The grumpy thread

[mitsisigma01]

  On 29/03/2023 at 19:35, eddyramrod said:

my compact digital camera died

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I have just received a load of camera equipment, I'm sure there's a couple of bnib compacts in there , I'll have a look when its daylight 👍

[louiepj]

Our 2010 grand scenic drivers window just made a crunch noise on its way down and went wonky. Quick investigation shows that I need a new window as the tab has broken and a new regulator as it has twisted previously and been badly straightened.
First breakers I phone say they can post both to me for £140 just waiting on the rest to get back to me.
The lack of local breakers in the south east here is really annoying.

[sdkrc]

Previous employer failed to update my tax code for me so I've significantly underpaid income tax for 2.5yrs.

HMRC decided to collect it all within 3 months but without informing me, so I've paid £8.5k in tax since January and it's fairly crippling especially since I was applying for a mortgage. 

Called HMRC up in February to see what the craic was and looks like most of the info the rep gave me was bollocks. 

[Cheggers]

  On 30/03/2023 at 14:28, sdkrc said:

Previous employer failed to update my tax code for me so I've significantly underpaid income tax for 2.5yrs.
HMRC decided to collect it all within 3 months but without informing me, so I've paid £8.5k in tax since January and it's fairly crippling especially since I was applying for a mortgage. 
Called HMRC up in February to see what the craic was and looks like most of the info the rep gave me was bollocks. 

Sadly that's all too common. I had a spell last year when my personal allowance was -£17,500 and nobody at HMRC could really explain why. I'm sure* I'll get the money back one day.

[sdkrc]

  On 30/03/2023 at 14:55, Cheggers said:

Sadly that's all too common. I had a spell last year when my personal allowance was -£17,500 and nobody at HMRC could really explain why. I'm sure* I'll get the money back one day.

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Snap.

HMRC lack a lot of transparency. I'd be less bothered with this if they'd just contacted me first. Hard to budget when they're swiping random amounts and they can't explain why on the phone

[cort16]

  On 30/03/2023 at 15:11, sdkrc said:

Snap.

HMRC lack a lot of transparency. I'd be less bothered with this if they'd just contacted me first. Hard to budget when they're swiping random amounts and they can't explain why on the phone

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They pumped me for 4 grand last year but at least gave me the option to pay it or add it to my tax code. I thought if it goes on my tax code that's something I'll be trying to deal with in 17 years time so just paid them. 

[Cheggers]

  On 30/03/2023 at 17:30, cort16 said:

They pumped me for 4 grand last year but at least gave me the option to pay it or add it to my tax code. I thought if it goes on my tax code that's something I'll be trying to deal with in 17 years time so just paid them. 

Sadly I was never given the option so mine has now settled down to a far more reasonable -£9,450

I know I shouldn't have any personal allowance, but the -£9k is still a mystery.

[eddyramrod]

  On 30/03/2023 at 01:49, mitsisigma01 said:

I have just received a load of camera equipment, I'm sure there's a couple of bnib compacts in there , I'll have a look when its daylight 👍

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That will be most kind of you, much appreciated!

I had a look in our local CEX today but they only have SLRs.

[Mally]

  On 28/03/2023 at 17:12, Mrcento said:

Once again, multicar insurance a total no-go for me. I don't get it. What planet are people living on where they can add cars for a couple of hundred quid extra?, i'm at 1100 per car i want to add regardless of what it is.... (so 2 cars would start at nearly 1800, adding a third nearly 3 grand, 4 over 4 etc)

What do they think i'm going to do with them?, Divide myself into 4, drive them all at once and have a pile up with myself on the motorway?.

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This is exactly why I have a Streetka on SORN.  I'm quoted over 2K for 2 cars with full NCB.  Ka will have to go shortly I need the space.

[Dyslexic Viking]

It is supposed to be the start of spring now.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

  On 31/03/2023 at 07:41, Dyslexic Viking said:

It is supposed to be the start of spring now.

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We've still got a hosepipe ban here in Cornwall. Not joking. 

[Dyslexic Viking]

  On 31/03/2023 at 07:55, Dick Longbridge said:

We've still got a hosepipe ban here in Cornwall. Not joking. 

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I thought it always rained in the UK?

And I doubt I'll get to experience this any time soon.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

  On 31/03/2023 at 08:07, Dyslexic Viking said:

I thought it always rained in the UK?

I doubt I'll get to experience this any time soon.

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That's the irony. It's hideous out there currently. We've had a load of rainfall over the last month, especially.

There are potential fines if anyone's caught using a hosepipe although the fella who lives a few doors up (who's in the police force) uses his to wash his car at least once a week. Obviously the rules don't* apply to him. 

Here's the reason why the hosepipe ban is still in place. I don't think it'll change any time soon 😕

[Metal Guru]

  On 31/03/2023 at 08:15, Dick Longbridge said:

That's the irony. It's hideous out there currently. We've had a load of rainfall over the last month, especially.

There are potential fines if anyone's caught using a hosepipe although the fella who lives a few doors up (who's in the police force) uses his to wash his car at least once a week. Obviously the rules don't* apply to him. 

Here's the reason why the hosepipe ban is still in place. I don't think it'll change any time soon 😕

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We get 1500 times the amount of rainfall we need in the U.K.  I know it’s not practical to collect it all but that’s an incredible amount, so just shows how incompetent the water companies are. 
(For incompetent , read greedy. Just interested in profits rather than improving things.)

[Dick Cheeseburger]

  On 31/03/2023 at 08:58, Metal Guru said:

We get 1500 times the amount of rainfall we need in the U.K.  I know it’s not practical to collect it all but that’s an incredible amount, so just shows how incompetent the water companies are. 
(For incompetent , read greedy. Just interested in profits rather than improving things.)

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It's a complete shambles, isn't it? I follow Feargal Sharkey on Twitter where he continues to highlight the almost daily sewage releases by the water companies. Ultimately, they're successful businesses which make excellent profits and pay their shareholders handsomely to the detriment of the environment. They're playing the system, end of. 

[MikeR]

Bit like the council's , hundreds of new houses built and paying rates ... And the rates still go up the max amount ??? ,As well as councillors expenses and wages ..

And the gas , it's the end of winter , I have used less gas than estimated and I am 400 notes in credit , how did they work that one out! , Can't wait to see the leccy bill ! 

[MikeR]

  On 31/03/2023 at 08:15, Dick Longbridge said:

That's the irony. It's hideous out there currently. We've had a load of rainfall over the last month, especially.

There are potential fines if anyone's caught using a hosepipe although the fella who lives a few doors up (who's in the police force) uses his to wash his car at least once a week. Obviously the rules don't* apply to him. 

Here's the reason why the hosepipe ban is still in place. I don't think it'll change any time soon 😕

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I ignore that's shitmongering , we must be mugs paying full price  for a service that gets restricted every summer ....

[louiepj]

Havant Thicket Reservoir down Portsmouth way is the first reservoir being built in over 30 years in the U.K.
We apparently haven't needed increased capacity in years .

[Stanky]

  On 31/03/2023 at 15:50, louiepj said:

Havant Thicket Reservoir down Portsmouth way is the first reservoir being built in over 30 years in the U.K.
We apparently haven't needed increased capacity in years .

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Best thing you can do with Havant is to flood it. 

[mitsisigma01]

  On 31/03/2023 at 16:02, Stanky said:

Best thing you can do with Havant is to flood it. 

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You beat me to it 😁

[wuvvum]

All fixed and ready for some summer fun.

Except it isn't.  While it was up in the air some cunt has been under it and nicked the cat.  Why do I even bother?

[Matty]

  On 31/03/2023 at 18:21, wuvvum said:

All fixed and ready for some summer fun.

Except it isn't.  While it was up in the air some cunt has been under it and nicked the cat.  Why do I even bother?

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Looks great though. Don't let the twats ruin it for you

[Dick Cheeseburger]

  On 31/03/2023 at 15:50, louiepj said:

Havant Thicket Reservoir down Portsmouth way is the first reservoir being built in over 30 years in the U.K.
We apparently haven't needed increased capacity in years .

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We had a small reservoir storage setup pretty much behind our place when we bought a decade ago. 

Obviously South West Water sold it for development shortly after and there are now four massive houses sat on the site instead.

It's fine though as it's all the weather's fault.

[wuvvum]

82 quid for a cheapo eBay cat, and 16 quid for a new Lambda sensor.  So not the end of the world, but still a right pain in the arse.

[AnthonyG]

  On 29/03/2023 at 19:35, eddyramrod said:

Last week my compact digital camera died.  Why is it so difficult to get a halfway decent replacement?   (ETA bloody thing is less than a year old, after my previous one also died!)

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The market for these has basically died out due to the cameras in smartphones. Anything still made will be cheap shit made in a generic factory in China, regardless of what name is on it.

 If you want something that will last I would be looking for something like a Nikon or Canon made in the 2000s, when they were still made by the individual manufacturer and quality was a distinguishing factor between different brands (i.e. a Nikon will be good and a Kodak or similar will be shit)

[chadders]

  On 31/03/2023 at 19:19, wuvvum said:

82 quid for a cheapo eBay cat, and 16 quid for a new Lambda sensor.  So not the end of the world, but still a right pain in the arse.

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There's been a spate of cat thefts here, not far up the road from where I think you are. 

[artdjones]

  On 31/03/2023 at 19:32, AnthonyG said:

The market for these has basically died out due to the cameras in smartphones. Anything still made will be cheap shit made in a generic factory in China, regardless of what name is on it.

 If you want something that will last I would be looking for something like a Nikon or Canon made in the 2000s, when they were still made by the individual manufacturer and quality was a distinguishing factor between different brands (i.e. a Nikon will be good and a Kodak or similar will be shit)

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A Fuji is a good option, they were mediocre in film camera days, but got in early when digital cameras became possible, and became very good at them. I had a Fuji which got pinched in a burglary, which was replaced by the more expensive Lumix I still have. In my opinion the Fuji was better.

[Metal Guru]

  On 31/03/2023 at 19:33, chadders said:

There's been a spate of cat thefts here, not far up the road from where I think you are. 

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Where do you think the eBay ones come from?

[iainrcz]

Bought some ox liver from Asda, not fucking impressed. Not a patch on the butcher I usually go to. 

[neil1971]

  On 31/03/2023 at 09:12, Dick Longbridge said:

It's a complete shambles, isn't it? I follow Feargal Sharkey on Twitter where he continues to highlight the almost daily sewage releases by the water companies. Ultimately, they're successful businesses which make excellent profits and pay their shareholders handsomely to the detriment of the environment. They're playing the system, end of. 

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For anyone who hasn't seen them, there was an interesting, although depressing, series of two programmes about the state of our rivers on the BBC recently, including the sewage discharges, Feargal Sharkey  was a contributor.

Paul Whitehouse - Our Troubled Rivers