The grumpy thread

[Remspoor]

@Lankytim Have you checked he is insured?

https://www.askmid.com/

[Lankytim]

15 hours ago, Talbot said:

There's a crossover here:

If you claim on your own insurance, they could write off the car and you'd have to buy it back.  Your insurer may increase your premium based on a claim being made.

If you claim directly from the other person's insurance, they have no direct contract with you, so have to pay out, but have no claim to the car so you retain ownership.  You have to inform your insurer that there has been an incident on the insured vehicle, but they cannot charge you more for having made a claim, as you haven't.

 

Interesting, I wonder what would happen if you’re both insured with the same company though? 

8 hours ago, Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

It's not the panel damage but your neck that is the issue.  My wife was in a crash, hurt her neck, went to hospital the day after as it was still sore.................long and short of it was that it took another 8 years before the insurance file was closed (and wife received a payout).  Neck injuries can have long term consequences that outlasts any panel damage/£250 quid-mate-it's-no-big-deal-mate-lets-keep-it-out-of-the-insurers-mate perpetrators.........if your neck/back are still in pain - I think it might be worth re-assessing whether you don't inform your insurers etc etc.  

We’re both fine, no twinges or pains to mention. The guys at work all think I’m crazy and should’ve “absolutely rinsed the bastard”. If the accident had been a bit worse and caused serious damage, or we’d been pushed into the posh car in front then a claim would’ve been inevitable and maybe things would’ve been different and I would’ve been living in luxury while not working for the rest of my life but forced to wear a neck brace while out in public (that’s what happens, isn’t it?) I think I just wanted the accident to “unhappen” with minimum fuss and aggravation. 

7 hours ago, Marshall2810 said:

Difficult one, I had something similar happen to me whilst my car was parked at work. Some daft bint that just passed her test managed to reverse into my car and scrape the bumper but ended up trashing her rear light and doing more damage to hers. She drove off without stopping or leaving details and luckily a witness came into the store told me about it. All captured on cctv and retrieved her broken light lens as evidence. 

Pissed off I reported it to the police (who wern't interested) Got my crime number to obtain her insurance details and reported it to my insurers. I was told if you can prove it's the fault of the other party you get to keep your no claims. However, you'll have a marker as being involved in an incident on your file. I was more angry she'd driven off than any damage which was done. Anyway I dropped the claim so saved the faff but the marker on my file remains. Despite having 11 years no claims,  I'm now paying c25% more for insurance due to someone having hit my unattended car in an empty car park through no fault of my own. 

Alright people saying just go through your insurance, they'll probably write it off, offer a shit settlement and even if you buy back as salvage it'll still be a cat car forever. You could lose your no claims and they'll get more cash on renewal for years to come. Don't cut your nose to spite your face 

I honestly can’t see it panning out favourably had we claimed, unless there was some some sort of personal injury claim for nightmares which resulting in netting £50k or something. 

4 hours ago, Remspoor said:

@Lankytim Have you checked he is insured?

https://www.askmid.com/

Yes, he was insured. (Or there’s insurance on the car at least)

Anyway…. Big news….. He paid up!!

He ignored a message sent on Sunday so Monday afternoon I tried to ring him,  as I expected he didn’t answer so I left a message. 
 

10 minutes or so later he text me apologising for not replying to the text and asking for my bank details, later on that evening he coughed up and that was that!

£150, which will pay for a replacement tailgate (or maybe a few beers too if I can find one even cheaper)  The Jazz is still drivable and roadworthy so I’ll wait for one in the correct colour to materialise locally for a decent price and jump on it, although the wife is insistent it’s fixed sooner rather than later. 

I was absolutely certain he was going to simply ghost me and hope I went away. My faith in random members of the public is restored! 

[Marshall2810]

7 minutes ago, Lankytim said:

Interesting, I wonder what would happen if you’re both insured with the same company though? 

We’re both fine, no twinges or pains to mention. The guys at work all think I’m crazy and should’ve “absolutely rinsed the bastard”. If the accident had been a bit worse and caused serious damage, or we’d been pushed into the posh car in front then a claim would’ve been inevitable and maybe things would’ve been different and I would’ve been living in luxury while not working for the rest of my life but forced to wear a neck brace while out in public (that’s what happens, isn’t it?) I think I just wanted the accident to “unhappen” with minimum fuss and aggravation. 

I honestly can’t see it panning out favourably had we claimed, unless there was some some sort of personal injury claim for nightmares which resulting in netting £50k or something. 

Yes, he was insured. (Or there’s insurance on the car at least)

Anyway…. Big news….. He paid up!!

He ignored a message sent on Sunday so Monday afternoon I tried to ring him,  as I expected he didn’t answer so I left a message. 
 

10 minutes or so later he text me apologising for not replying to the text and asking for my bank details, later on that evening he coughed up and that was that!

£150, which will pay for a replacement tailgate (or maybe a few beers too if I can find one even cheaper)  The Jazz is still drivable and roadworthy so I’ll wait for one in the correct colour to materialise locally for a decent price and jump on it, although the wife is insistent it’s fixed sooner rather than later. 

I was absolutely certain he was going to simply ghost me and hope I went away. My faith in random members of the public is restored! 

@Lankytim this is the best possible outcome, really pleased for you. People can be strange so whilst this is great news I'd keep photos, any texts or bank transfer details there are. You just never know, cover your arse for your own peace of mind 

[inconsistant]

15 hours ago, Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

My wife was in a crash, hurt her neck, went to hospital the day after as it was still sore.................long and short of it was that it took another 8 years before the insurance file was closed (and wife received a payout).  Neck injuries can have long term consequences that outlasts any panel damage

We’re in a similar situation, wife suffered whiplash and other long term related issues caused by it, years of tests to work out what the long term effects might be, and still waiting for a settlement. I’d be grateful to know how much they settled for in your case to get an idea of whether we accept their offer. Obvs I appreciate it’s sensitive info, please PM if more appropriate. 

[jakebullet]

Little blue C1 failed MOT:

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))
Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Simples enough, wheel cylinder will have seized. Do I want it repairing? Er, yes!

This is where it gets "Am I being grumpy for nothing?"

Got it back today, MOT'd, invoice says "Strip & free off brake cylinder". Why would you fuck around salvaging a wheel cylinder on a C1? Could understand it on something hard to find parts for / mega expensive, but it's £20? for a new one. It'll have cost more in labour to salvage & will prolly seize again or start leaking.

[myglaren]

Son just returned fro touring Europe on his motorbike.  Letter from the police saying that they have recovered his other, stolen bike, the Triumph, but not the mountain bikes.

They are charging him £250 for the recovery plus storage charges.  They knew he was out of the country and have his email address.

[sheffcortinacentre]

This is another case of wtf, your burgled/robbed etc then the police hold you to ransom to get your property back.

Who's the victim & who's the criminal here???

About 10 years ago a mates car was nicked from outside his house 2 days later plod on touch we've found it you need to collect it.

He goes to compound,  sorry mate can't find it?????

Month later numerous enquiries etc, he gets a letter why haven't you collected your car??  & By the way there's a month's storage fee to pay!

Like fuck there is! More weeks to & fro. 

Err well if you pay the original 2days storage & release fee we'll wave the rest!

Oh your generosity totally underwhelms me.

[Matty]

cheers council, thanks government.

[hairnet]

17 hours ago, myglaren said:

 

They are charging him £250 for the recovery plus storage charges.  They knew he was out of the country and have his email address.

they need to completely be told to FRO

had this a long time ago when an ex police bike (did i say this before) i owned not for long was going to work on it and real polis rode with me and obvs checked me and came up uninsured (im half a mile from work)

they argue the point and cos computer says no take it off me

i ask them if they can recover it home - they say no and take it to a lot 10 miles from where we were (home from where they stopped me was a coupla miles)

apparently when it was taken from service it shoulda been put back on the pnc

insurance and other agencies didnt do this

suffice to say the insurance were told to pay the recovery and storage and a mornings wages - which they did

dont let them make you get your wallet out when its not your fault - thats what theyre there for

[Tenmil Socket]

16 hours ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

This is another case of wtf, your burgled/robbed etc then the police hold you to ransom to get your property back.

Who's the victim & who's the criminal here???

About 10 years ago a mates car was nicked from outside his house 2 days later plod on touch we've found it you need to collect it.

He goes to compound,  sorry mate can't find it?????

Month later numerous enquiries etc, he gets a letter why haven't you collected your car??  & By the way there's a month's storage fee to pay!

Like fuck there is! More weeks to & fro. 

Err well if you pay the original 2days storage & release fee we'll wave the rest!

Oh your generosity totally underwhelms me.

Years ago a workmate had his MK4 Escort stolen in Liverpool while he was at band practice. A couple of days later the Police contacted him to explain they’d found it with lock damage and could he collect it. When he got to the area of Liverpool where it should have been he discovered it had been stolen again! I think when it was found next it was burnt out ☹️ Was a clean car too beforehand! 

[Tenmil Socket]

Has anyone mentioned those new pop bottle caps 🤬

If I have I apologise 😂

[myglaren]

33 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Has anyone mentioned those new pop bottle caps 🤬

If I have I apologise 😂

You'll have to explain that.

[Datsuncog]

Needed a key cut yesterday lunchtime, so thought I'd go to the Timpsons kiosk outside Tesco.

Halfway there, I remembered that a new independent hardware shop had opened up down the town, and had a sign in the window saying 'keys cut'. So decided to give the small indie place my custom instead, rather than the big chain.

Parked, paid, walked through the piss-stinking underpass - and the hardware shop was lit up, with a 'Yes! We're Open!' sign on the door and brushes and barrows outside. But the door was locked, no-one visible inside.

Okay. Not unreasonable for staff to need a wazz or whatever.

Walked on down to the town centre, got some cash out, walked back. Still closed. Another woman arrived, tried the door, said she'd tried twenty minutes ago but it was locked then too.

Walked up the other way, went into the greengrocer, got some oranges, then walked back. Still shut. After 2pm by now. Stood for a bit, then fucked off back the car and went to Timpsons.

Total waste of half an hour, plus a quid for parking. 

Can't wait for the usual Facebook bleating about how 'no-one wants to shop local anymore' once the business inevitably folds.

I honestly do care about small businesses, but some of the proprietors make it so difficult... I can't buy from you if you're not open!

[Tenmil Socket]

3 minutes ago, myglaren said:

You'll have to explain that.

Some bottle tops now stay attached to the bottle and if you don’t reattach them properly i.e. line the thread up properly the contents goes flat or leaks if you put it on its side in the fridge.

[IronStar]

48 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Has anyone mentioned those new pop bottle caps 🤬

If I have I apologise 😂

Nothing like spilling half a bottle because you didn't realize that flap thing is preventing it from being closed properly. 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Has anyone mentioned those new pop bottle caps 🤬

Glad it's not just me, then. When kerbside recycling came in we were told to remove caps after the bottle was empty to recycle separately. Now the bastard things get in the way when pouring or sipping from the bottle.

[myglaren]

2 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Some bottle tops now stay attached to the bottle and if you don’t reattach them properly i.e. line the thread up properly the contents goes flat or leaks if you put it on its side in the fridge.

Thanks.  Never encountered them, the only thing I buy in bottles is wine and Whisky.  Never drink pop.

[Matty]

19 hours ago, Matty said:

cheers council, thanks government.

Flying car did make this a bit of a grin

[Remspoor]

Attached bottle tops =EU regs.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

8 minutes ago, Remspoor said:

Attached bottle tops =EU regs.

At last!  A benefit of Brexit!

[auntiemaryscanary]

7 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Glad it's not just me, then. When kerbside recycling came in we were told to remove caps after the bottle was empty to recycle separately. Now the bastard things get in the way when pouring or sipping from the bottle.

First time you open it rip the cap off the retainer ring. Normal service resumed. Don't blame me though if the cap falls in the footwell whilst you are driving.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

First time you open it rip the cap off the retainer ring. Normal service resumed. Don't blame me though if the cap falls in the footwell whilst you are driving.

I never drink and drive! 2 things at once is confusing

[sdkrc]

Very loud car alarm went off at 3am. Absolutely shit my britches and ran outside in my underpants to go unplug the battery on A3. Managed to rag the leads off without any tools with the adrenaline still pumping. I sat in the driver's seat for a little mental breakdown when the alarm went off again. Was the fucking Lexus all along!

[Metal Guru]

On 29/06/2024 at 06:31, ruffgeezer said:

Sorry no passive aggressiveness in your direction here - that was not the intention at all.

This was one of my main gripes as a mechanic, that garages take money for doing a job they haven't- the Mitsubishi ASX I had a few months ago was exactly the same.  I got to the point that I wouldn't tell people what I did as a job because there seem to be so many garages out there on the con.  

I'm sorry if I gave the impression I was anything other than happy with the car.  As I said to your dad, you cannot sell a car with that age and mileage and guarantee it, it'd be foolish to do so in my opinion!

TLDR:- Car and vendor good, garages who 'forget' to do stuff bad.

I had my car serviced at a main dealer for 15 years but their prices had crept up rather sharply. So I found an independent and got a service done for about half the price. “When did you last get the pollen filter changed “ the guy said, producing a lump of black paper with an insect collection attached that would rival the Natural History Museum.I didn’t know it had one and the main dealer had never replaced it.  They’d never charged me for it either tbf because it’s not listed on the service schedule. OK, you might say, why would they do it then? Fair enough , but you would have thought over 15 years with many of the same model , someone would have found it and thought “that needs changing”.

[ruffgeezer]

Someone posted on here recently about fixing a Berlingo or Partner with the wanky auto box as a non start, and I now cannot find it!

[Lord Sterling]

You know what? I find that in life, often (for me) it's the simple things that turn into an utter farce that never gets resolved properly or even at all.

Case in point;

I want actual working air-conditioning this summer in my car if ya dont mind. Now for many other people, it's a case of re-gassing the thing or simply buying a car that has actual working air-con, but of course it needs to be just that bit more difficult for me.

The Vectra needed a new condenser, no problem, bought one, but the mechanic found that an extremly rare unobtainable pipe that is crucial to make the air-con work is required as the current one is helpfully seized, without it I have normal luke-warm air:

The offending pipe:

One, apparently was found, I went to the garage etc.., only to find that the pipe ordered was the incorrect one.

I have posted up a photo of this on the Vectra owners pages on Farcebook but as I expect (to be proven right, again) that unless it's "Irmscher" add on bits, bodykits turbo intercoolers or big wheels, they are useless.

Now, even before I even picked up the phone to book the car in for work, I knew this would happen, I knew my luck just couldn't hold out for this. 

I mean, come on, how hard is it to have working bloody air-con? Do I need a mortgage now to buy a whole new system? 🤬

[mercedade]

22 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

Now for many other people, it's a case of re-gassing the thing or simply buying a car that has actual working air-con

HA! If-fucking-only

(sorry for your woes, Mo)

[24vdiamond]

1 hour ago, Lord Sterling said:

You know what? I find that in life, often (for me) it's the simple things that turn into an utter farce that never gets resolved properly or even at all.

Case in point;

I want actual working air-conditioning this summer in my car if ya dont mind. Now for many other people, it's a case of re-gassing the thing or simply buying a car that has actual working air-con, but of course it needs to be just that bit more difficult for me.

The Vectra needed a new condenser, no problem, bought one, but the mechanic found that an extremly rare unobtainable pipe that is crucial to make the air-con work is required as the current one is helpfully seized, without it I have normal luke-warm air:

The offending pipe:

One, apparently was found, I went to the garage etc.., only to find that the pipe ordered was the incorrect one.

I have posted up a photo of this on the Vectra owners pages on Farcebook but as I expect (to be proven right, again) that unless it's "Irmscher" add on bits, bodykits turbo intercoolers or big wheels, they are useless.

Now, even before I even picked up the phone to book the car in for work, I knew this would happen, I knew my luck just couldn't hold out for this. 

I mean, come on, how hard is it to have working bloody air-con? Do I need a mortgage now to buy a whole new system? 🤬

Do you know what the GM part number is? I can have a rumage see if ive got one

[maxxo]

At my parents house today in the loft

decided to faff on with the original opening ventilation sky light up there and successfully opened it

anyway

had a glance at the rear two chimney stacks

oh they’re not in a good way

their side is the right hand side obviously 

the closest one has a gas fire and back boiler (still in one) at the bottom of it so can’t be taken down

rear one is used as an extractor for a cooker hood which I know is terrible

i know for a fact they won’t sort it so it’ll be up to me to arrange to sort this out

what an absolute state they are

[robt100]

Trying to sell the van is putting me in a mood.

Popped it on Autotrader for a bit more exposure, had 3 enquiries in 24hrs (good news), 1 guy was very concerned about the bodywork condition, seemed very hung up on the fact there is a square, less than A5 sized where I think someone has forgotten to lacquer after painting, can only be noticed at certain angles from under 2ft away as having a little less shine. Never heard back after the first call.

2nd guy tried to offer £2k under the asking price over the phone and seems surprised when I say no🙈.  "but its 2004, its not worth that" was his reasoning, I'm guessing he hasn't looked at prices for these things. He didn't seem keen on my suggestion that he doesn't have to buy it if its too expensive for him...

3rd guy says he will be there in 30mins.....that was at 7:30pm today,  never arrived and has now gone no-contact. Which is more concerning as he now has my address, hopefully the van will still be there tomorrow😬. I just don't understand why you wouldn't say anything if you changed your mind or something came up and you couldn't make it, wasted a good hour or so of my evening when I had other things to do.