due to the distress and upset caused Car Craft; I therefore decided to email them on the to say I was returning the car and wanted a refund. Mr West contacted me on Monday 29th March and we arranged a meeting for Wednesday 31st March 2010

 

On 31st March 2010 I had a meeting with Mr West; I took along Mrs Vickers as a witness, and explained to Mr West that I was returning the car and requesting a full refund under the Sale of Goods Act 1979. I specifically requested an economical car and was given something that was the opposite - would they have sold me a car that did not have a tow bar on, if I specifically asked then for a car to tow a caravan! They did not accept the car at first and Mr West walked out of the office to speak to his manager. When he returned I stated once again that I will be leaving the car there and I was well within my rights to accept a full refund due to misrepresentation. I duly walked out of Carcraft and left the keys on the counter. I am required by law to return the purchase and request a full refund as Carcraft was in breach contract under the Sales of Goods Act.

 

Mr West telephoned me 30 minutes later and stated that they will accept the return of the vehicle and tried to offer me a replacement vehicle; I mentioned to Mr West that I could no longer deal with the company as I had lost all respect and confidence in them; I asked him “if he went on holiday and received such a bad experience, would he go back“ to which he replied “No I would not!â€Â. I handed the telephone over to Mrs Vickers to whom Mr West stated “oh well, she owns her own house, we will get the money that way!â€Â

 

This experience has left me distraught and are now suffering with severe depression. I felt that I have been dealt with unfairly and my rights of a consumer have been violated. I can at any time bring witnesses to prove that I could not afford such a vehicle and that I was not in a mental state to have purchased the car in the first place."

 

One born every minute!

[warren t claim]

http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompan ... t-a99.html

[Negative Creep]

It really is staggering how stupid some people really are. When you buy a £10 DVD you'll ask for recommendations or look at reviews to see if you'll like it, but people spend thousands on a car without doing the most basic of checks

[warren t claim]

Plenty of Arnold Cunt complaints out there as well.

 

" Arnold Clark are not a fit organisation to be trading in motor cars. I bought a Nissan Tino and 1 week after I bought it the bonnet blew up and smashed the windscreen. The AA were called out and in their report they stated that the bonnet release was "binds/jams/stiff/seized". They took the car to Arnold Clark for repair. They refused to repair it and said I should give them my insurance details or get a lawyer. When I asked the Sales Manager if the release had been lubricated he said he didn't have to answer my questions.

 

The car was repaired after I gave them my insurance information. When I picked the car up the release was in the state that the AA report described. I then took digital photographs. About one week later I had to return to Arnold Clark when the new windscreen leaked. When I collected the car this time I heard one customer complaining that the oil in his car hadn't been changed during a service another who bought a car one week ago with an MOT only to discover a seat belt slashed.

 

Trading standards said I didn't have enough evidence for a criminal court because I couldn't prove my case beyond all reasonable doubt. An AA report and photographs are not enough then what is?

 

The law needs to be changed.

 

Arnold Clark are bullies,rogues and liars. They are a danger to the public and it's just a matter of time before there is a fatality caused by them."

[warren t claim]

http://www.blagger.com/db4/company_id/2 ... Clark.html

[Cavcraft]

It really is staggering how stupid some people really are. When you buy a £10 DVD you'll ask for recommendations or look at reviews to see if you'll like it, but people spend thousands on a car without doing the most basic of checks

 

 

Exactly.

 

It's impossible to be ripped off on price when buying something, if you're too fucking stupid to do your homework on values then you actually deserve everything you get.

[warren t claim]

This WINNAH has managed to get reamed out by both ARNOLD CLARK and KWIK FIT within a week!

 

"Default Re: Arnold Clark

 

Just had my car Vauxhall Meriva serviced and MOT'd at Arnold Clark Garscube RDicon, Glasgow on July 15th 2010 Failed MOT on following:

 

001 N/S F Headlamp aim too high (1.

002 O/S Front track rod end ball joint excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

003 (rack) steering arm relative movement at fixing (2.2.B.1f)

004 Nearside front brake application uneven (3.7.A.2c)

005 Offside front brake application uneven (3.7.A.2c)

Given a quote of £567.47 to put right.

 

As I had just spent £480.33 at Kwik Fit to get my brakes done the week before I was rather suspicious of the break fail, though would have accepted the other things, asked if I could speak with the guy who carried out MOT, was refused, asked to speak with manager, was again refused. Took my car and left.

 

Booked car in to have MOT (was quite happy to pay for this MOT just out of curiosity)at local garage, MOT carried out on July 16th 2010 (The day after Arnold Clark) Guess what? yep car failed MOT on the following:

 

001 N/S Front Headlamp Aim Too High (1.

Cost of repair £6.56

 

Only reason went to Arnold Clark in first place was when bought 2nd had Meriva was given 3 yr Service & MOT as part of deal, however will forego the rest of this as no longer trust them."

 

WILL GO FAR

[Albert Ross]

It really is staggering how stupid some people really are. When you buy a £10 DVD you'll ask for recommendations or look at reviews to see if you'll like it, but people spend thousands on a car without doing the most basic of checks

 

 

Exactly.

 

It's impossible to be ripped off on price when buying something, if you're too fucking stupid to do your homework on values then you actually deserve everything you get.

Yes, exactly. And people STILL buy Vauxhalls..... Oh, sorry, wrong thread for GM Bashing....

[Lord Sterling]

remember reading a few years ago about some poor 18y/o lad who'd brainwashed himself into thinking that the 5 year old 1.2 clio he'd just bought from Carcraft for about 5 grand...

 

I remember this, the pages and pages of people telling him to take it back/walk to work and save money fell on deaf ears it seems.

 

Reading through the many pages of OMG VICTIMZ OV GARINTEED FINASE I'm noticing a common denominator in every post which is they try to justify their purchases with the word NEED. I NEEDED a new £900 laptop cos I'm going to home school my bullied child....I NEEDED a 57 plate Audi A3 cos my old car didn't have ISOFIX mountings for my child seat.......

 

Did they FUCK, they WANTED a new laptop rather than a £50 secondhand PC out of the paper or WANTED a nearly new Audi when a £600 Focus would of done the job just as well. Sadly they now paint themselves off as victims.

 

Common sense has long been eroded from society in general. People dont seem to understand that we are in a recession, starving yourself and your family half to to death just to pay for a 58-plate Audi A3 so you can still try and show off to your friends/neighbours aint gonna do you favours.

 

People also seem to lack the sense in making basic checks on a car before you buy it. The 'I/we dont know anything about cars' is no excuse:

 

He has a business of selling cars. We did a part Exchange on my partners car and got this car. It had no road tax or MOT so had to get those done straight away. We took if in for a service also, as I am a childminder so I will be using it to transport children (its a 7 seater). The car needed 4 new tyres, one of the seatbelts is faulty and the car has a huge oil leak and the garage is not sure where the leak is coming from. £500 later.....!!! I am just wondering if there is anything we can do? We thought the seller seemed a bit dodgy but we were in a rush to buy a bigger car. He must've known the problems with the car. It is still going to cost us lots more money to sort the oil leak and seatbelt out. Is there anything we can do with regards to the seller or should we just cut our losses?

 

[Cavcraft]

http://www.blagger.com/db4/company_id/2234/companyname/Arnold-Clark.html

 

'I didn't view the car... I just saw pictures.,,t's not comfortable..I'm not happy...'

 

'My rear brakes wore out very quickly...the service manager said the traction control was the problem...it doesn't have traction control...'

[scaryoldcortina]

Ok, not quite in the same league as the consumer forum ripoffs, but I was looking through the receipts that came with my mother's old octavia and I found a kwik-fit receipt for a battery she had fitted a year or so ago. £66 for a roundpole 380 is a bit on the steep side, but the bit that got me was the £1.50 "ECO battery disposal surcharge". Yes, that's right, they charged £1.50 to take away £5 worth of scrap lead. Gits.

[willswitchengage]

Jokes at CarCrap and Arnold Clark stories. Sadly however I had a naively similar experience at Halfords Autocentres years ago who added nearly £100 of pointless sundries "engine oil cleaner" etc to my service bill without authorisation and gave me new brake discs that warped to hell within 3000 miles.

 

In lighter news, for anybody that's not watching the football there's a BBC2 show featuring British Leyland tonight at nine:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01hbs5x