The grumpy thread

[High Jetter]

2FA is a useful precaution. Are you in a poor signal area?

[Talbot]

2 hours ago, Pieman said:

Pretty fucking difficult when your useless piece of shit phone will not receive calls or texts when inside your house despite showing it has a signal.

Since the advent of 4G this has become more of a problem.  The reason is that 4G is a data-only protocol.  Unfortunately, that means that for Voice or Text service, the phone has to use 3G or 2G service, which might well be absolutely awful indoors, but the phone still shows good service, as it can only show signal level for one technology, so it show it for 4G, as that's the preferential network.

If you're in a deadspot, it would be well worth looking into a service that can offer GAN (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_Access_Network) service, which allows voice and text over a data network.  These used to be not that common, but I believe are more popular now, sometimes even using the 4G network to do so (where previously they used a wifi network to extend service indoors)

I think some providers also offer VOIP service for voice over 4G, baked into the phone hardware.  Not so sure about that one.

[New POD]

7 hours ago, Pieman said:

Websites that insist on texting a code to your phone in order for you to log in.  Pretty fucking difficult when your useless piece of shit phone will not receive calls or texts when inside your house despite showing it has a signal.

(I've tried different phones and different networks, and the same thing happens no matter what.  Am I being covertly blacklisted from the world's phone networks?)

HMRC is the only organisation that I've experienced. 

.....

 

Oh any maybe Lloyds bank

[artdjones]

7 hours ago, High Jetter said:

2FA is a useful precaution. Are you in a poor signal area?

Yes, a useful precaution, until the banks tell us that to be secure we need 3FA, then 4FA, for our own protection of course, not theirs. Oh,no. In the end logging in to your bank will be a multi stage process taking 15minutes. 

We are heading for a future as lab rats, pushing buttons to get what we need.

[loserone]

Not sure where that comes from.  Banks are a long way behind in security and usability generally.  Many banks used to have appalling online authentication processes, but generally they're getting better - faster and easier - not worse.  SMS is dated crap as a second factor though.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

1 hour ago, artdjones said:

Yes, a useful precaution, until the banks tell us that to be secure we need 3FA, then 4FA, for our own protection of course, not theirs. Oh,no. In the end logging in to your bank will be a multi stage process taking 15minutes. 

We are heading for a future as lab rats, pushing buttons to get what we need.

Well-implemented 2FA significantly increases security to the point where a third factor wouldn't practically increase the security you have on the account.  The main security tweak is the authentication token expiry.  At work we have it set for 31 days on standard accounts (on that device, obviously) and no retention for IT Admin accounts (i.e. we have to authenticate every time we log in to that account) which seems reasonable to me.

I mean, if you're ok with the password 'crackers2' and no second factor then please don't complain when your data is stolen.

The main problem with 2FA is people failing to read the instructions properly and then blaming the process when they've failed to actually set it up properly.

 

[New POD]

My current grump is about trying to organise 2 workmen in 2 locations this week and going into the office on at least one day. 

The cast of boys from the blackstuff, have been due to do my pointing. Promised they'd come Tuesday last week. Fucking radio silence all week. Eventually tells me it's going to be Monday this week. Or maybe Tuesday..

In the meantime I'm waiting for a gas repairman to track down spares to fix a boiler leak in Staffordshire.  He might be able to fit it in this Tuesday.  But he will get back to me with a time.  

Obviously I've updated  him and said either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday please.  That means I could go into the office on Thursday and get back here to see the pointing progress on Friday.  

I get a text late last night saying the pointing is going to start Tuesday or Wednesday.  

My guess is Thursday? 

Anyway, I'm trying not to to piss any of these people off because you know, they actually need both doing. 

 

[MarvinsMom]

i fuckin' hate this car.

so much for getting the suspension regassed. 

definitely £740 well spent........

[wuvvum]

Given the amount you spent to get it done, I'd be on the 'phone to the person who did it telling them to get their arse back there and sort it out.

[Talbot]

It looks like only the front driver side one has failed.  Do these suffer from ruptured diaphragms or known leak points?

[MarvinsMom]

i have been in touch with the party that did replace the cans, their "warranty" excluded the suspension settling over time, something that all hydralastic/hydragas cars do, and while they have yet to reply, my "shitey-sense" says that they will want nothing to do with it.

my thinking is that the internal diaphragm inside the can has failed and the liquid which is supposed to be in the lower part has now in the top of the can too.

this is the latest farce to befall the car, following on from the very expensive respray several years ago  where they basically painted over the rust.

needless to say i really fuckin HATE that car right now.

[chaseracer]

21 hours ago, Minimad5 said:

Discount able? - We don't have a system that takes points off. One of the lads needs an operation, has produced paperwork saying so and given them 3 months notice of his time off, yet he'll still get points. Produce a doctors sick note - You still get points. 

In another department, a bloke was going through Chemotherapy.... he still got points.

Maybe, but you're not considering that while points may accrue, they can also be "disregarded for the purpose of considering a warning" - an argument @Floatylight and I have used successfully on many occasions, with positive results for the members.  This is especially so for protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

That said, it's still a shit system which affects far more than the minority it's aimed (badly) at.

YMMV.

[chaseracer]

4 minutes ago, MarvinsMom said:

i have been in touch with the party that did replace the cans, their "warranty" excluded the suspension settling over time, something that all hydralastic/hydragas cars do, and while they have yet to reply, my "shitey-sense" says that they will want nothing to do with it.

Consumer rights legislation might have something to say about that...

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/57/enacted

[MikeR]

Look at the q , I am not waiting all day in that , decided not to bother ....

[Talbot]

2 hours ago, MarvinsMom said:

i have been in touch with the party that did replace the cans, their "warranty" excluded the suspension settling over time, something that all hydralastic/hydragas cars do,

Settle?  Yes.  Had the car dropped maybe 5-10mm at that corner after the work was done, that's reasonable.

Completely fucking collapse onto the bumpstops?  No.

[Angrydicky]

Well give them a chance to sort it out at least. Most companies will want to sort out problems like this as quickly as possible, last thing they want is you bad mouthing them on forums etc. I can't say for this one, have you tried ringing them?

[plasticvandan]

That is definitely a failure rather than levelling out over time.im.certain that as their business model relies on a dwindling number of Hydragas car owners being happy with their service that they will be only too happy to come and sort it....

[Supernaut]

To play Devil's Advocate here, but... The original post suggests the suspension was regassed.

What part of that implies that components were replaced? A tired old sphere perhaps just couldn't take the renewed gas pressure and went pop. Why are the company who were paid to regas liable?

They may well make a goodwill gesture to come and have a look at it, but replacement parts don't grow on trees.

[MarvinsMom]

the cans that are on the metro now are cans they supplied, and they took the tired old cans backwith them,

as of now they are not responding to any messages left for them, and the "radio silence" from them is i think indicative on how they will respond to this.

either way that car will soon be going on a journey out of my ownership to be someone elses problem or to become bean tins.

[twosmoke300]

On 6/6/2021 at 12:52 PM, Zelandeth said:

Nothing like waiting months for a part to arrive then to discover it's completely the wrong thing.  Yay.

Euros ?

[MarvinsMom]

20 hours ago, MarvinsMom said:

i fuckin' hate this car.

so much for getting the suspension regassed. 

definitely £740 well spent........

the party who changed the cans has agreed to come and replace the driverside front one after reviewing the pictures i took yesterday.

which is good.

only the first opportunity they have for coming and doing the work is the beginning of July.

which is, well actually ok, i guess since the car isn't mot'd or on the road.

i could have had a replacement can posted out, BUT, as we don't have a hydrolastic Dalek and if there is a problem with the replacement one, if they have fitted it then i cannot be at fault with it.

and we can use the time between now and then to look into the cars brakes, with a view to sending the car for a test.

[High Jetter]

Hopefully your faith is, somewhat, restored - and they will return when promised. Would be great to see this OTR again, even if you end up moving it on.

[MarvinsMom]

i cannot wait to get the car back on the road too, as i do, mostly really like it.

its a lovely little thing to drive as its full of character and usually it would put a smile on my face,

the state its gotten in while been sat in the garage makes me sad BUT opening the door the other day and finding it listing like that.

well, just say i was some what pissed off about it, especially having spent a tidy sum on it to get the car sat like it should on the road!

[Bren]

Not the car that is at fault. It is the person that has done the job. 

It appears to be de rigeur that you must pay handsomely for the privilige of people doing shit work or turning up late or not at all.

[MarvinsMom]

which is why i got some scaffolding put up at home so that i could get upto the eaves of the house and give them a lick of paint and realign the guttering which was leaking.

i have had folks in before who have charged a fortune to do a shit job up there, so this time i decided i was going to do the work myself.

at least then if i did a shit job, i only would myself to blame.

[Parky]

On 6/5/2021 at 11:12 AM, Parky said:

Either that or my neighbours broke in and turned it into a cannabis factory....

It’ll be fine.  I spoke to EDF who confirmed my account was closed and nothing was owed.  I’ll happily pay the £20 or whatever was used (our bill for a family of four was on average £100 a month when we all lived there) so an empty place can’t consume much.  Ultimately what’s a debt collector in Leeds gonna do?  Come to New Zealand and take my TV?

Debt collector wants me to call them urgently on a premium rate number.  Yeah right, like I am going to do that from New Zealand on a mobile.

They asked for my new number and address but I refused.  I don’t want phone calls at 2am with Stewie Griffin on the other end screaming “where’s my money man????”

Left it as “I still have no confirmation of what I allegedly owe or why.  If there is a small sum owed to EDF I will be happy to settle directly with them but as there is nothing owed according to them I am going to need some evidence from you to back up your spurious opportunistic approach.  Please provide evidence or further info via email and I will be happy to peruse”

Bit of internet research suggests LCS buy up small outstanding sums from utility forms and HMRC, add on an admin fee, and send threatening letters to people hoping they pay up.  The amounts grow until by letter four they offer to settle for a lesser amount.  It sounds a lot like Parking Eye’s business model

 

[New POD]

23 hours ago, MarvinsMom said:

the party who changed the cans has agreed to come and replace the driverside front one after reviewing the pictures i took yesterday.

which is good.

only the first opportunity they have for coming and doing the work is the beginning of July.

which is, well actually ok, i guess since the car isn't mot'd or on the road.

i could have had a replacement can posted out, BUT, as we don't have a hydrolastic Dalek and if there is a problem with the replacement one, if they have fitted it then i cannot be at fault with it.

and we can use the time between now and then to look into the cars brakes, with a view to sending the car for a test.

Are they 4 pot AP calipers at the front? If they are 3 of the pistons will be seized.  (Says the ex owner of a metro turd...o ) 

Or rather 6 of the 8 pistons will be welded indefinitely to the actual bores. 

[New POD]

I am more grumpy, because somehow my life is more complicated than it needed to be. 

1) Work. That pays the bills. I am uncertain about the contract I'm doing. Because they really want a permie staff member but the pay wouldn't do me any favours. So long term who knows. I have the offer of a contract in Barrow, but it's inside IR35 And IF I had nothing else I would definately have to do it, but they won't wait forever, for a decision.  Then an old manager has contacted me about a permie job in Birmingham. Quite senior. Need to find out more. But I'd close my LTD company and commute from Uttoxeter 3 days a week. 

2) Fucking builder. I need to be here when he starts the Pointing. Promised last week, promised this week. Now he's saying Next week. I need more fucking notice than 11 hours given that I need to actually go to the office 140 miles away. 

3) kitchen. We have ordered an overpriced swanky kitchen. Because with has money coming to her.  It should be stress free. It's fucking not. 

4) Sons wedding.  We are on the Edge of any prep work, but have to book a meal the night before for those people attending the reversal. (I'm not sure why you need a rehearsal..all church weddings are the same) 

14 people? . What time? Wife took this on. Eventually we get clear guidance about who and when And it gets booked. 8 hours later, one of the bride's maids says her and her plus one might, be coming to the rehearsal after all. Might. So wife has to phone the place to tell them it might be 16 or not. Now ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem, but Covid restrictions make you not want to piss the pub/restaurant  around.

5) are we coming out of lockdown on June 21st.  Wedding will be 85 people. Or will it be 15 people. 

6) Son and his bride have just taken ownership of their first house. We should go visit. @MikeR's wife has gegged in. So now we have to pick her up, drive to Manchester to pick up Daughter, drive to Bromsgrove, have lunch and go for a walk before going home. All on Saturday.  

 

[somewhatfoolish]

Weddings are utter insanity; I was quietly hoping the human race would have forgotten this arcane and usuriously expensive ritual because ZOMGPANDEMIC! If you like parties, have a party; weddings should be for registry offices. Bloke I know isn't even divorced yet and is already being corralled into a £25k nightmare of meringue dress and stupid cake. I'd rather poke sticks in my eyes.

[New POD]

1 minute ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Weddings are utter insanity; I was quietly hoping the human race would have forgotten this arcane and usuriously expensive ritual because ZOMGPANDEMIC! If you like parties, have a party; weddings should be for registry offices. Bloke I know isn't even divorced yet and is already being corralled into a £25k nightmare of meringue dress and stupid cake. I'd rather poke sticks in my eyes.

I vote we give each guest 500 quid and they also don't buy the dress they planned or the matching shoes and underwear  and favinator and bag and Umbrellor, meaning each one has £1000.  And the 2 hotel nights they are each funding. 

And we put that money in a pot. 

And then we use that money to rent a hotel for a weekend. Where we have a party.  Where we need to put our oldest smelliest clothes on and get ratfaced