The grumpy thread

[Jazoli]

My car has a whining noise at speed also, it disappears when the wife gets out..

Wipers can't be that expensive over there can they? Can you not get them from supercheapauto? They are around $70 a pair which is less than £40, not too expensive for a safety critical part.

[Cavcraft]

On 1/4/2021 at 9:59 PM, wuvvum said:

DVLA.  The feckers have tried to take a VED payment for the Granvia, which I sold last month.  I transferred the exact amount of money required to cover this month's legitimate VED payments into the specific bank account I used for that purpose, and the attempt to take the payment for the Toyota has resulted in the account going overdrawn - albeit only for a few hours as the bank refused the payment.  

The reason I had to set up a separate bank account was because I kept cancelling VED direct debits when I sold vehicles, which resulted in my main bank account being blacklisted as apparently you're not supposed to do that as the direct debit automatically gets cancelled when you sell the car.  Except it obviously doesn't.  

I'm going to have to make a snotty phone call to the DVLA tomorrow.  Assuming there's anyone actually in the office at Swansea obvs.

FFS.

You used to be able to get away with cancelling loads before they got onto it. Had exactly the same problem, probably still do. If you complain and give them the reg numbers and dates they should refund you. I think twice now they refunded the wrong person (previous owner) and then me when I highlighted they'd got it wrong, but they never chased the payment back they made to the wrong person.

 

I believe you can still cancel some payments before they black list your account, and the reason they've tried to stop people doing it is because it was a  free way to legally get an untaxed car home. Basically you just taxed it on the spot, got an email receipt and drove home, then cancelled it immediately upon getting back*. No money ever changed hands and it was all legit.

*Allegedly of course, would never have tried this personally.

[Parky]

2 hours ago, Jazoli said:

My car has a whining noise at speed also, it disappears when the wife gets out..

Wipers can't be that expensive over there can they? Can you not get them from supercheapauto? They are around $70 a pair which is less than £40, not too expensive for a safety critical part.

Indeed.   To replace the Suzuki fronts alone with Tridon parts here in NZ costs $96 - nigh on £50.  

Extrapolating that across both the Swift and the Mirage, front and rear Bosch Aerotwin wiper arms cost £42 in the UK for both cars.  Here the cost (for the cheapest lowest quality own brand options) is not far off that just for the Suzuki.  Plus Supacheap don’t sell arms for the Mitsi, only rubber refills at an extortionate $26 for a strip of rubber with a metal inner trim I have to cut and fit myself.  That’s not a massive problem, except the arms are slightly damaged so the rubber slops around and doesn’t wipe very cleanly - hence the need for new arms.

Repco can supply the parts for the Mitsi and Suzuki for standard quality parts for $170 or £85.  Basically twice the UK price before shipping for less good parts.  Shame I have to wait but luckily it is summer here (apparently) so wipers hopefully aren’t going to be as critical as they would be in the uk in January

 

[Aston Martin]

"If we use pattern parts, roughly £565 in total"

 

I think the 4x4 is coming up for sale lads.

[The Moog]

DVLA took payment for the pug that sold before Christmas as well - even though changed keeper back in December.

[loserone]

Presumably if you just leave the DD open, they put it back if it shouldn't have been taken?

[clayts450]

1 hour ago, loserone said:

Presumably if you just leave the DD open, they put it back if it shouldn't have been taken?

yes.

[omegod]

Remember kids, grinders ain’t no toy , luckily had 2 pairs of thick gloves on but finger burnt a bit 😢

[Datsuncog]

The Forester's slightly sticky and temperamental remote locking key finally gave up on Boxing Day morning, failing to unlock the car even after careful cleaning and installation of a new battery. Looks like the microswitch has gone in it.

Not the grump.

The car only came with one key, as per usual in Autoshite territory, but early plans to simply buy a new spare key fell through as this car (an ex-Subaru UK demo car with a few features I'm told are very unusual) has a strange single-button key shell that no-one seems able to supply as a replacement, including the main dealer.

Not the grump.

Because of the Subaru's alarm system, I can't use the emergency key I got cut and coded - previous experience has shown  that although this will open the mechanical door lock and work the ignition, it still needs the remote plipper to turn off the alarm and immobilizer. Failure to have the plipper working means that on opening the driver's door the alarm will go off - and it will then continue to sound every ten minutes until I disconnect the battery. I'm unwilling to disconnnect the battery for an extended period as I've known this to banjax immobilisers before.

Not the grump.

I should maybe also mention that there's a whole load of Christmas gifts, my sunglasses, my iPod, plus our welly boots, which have all been locked away for nearly two weeks now.

Still not the grump.

With replacement seeming unlikely, I chose to get the switch repaired. I bought a replacement microswitch online, but after delivery (which took a week) I discovered my Maplins soldering iron, bought new and never used, didn't work. At all. Not a pick of heat. Bit late to go back to them, hey?

Still not the grump.

So I decided to bite the bullet and get it done professionally. An eBay listed automotive locksmith in Peterborough with 50k+ verified transactions, same day repair and return offered, plus a 99.8% customer satisfaction rating, seemed to be a reasonable bet.

I paid online for Royal Mail's Tracked 24 service, put the value of goods therein at £100, and printed it all off on my home printer just like I do with all my Tat Box parcels. Not cheap, but worth it for the peace of mind, hey?

Then I found out that I couldn't simply drop it off at the handy Post Office up the road llike I do with all my parcels - for some reason, Tracked 24 parcels need to be left at Royal Mail depots only. So I drove down over Monday lunchtime, to discover that the depot's opening hours have been reduced to three hours a day, from 8am-11am.

In other words, I'd have to wait nearly 24hrs before I could post my Tracked 24 parcel, which kinda makes no sense.

The only other option given to me by Royal Mail was to post it into their pre-paid parcels pillar box by the depot gates. Of course, this meant that I didn't get a printed receipt, or a date stamp on the dicky little 'Certificate of Posting' that comes with the address label. But, otherwise stumped, I did it (taking photos).

On Tuesday afternoon, just before 3pm, I received a text message from Royal Mail to say 'We've received your parcel'. I initially thought they were letting me know that my repaired key had been posted back to me, but on further investigation, it turned out that this was the outbound parcel only appearing on the Royal Mail tracking system now, a full 26 hours after I'd posted it.

Since then, there's been no updates to the tracking, and the key repair place has advised that they haven't received it.

Trying to get through to Royal Mail customer services has got nowhere, and the online helpbot asks for a load of information, and then rejects it all because the only avenue open to me is to pursue a loss claim after seven days has elapsed. To make a loss claim, I'll need to enclose proof of purchase showing the value for the goods lost, of course (how the hell would that work for a car key??), and also a scan of my proof of  posting (which I don't have, because they shut their depot offices early and direct customers to just put their parcels in the pillar boxes).

Now, I understand that the postal service is swamped at the minute, with many staff off sick and self-isolating, while at the same time there's been an enormous rise in e-commerce parcels due to the national lockdowns. I get it, I really do.

But with that being the case, I don't think that Royal Mail should still be selling 24hr/48hr/ guaranteed delivery by a certain time services. Explain what the problem is, that they're doing their best, and only offer customers 2nd Class standard or tracked for the foreseeable. That way, no-one has expectations that turn out to be unrealistic. And no-one's paying for a premium service which, it transpires, they're wholly unable to provide.

While certainly quite stressed about all this, I don't believe my key is actually lost - I'd like to think not anyway, since I put my name and postcode on the key itself, and slipped it into a cardboard sleeve also with my name and address on it, before putting it into a padded bag with the posting and return address clearly printed. But since this is the only key to the car that turns off the alarm and immobiliser, if it really is lost then I'm concerned the car's pretty much scrap.

And that's my grump for today.

[Talbot]

Grump of the day:  Speed Awareness Course.  I've heard people say good things about them in the past, both on here and elsewhere.

Had one this morning after taking a calculated risk by driving at +10%+7,  (speed awareness courses generally being offered up to +10%+9) and my luck ran out.  No surprise, it was going to happen some time, and I knew I was in SAC territory rather than points+fine.  I went into it with an open mind, expecting and hoping to have the same positive experience others have had.  And?

Utterly fucking useless.  It taught me absolutely nothing at all.  Complete and utter waste of 3hrs of my life.  I could have *run* the damn course.  Not only that, but the trainer was demonstrably wrong on a couple of points, which, when gently challenged on them, she basically said "I'm the trainer, you're not, I know what I'm talking about, you don't.  Shut up and listen".  No point arguing, so I just sat in basic silence for the rest of the course.  A couple of other people seemed to nod in agreement when I made my point, one even said so, but then also just remained silent for the rest of the course, presumably also just thinking "bollocks to it.  just be quiet and it'll be over soon", rather than risk being identified as someone who has not engaged with the course.

I even got accused of cheating, just because I knew the answers to several of her questions.  Seriously?  JFO.

Maybe it was just this trainer, but the entire course seemed to be full of detritus and waffle.  About as effective as a fart in a tornado.  I *almost* wish I'd taken the points and fine now.

/rant

[artdjones]

53 minutes ago, omegod said:

Remember kids, grinders ain’t no toy , luckily had 2 pairs of thick gloves on but finger burnt a bit 😢

This is the result of last week's grinder episode, done by the edge of a flap disc.

[omegod]

1 minute ago, artdjones said:

This is the result of last week's grinder episode, done by the edge of a flap disc.

Ouch ! I'm a nob for running it without the guard tbh, slim discs are lethal and 3 of them let go on me ,  fecking rusty droplinks 

[BorniteIdentity]

23 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

I don't think that Royal Mail should still be selling 24hr/48hr/ guaranteed delivery by a certain time services.

My experience is - face to face - they're not.

I tried to buy Special 9am last month and was told I COULD, but the promised delivery time was now 11am.  Or I could buy Special 12PM, with a promised delivery time of 12PM.  On the basis that they're clearly not going to do a run at 11 and a run at 12 out to a remote little village near Bath, I took the saving.

I reckon the automated systems will probably still take your money (shit) but the nice lady at the post office will tell you more.  She did in my case.

Hope it turns up ok.

[Tickman]

1 hour ago, omegod said:

Remember kids, grinders ain’t no toy , luckily had 2 pairs of thick gloves on but finger burnt a bit 😢

 

27 minutes ago, artdjones said:

This is the result of last week's grinder episode, done by the edge of a flap disc.

This is the result of a new flap disc through two pairs of thick gloves many months ago. 

It was still plenty warm enough to sit outside in the garden with a t shirt on when it happened. 

I bought some gloves that are knife proof after it.

[Datsuncog]

34 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

My experience is - face to face - they're not.

I tried to buy Special 9am last month and was told I COULD, but the promised delivery time was now 11am.  Or I could buy Special 12PM, with a promised delivery time of 12PM.  On the basis that they're clearly not going to do a run at 11 and a run at 12 out to a remote little village near Bath, I took the saving.

I reckon the automated systems will probably still take your money (shit) but the nice lady at the post office will tell you more.  She did in my case.

Hope it turns up ok.

Cheers, man!

Yeah, I reckon the actual Post Office staff probably would have been more candid about delivery timeframes - but I thought it'd be safer and easier to use the online click and drop service, than rock up and queue for the counter.

There was a message online stating that their Guaranteed 9am services had been extended to 11am, and that's fair enough - as you say, it's not really practical to have multiple runs in rural areas. But it didn't elaborate on the other timebound services.

I wouldn't have been all that bothered if the parcel had taken 48hrs or so to arrive, even though I paid for the 24hr service - there's certainly bigger worries right now. It was more for the tracking peace of mind, and it wasn't much more to spring for the 24hr service over the 48hr one.

But no delivery after 4 days, and no tracking updates to even tell me that it's in transit, gives me Teh Fearz.

Oh well, it's not like I'd be driving the Forester anywhere anyway... but I would quite like my Sega Megadrive out of the boot, is all.

[BorniteIdentity]

This has made me grumpy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-55560814?fbclid=IwAR1MgYp1RSKkTXnM8qbNKqREX4lhymi0gx2X5ZcpN2O2P3LKaH8wr-d1glc

Soz, but spirit shouldn’t come into it. Either the legislation is clear, in which case please enforce it Mr Officer (as it’s written) or it’s not in which case you don’t start interpreting it as you so wish. 

If we’re not letting people travel 5 miles to exercise in quieter places, then fine. Fucking say so. Be explicit. Be crystal Fucking clear. 

But if we are - and sorry to sound all Karen - go catch some fucking crims. 

[Talbot]

6 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

This has made me grumpy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-55560814?fbclid=IwAR1MgYp1RSKkTXnM8qbNKqREX4lhymi0gx2X5ZcpN2O2P3LKaH8wr-d1glc

Soz, but spirit shouldn’t come into it. Either the legislation is clear, in which case please enforce it Mr Officer (as it’s written) or it’s not in which case you don’t start interpreting it as you so wish. 

If we’re not letting people travel 5 miles to exercise in quieter places, then fine. Fucking say so. Be explicit. Be crystal Fucking clear. 

But if we are - and sorry to sound all Karen - go catch some fucking crims. 

Given some of the shit that other people are "getting away with" that does seem like the police made a massive error of judgement.  And a hot drink is a picnic?  Bog off.  It wouldn't surprise me if the Police cancel those two fixed penalties.

[wuvvum]

Derbyshire Police have form for going a bit OTT on enforcing Covid regs...

[Timewaster]

3 hours ago, Talbot said:

Grump of the day:  Speed Awareness Course.  

/rant

Our company ran an internal awareness course once for everyone who had an  incident claim on a company vehicle. 

(some did point out the risks of getting all our unsafe drivers to go to the same place at the same time but still..) 

My workmate had to go as he had reversed into a post 6 months earlier. 

He said it was really heavy going, graphic pictures of crash injuries, videos of crying widows, interviews with fire fighters describing accidents and the impact on everyone's lives. 

He turned to the guy next to him who was looking a bit pale and  queasy  and said "this is a bit much isn't it?!" 

Queasy man replied "I'm only here because my wheel trims got stolen!" 

 

Our company never bothered again. 

[Agila]

What's that burning smell?🔥 🔥 🔥 🤔

[Angrydicky]

5 hours ago, Talbot said:

Grump of the day:  Speed Awareness Course.  I've heard people say good things about them in the past, both on here and elsewhere.

Had one this morning after taking a calculated risk by driving at +10%+7,  (speed awareness courses generally being offered up to +10%+9) and my luck ran out.  No surprise, it was going to happen some time, and I knew I was in SAC territory rather than points+fine.  I went into it with an open mind, expecting and hoping to have the same positive experience others have had.  And?

Utterly fucking useless.  It taught me absolutely nothing at all.  Complete and utter waste of 3hrs of my life.  I could have *run* the damn course.  Not only that, but the trainer was demonstrably wrong on a couple of points, which, when gently challenged on them, she basically said "I'm the trainer, you're not, I know what I'm talking about, you don't.  Shut up and listen".  No point arguing, so I just sat in basic silence for the rest of the course.  A couple of other people seemed to nod in agreement when I made my point, one even said so, but then also just remained silent for the rest of the course, presumably also just thinking "bollocks to it.  just be quiet and it'll be over soon", rather than risk being identified as someone who has not engaged with the course.

I even got accused of cheating, just because I knew the answers to several of her questions.  Seriously?  JFO.

Maybe it was just this trainer, but the entire course seemed to be full of detritus and waffle.  About as effective as a fart in a tornado.  I *almost* wish I'd taken the points and fine now.

/rant

Couldn't agree more. I've had the misfortune to do two, both a complete waste of time and money. 

I'm a lot more careful these days, but if I do get caught by another sneaky scamera van I think I'll just take the points, as I really can't be arsed to go through that rigmarole again.

[High Jetter]

You could avoid them by sticking to the limit...

[Jerzy Woking]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Derbyshire Police have form for going a bit OTT on enforcing Covid regs...

Probably took Covid lessons from the Spanish police. If they say white is black, its black, not a sort of shade of grey.

[Talbot]

12 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

You could avoid them by sticking to the limit...

Where's the fun* in that?

I definitely think it's worth doing the course to avoid the points, I just wish it had been aimed at someone with more understanding of road law than a squashed melon.  Some of the stuff they were discussing was unbelievably basic shit.

[Angrydicky]

15 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

You could avoid them by sticking to the limit...

Well done.

The first time was fair enough, I was flying along and not concentrating.

The second time was a bloody piss take, I was slowing down from 50 in an NSL as I saw a 30 sign in the distance, and as I drew level with the sign, just round a gentle bend was the bloody scamera van. 34 in a bloody 30. I've never been one for slamming on the brakes when I hit a 30. Pissed off was an understatement.

[High Jetter]

I wasn't meaning to preach, have been guilty of it myself (though never caught, yet). Highway Code says, and IAM 'tutors' were insistant, that you should slow to 30 (or whatever) by the time you reach the sign - conversely not going to a higher speed until after the 40/50/NSL sign.

[sdkrc]

Spot my tyre tracks...

I did try turn and to brake but nope. Front left wheel now off-centre. 

BUY WINTER TYRES PEOPLE and don't drive big cats in the snow

[Talbot]

1 minute ago, Angrydicky said:

The second time was a bloody piss take, I was slowing down from 50 in an NSL as I saw a 30 sign in the distance, and as I drew level with the sign, just round a gentle bend was the bloody scamera van. 34 in a bloody 30. I've never been one for slamming on the brakes when I hit a 30. Pissed off was an understatement.

This sort of "conviction" seems counter-productive at best, and a complete piss-take at worst.  Had that been a Police officer who pulled you over for said 34 in a 30, there's every good chance you would have had "words of advice" and been let on your way.  Said officer would have seen that you were slowing from 50 to get to the limit, but just hadn't quite managed to reach said arbitrary limit at exactly the point needed.  A very minor error.  Also odd that you were prosecuted for that speed:  34 in a 30 is usually not prosecuted.  ACPO guidelines currently indicate that the lowest speed for prosecution should be limit+10%+2, which would be 35.

My course today was completely reasonable:  I was pinged at 73 in a 60, which (as I mentioned above) is limit+10%+7, so right in SAC territory.  It was still basically bullshit, as the road I was on is an excellent quality dual carriageway, the 60 limit being due to an accident that happened years ago quite a bit further up that stretch, so a 60 limit was slapped on several miles of it.  I just wish the course had been more along the lines of what others have reported, rather than just Mr. Mackey from south park going "speed is bad, M'kay?"

[Angrydicky]

1 minute ago, Talbot said:

This sort of "conviction" seems counter-productive at best, and a complete piss-take at worst.  Had that been a Police officer who pulled you over for said 34 in a 30, there's every good chance you would have had "words of advice" and been let on your way.  Said officer would have seen that you were slowing from 50 to get to the limit, but just hadn't quite managed to reach said arbitrary limit at exactly the point needed.  A very minor error.  Also odd that you were prosecuted for that speed:  34 in a 30 is usually not prosecuted.  ACPO guidelines currently indicate that the lowest speed for prosecution should be limit+10%+2, which would be 35.

My course today was completely reasonable:  I was pinged at 73 in a 60, which (as I mentioned above) is limit+10%+7, so right in SAC territory.  It was still basically bullshit, as the road I was on is an excellent quality dual carriageway, the 60 limit being due to an accident that happened years ago quite a bit further up that stretch, so a 60 limit was slapped on several miles of it.  I just wish the course had been more along the lines of what others have reported, rather than just Mr. Mackey from south park going "speed is bad, M'kay?"

It was Hampshire Cunstabulary who were the culprits in this case, only about the fourth time I've ever visited the county in my life, and certainly won't be rushing back there. Definitely 34. Had the "evidence" photos from them and everything. Just pure revenue raising, positioning the van like that. 

[cort1977]

I thought it was '10% + 2'?  So up to 79 on a motorway you're generally OK if the slightly optimistic speedo shows 80?

10% + 7 is 84mph.