The grumpy thread

[Datsuncog]

17 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Feckin' grumpy....
Wife has her insurance on a Bini - fully comp policy was £160
Looking to transfer it to another (identical) Bini just one year younger - £77 extra on the policy plus £20 admin fee?

The £20 I get but £77? Eh?

"Ah, well, it's newer, isn't it - so it's worth more in the event of a claim."

Actual quote from the Admiral customer service rep when queried about the extra £80 added, after I rang up to transfer the insurance from my 1996 Renault Laguna 1.8 over to my 1998 Renault Laguna 1.8.

They just pull it out of their arse...

[outlaw118]

I've had a cold/cough/snots for nearly 4 weeks now. Got antibiotics in the end, just getting to the end, feeling a bit better - just normal-time-of-year snottyness, only one proper coughing fir in the last 24 hours.

Tidying my desk tonight, I've found peanuts.

Yeah, that was a good idea, I'm on the sofa tonight again then.

Twat.

[goosey]

Finish an early job this morning, car won’t start as the key battery is flat and the car won’t recognise the key 😡walk to Morrisons grab some 2032s walk back to car replace key battery, car starts but still have this…….

🤬
on the plus side Leamington spa Morrisons was quiet this morning 

[Jazoli]

1 hour ago, goosey said:

Finish an early job this morning, car won’t start as the key battery is flat and the car won’t recognise the key 😡walk to Morrisons grab some 2032s walk back to car replace key battery, car starts but still have this…….

🤬
on the plus side Leamington spa Morrisons was quiet this morning 

Ah the quality VW infotainment and heater controls, just how shit is it long term? I thought it was a terrible GUI on the hire cars I've had.

[goosey]

13 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

Ah the quality VW infotainment and heater controls, just how shit is it long term? I thought it was a terrible GUI on the hire cars I've had.

Things were very difficult at first but I adapted soon enough. It’s like when Hovis brought out a white sliced loaf, folk soon got to grips 

[Zelandeth]

Bloody Parcel Force.

Got a parcel coming internationally with a bunch of car parts, and there's a customs charge to pay.  That's no surprise, I was fully expecting it.  

What's fscking annoying is that I now need to wait for a physical letter to arrive from them with a reference number on, which is posted second class based on last time I went through this, before I can pay the charges online and have my parcel (which is sitting in a depot less than a mile away) released.

Why can't they just use the same reference number used to track the thing, or even better send me the info through by email...they already have my email address as they merrily sent me an email to tell me the parcel was in the country.

So close to making that progress simple and efficient...yet so far.

I'm going to run by the depot later today and see if they can do anything based on the tracking number but I'm not holding my breath.  Just would be really nice to not have to wait until January for this.

[barefoot]

You may remember that I bought an exhaust from Powerflow the other day. I was chatting and grumbled that many parts for Rover 75 were all but extinct and he told me that a local Nissan DEALER had brought them a 2016 plate Micra - a six year old car - as they couldn't get a back box for it from Nissan. I suspect that it was down to supply chain issues, but it's still a bit shit isn't it.

[Wack]

Dickheads on illegal electric bikes

Some knobhead riding an electric bike on a shared path with families on it, I was doing 30 and this cunt was faster than me, not pedalling 

I've no idea why they don't get confiscated, 35 in a 30 in a car and they'll have you but riding uninsured on the path at 35mph, cart on 

[New POD]

19 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Feckin' grumpy....
Wife has her insurance on a Bini - fully comp policy was £160
Looking to transfer it to another (identical) Bini just one year younger - £77 extra on the policy plus £20 admin fee?

The £20 I get but £77? Eh?

Buy one a year older and ask for a £77 reduction. 

[New POD]

12 minutes ago, Wack said:

Dickheads on illegal electric bikes

Some knobhead riding an electric bike on a shared path with families on it, I was doing 30 and this cunt was faster than me, not pedalling 

I've no idea why they don't get confiscated, 35 in a 30 in a car and they'll have you but riding uninsured on the path at 35mph, cart on 

One of the younger engineers where I work is on the Electric Truck project and comes to work on an electric bike. I've suggested his career should not move into Homologation, where confirming the design meets legislation is the main objective. Get it wrong and fines are high. 

He's modified his bike, which is bloody obvious because I followed him out of work once, and down a road with a 40 mph speed limit. I could not keep up.

I feel the stupidity of youth has overwhelmed his massive brain. No helmet, no insurance, not road legal in so many ways.

Still he has lights. 

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, goosey said:

It’s like when Hovis brought out a white sliced loaf, folk soon got to grips 

TBH, I still haven't really recovered.

[robthedonkey]

Finish an early job this morning, car won’t start as the key battery is flat and the car won’t recognise the key walk to Morrisons grab some 2032s walk back to car replace key battery, car starts but still have this…….

on the plus side Leamington spa Morrisons was quiet this morning 

There's a dock in armrest to put key in when battery dead and will recognise and let you start check manual for particular models placement ....

Onc ebattery changed the key needs to be put back there for it to ok it and clear the fault

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[jakebullet]

Mrs. Cunt next door has been upsetting little old lady who lives opposite. Came to her gate screaming n shouting that Hazel should park her car on her drive so Cunt can park outside Hazel's house. She has a big car and is entitled to that space, Hazel should keep it clear for her.

Parking round here is not at insane levels. Hazel's drive is a twat to get out of, so I'd park in the street too. Fat fuck just doesn't want to walk an extra 10 yards. Nowt like being an entitled Karen.

[Anthony]

Thames Valley Police sent me a lovely Christmas present this year... a NIP for speeding 

I'd been half expecting it tbh and hopefully I'll be offered a course rather than points, but annoying as it's my first ticket in nearly 25 years and just in time to hike my insurance renewal early next year.

And what's annoyed me most? It was completely my own fault and entirely avoidable.

 

On a completely different subject, Royal Mail delivery times - along with the NIP I had a Christmas card delivered that was postmarked 12 days ago no more than 50 miles away. I get that it's a busy period with Christmas and staff shortages, but that's a pretty poor show regardless.

[Volksy]

IIRC, if you're offered a course, and complete it, you don't have to inform your insurers.

[Zelandeth]

4 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Bloody Parcel Force.

Got a parcel coming internationally with a bunch of car parts, and there's a customs charge to pay.  That's no surprise, I was fully expecting it.  

What's fscking annoying is that I now need to wait for a physical letter to arrive from them with a reference number on, which is posted second class based on last time I went through this, before I can pay the charges online and have my parcel (which is sitting in a depot less than a mile away) released.

Why can't they just use the same reference number used to track the thing, or even better send me the info through by email...they already have my email address as they merrily sent me an email to tell me the parcel was in the country.

So close to making that progress simple and efficient...yet so far.

I'm going to run by the depot later today and see if they can do anything based on the tracking number but I'm not holding my breath.  Just would be really nice to not have to wait until January for this.

Aha!  Rare win!

Guy at the depot agreed it was idiotic the way they did things. Thankfully he was able to look up the customs charge number from the tracking number so I could just pay and collect the parcel there and then.

So win there for a change!

Admittedly the £70 customs charge on top of £35 postage did sting a little, but that can't be helped.

Edited December 21, 2023 by Zelandeth
Corrected some horrendous grammar

[Anthony]

43 minutes ago, Volksy said:

IIRC, if you're offered a course, and complete it, you don't have to inform your insurers.

Depends on the insurer - Admiral for example (who this particular car is insured with) do ask about speed awareness courses.

[Talbot]

What was the speed in what limit?

[Pieman]

1 hour ago, Volksy said:

IIRC, if you're offered a course, and complete it, you don't have to inform your insurers.

I think I'd rather just take the points - I would not take kindly to sitting being scolded like a misbehaving five-year old.

[cort1977]

It's not so bad, unavailable to Volvo botherers in Scotland though.  Seems like a SP30 makes practically no difference to insurance these days, at least if you're old, so I agree with you, might as well save a day and take the points.

[Anthony]

40 minutes ago, Talbot said:

What was the speed in what limit?

61 in a 50, so bang to rights (if perhaps a little unsporting - camera van was maybe 2-300m past where the 70 limit dropped to a 50 on a dual carriageway).  On the back of the form, it lists up to 64 as being eligible for SAC.

49 minutes ago, Pieman said:

I think I'd rather just take the points - I would not take kindly to sitting being scolded like a misbehaving five-year old.

There is that, but it would probably make a refreshing change from the missus doing the same - and I figure I might learn something from it (or maybe just be left horrified by the utter ignorance elsewhere in the room)

[High Jetter]

I attended a physical course the other week. It wasn't bad actually, fairly laid-back and informative. Under 3 hours, with a comfort break halfway through.

[Talbot]

16 minutes ago, Anthony said:

61 in a 50, so bang to rights (if perhaps a little unsporting - camera van was maybe 2-300m past where the 70 limit dropped to a 50 on a dual carriageway).  On the back of the form, it lists up to 64 as being eligible for SAC.

There is that, but it would probably make a refreshing change from the missus doing the same - and I figure I might learn something from it (or maybe just be left horrified by the utter ignorance elsewhere in the room)

you were only 3mph over the threshold that you might have been ignored at... Prosecution starts at 58mph.  You absolutely should be offered a SAC for that.

And yes, if you've even the slightest clue what you're doing on the road, you'll likely be rather worried at the lack of knowledge elsewhere.  I got rather embarrased at answering every question posed and had to stop.  The course operator even accused me of cheating... quite how I have no idea.  Mind you she also didn't like the fact that I told her I knew exactly what speed I was doing when caught, and it was done specifically such that if caught it would be a SAC and not points.  Probably shouldn't have said that.

[beko1987]

When I did my SAC (34 in a 30) the instructor fairly quickly sniffed those of who were normal and knew we'd done wrong and weren't idiots vs the idiots. 

One woman went out for lunch and didn't come back, instant 'did not attend' for her apparently. The 2 guys running it then shot every first question at one of the idiots, then picked whoever tried not to laugh the most from the rest of us at their answer to explain the right one. Was a good* day out in my book! 

I had to smile and clench my teeth, I had 3 34 in a 30 within a month and timed the paperwork so my first offer acceptance went in before firing the other 2 off for points 😭 The wheels on the xantia were from a bx and I was sure on at least one I was doing 30 as it was right by work and well known. Hey ho, all points gone under the 5 year rule now 👌

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, beko1987 said:

When I did my SAC (34 in a 30) the instructor fairly quickly sniffed those of who were normal and knew we'd done wrong and weren't idiots vs the idiots. 

One woman went out for lunch and didn't come back, instant 'did not attend' for her apparently. The 2 guys running it then shot every first question at one of the idiots, then picked whoever tried not to laugh the most from the rest of us at their answer to explain the right one. Was a good* day out in my book! 

I had to smile and clench my teeth, I had 3 34 in a 30 within a month and timed the paperwork so my first offer acceptance went in before firing the other 2 off for points 😭 The wheels on the xantia were from a bx and I was sure on at least one I was doing 30 as it was right by work and well known. Hey ho, all points gone under the 5 year rule now 👌

So just keep quiet and answer a few questions? I’d love to go in there and ask how doing 82 on a motorway in a decent car, is more dangerous than an HGV doing a legal speed, ( esp if driven non stop from Istanbul), or that speed limits were set in the 60s when cars had rubbish brakes and stopping distances were about 3x what they are in a modern car. 
I suspect  I’d get a fail and piss off everyone else wanting to get away asap.

[Mac69400]

24 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

I suspect  I’d get a fail and piss off everyone else wanting to get away asap.

Yeah, you would. What do you think you'd achieve by asking these questions? 

The facilitator/instructor or whatever they're called is probably paid £100 to deliver the course. It's a job for them, they don't make the laws, and can't change the laws.

I've been on a few courses over the years, and there's almost always some twat that asks stupid questions like yours and looks around the room for approval.

I'd guarantee that the rest of the room would be wishing you'd shut the fuck up so we could all go home. 

[Wack]

7 hours ago, New POD said:

One of the younger engineers where I work is on the Electric Truck project and comes to work on an electric bike. I've suggested his career should not move into Homologation, where confirming the design meets legislation is the main objective. Get it wrong and fines are high. 

He's modified his bike, which is bloody obvious because I followed him out of work once, and down a road with a 40 mph speed limit. I could not keep up.

I feel the stupidity of youth has overwhelmed his massive brain. No helmet, no insurance, not road legal in so many ways.

Still he has lights. 

Imagine the grief if they kill someone, not just the  victims families grief the lengthy prison sentence for causing death while uninsured riding an illegal vehicle 

The thing that astounds me is how the police just turn a blind eye to it even when it's right in front of them as I saw a few days ago, Escooter on the path, adult rider, cops never even gave it a second glance. 

[sierraman]

People seem to have lost all ability to be aware of the space around them. In the shops people seem to have this situation where they need to spread themselves about on the aisles, standing 4ft back to view the shelves, trolleys arranged as a road block and completely ignorant of anyone else using the place. 

[Wack]

Not even subtle 

[sierraman]

4 minutes ago, Wack said:

Not even subtle 

Cretins. Forward it to DVSA.