The grumpy thread

[twosmoke300]

I love lamp

[plasticvandan]

I'm scared of jet fuel

[castros_bro]

For 8 months we've been looking for a house. We don't really care about the house, but we just need about 1/4 acre of land with some kind of legally approved dwelling on it. The house could be shit, falling down, on fire. anything, so long as we can put a bedroom, bog and kitchen to suit two people in it. I earn alright money and so does the mrs, but even so, for our budget it seems we've absolutely no chance cos every bit of land like we want has been snapped up and has 5 "executive townhouses" built on it.

We just want somewhere to let the dogs have a good run and park some shit old vehicles, but it seems that this is an absolute impossibility. 

 

https://www.ppproperty.com/property/renovation-project-with-large-plot-of-land-in-carril/

 

Ok a few hurdles, it's sold but there are plenty of others, you can live for maybe 25% of the cost on middle England, cold beer less then 85p a litre, it's 10 mins from a vast lake, oranges grow on trees BUT you can buy cheap enough to try it for a couple of years. Guess how I know?

[BorniteIdentity]

https://www.ppproperty.com/property/renovation-project-with-large-plot-of-land-in-carril/

 

Ok a few hurdles, it's sold but there are plenty of others, you can live for maybe 25% of the cost on middle England, cold beer less then 85p a litre, it's 10 mins from a vast lake, oranges grow on trees BUT you can buy cheap enough to try it for a couple of years. Guess how I know?

 

Brilliant.

Commute's gonna be a bit of a pisser tho.

 

I already do quite a bit of my work from home - and that will only ever continue.  However, for some stuff I have to be places.  At the moment it's daily - but when the time comes it's not, and the kids have signed themselves up for extortionate tenancy agreements of their own, the world will be our lobster - and we'll be looking at stuff like this.

[chaseracer]

It's only going to get worse, they aren't making any more land.

 

Nobody told the Dutch...

[Parky]

A friend bought three acres of woodland in Kent around ten years ago, the only proviso being he couldn't do anything with it until at least 2019. That's pretty close now and it is odds on he will be able to develop it. If you can afford to play a VERY long game, this could be a way to get hold of a reasonable plot without breaking the bank?

 

Big risk is planning permission is never granted of course.

[Guest Hooli]

Isn't woodland getting more expensive as it's being used as an investment for tax avoidance?

[castros_bro]

Brilliant.

Commute's gonna be a bit of a pisser tho.

 

I already do quite a bit of my work from home - and that will only ever continue.  However, for some stuff I have to be places.  At the moment it's daily - but when the time comes it's not, and the kids have signed themselves up for extortionate tenancy agreements of their own, the world will be our lobster - and we'll be looking at stuff like this.

 

I found the commute interesting using "long weekends" and some imagination having a full time UK job , there's flights at the mo for £30.49 there and £11.49 back, get nice EX-Autoshite Pug106 diesel to park on the street walking distance from airport but unlimited mileage hire cars from the airport can be found for £7 a day. It's not for everybody as it involves a bit of effort and unfortunately*  missing episodes of Easterners when laying in a hammock between two orange trees occasionally picking and eating one (orange not tree). Strangely UK kids seem to be far more adaptable and fit into "foreign"  situations more enthusiastically than a lot of UK adults. 

 

       

 

 

[Bobthebeard]

Quote from myself another thread?......

 

'Back to the 'self employed ' thing.

I retired from being an electrician around six years ago. Did the occasional small job for some longer standing customers. Recently got called by an elderly lady who needed some light bulbs replacing, a replacement outside light and the batteries replacing in her smoke alarms. Have worked for her previously and she is a very difficult woman. Agrees a price and is grateful for you turning up and doing the work. ( this is going to ramble on.... Sorry)

The call was urgent she said, as her smoke alarms were beeping and needed attention. Did that. Supplied and fitted six batteries (big house) supplied and fitted various bulbs and the outside light. She then asked if I knew anyone who would pressure wash, remove weeds and clean her driveway and rear garden flagging as she couldn't get a quote of under £2000! I offered to hire a pressure washer and do it myself for £350. She happily accepted. Hired the pressure washer and started working, discovered that pressure washing block paving wasn't ideal so just power washed the concrete slabs, rinsed the block paving and removed the weeds. Five hours work in total. Pressure washer hire was £36. Billed her £100 as downgraded my quote. She paid by cheque.

'While you are here, can you just wash my windows and fit these hanging basket brackets?'

'Oh, and could you just hang this mirror and check why my gas fire won't work... Blah blah.

Did all that.

For £100.

So, £36 hire charges, five hours labour plus the other stuff. For £100.

Came home from the static caravan to two voicemails.

'I paid you £100 to clean my drive and you haven't turned up. You are dishonest and I will be seeking legal action.'

Second voicemail ' You haven't replied to my message and are clearly avoiding contact and are dishonest , I am instructing my solicitor to instigate legal action to claim £50 back.

Loony.

Being self employed ain't always good!

Probably one for the grumpy thread, but put it here anyway. The woman owes me £££'s but claims I am dishonest. She has a history of legal claims going back over twenty years. No local tradesmen will go near her now. '

 

Well, the lady has escalated her 'complaint' and reported me to Trading Standards! I received a call from them and discussed in detail the situation. The chap was initially on her side, but after the discussion and hearing my side of the saga told me that there was no case and that in fact it seemed that she actually owed me money, rather than me owing her anything. I have invoices and receipts and a witness etc.

Verdict. "She has no case and no cause for complaint as far as we are concerned Mr Beard, The work you did is in excess of the amount she paid you"

 

Still she won't give up! Voicemail from her yesterday asking for my full address as she will be instructing her legal representative blah blah...

 

The chap from Trading Standards even felt embarrassed by the ludicrous situation, but obviously the matter was out of his hands now.

Grumpy because all I did was try to be kind and help someone.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Why did you get embroiled in this if you knew how difficult she was?

 

Anyway, ring her up and ask if you can come round and discuss the situation. Fix up an appointment, then turn up dressed as Mr Blobby/Mickey Mouse/an Egyptian mummy/pantomime horse etc. Carry on as normal, and politely point out the jobs you have done for which you have received no payment whatsoever. When she tries to respond, pull out a massive trumpet and start playing it super loud, so that you cannot hear her asking you to leave. Continue playing until she gets her chequebook out.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Hang on, I see she has paid already. In which case just delete her voicemail and put your feet up with a cup of tea.

[Bobthebeard]

Hang on, I see she has paid already. In which case just delete her voicemail and put your feet up with a cup of tea.

That's pretty much what I did really. Am just ignoring her silly rants. Although she has form and a long history of taking legal action against all and sundry.

[John F]

I bet she loves Argos catalogues, though.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Well in the end it sounds like you've done all you can do, let her get on with it the mad old bat. She is going to have to persuade a judge that she's been stitched up, sounds like she has got her work cut out if the whole thing is about a £50 dispute.

[Bobthebeard]

Why did you get embroiled in this if you knew how difficult she was?

 

Anyway, ring her up and ask if you can come round and discuss the situation. Fix up an appointment, then turn up dressed as Mr Blobby/Mickey Mouse/an Egyptian mummy/pantomime horse etc. Carry on as normal, and politely point out the jobs you have done for which you have received no payment whatsoever. When she tries to respond, pull out a massive trumpet and start playing it super loud, so that you cannot hear her asking you to leave. Continue playing until she gets her chequebook out.

Amusing but not really helpful Mr B.

I got embroiled because I am far too soft and always try to see the good in people. Mistake.

[Bobthebeard]

Well in the end it sounds like you've done all you can do, let her get on with it the mad old bat. She is going to have to persuade a judge that she's been stitched up, sounds like she has got her work cut out if the whole thing is about a £50 dispute.

Indeed so.

Pretty much what Trading Standards said. Leave her to it. She has no case.

Upset me though, never been accused of dishonesty ever!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

How does she square her 'you didn't turn up' claim with the fact that she handed you a cheque for £100 when you had completed the job?

[Bobthebeard]

How does she square her 'you didn't turn up' claim with the fact that she handed you a cheque for £100 when you had completed the job?

That is what Trading Standards wondered about also... It seems she has altered her recollection of events since May. Initially claiming I didn't show up to I did show up but didn't finish the job. Whatever 'the job' was is unclear!

[Louise2cv]

It is horrible Mr Beard, I sympathize entirely. We have similar (but opposite situation) at the moment. I feel sick everytime an email comes through and I haven't done anything wrong.

 

We have just submitted a claim through the government "moneyclaim" website... What a Nightmare. Tantrums were had, keyboards were mistreated. Mostly about the summary section requiring that you use a maximum of 1080 characters but declining to allow me to proceed because I had run out of lines (with less than 1080 characters).

[tooSavvy]

^^ gotts 2say[Mr B]... I thought that, myself

 

TS

[Bobthebeard]

It sounds silly when written down. It is silly really!

I did what she asked and ended up out of pocket financially. But she is wealthy(and batty) and will spend any amount on legal action. Even if unfair and unjust.

Edit. The whole daft saga has just upset me I guess. I have always been proud of my reputation and have been honest to the point of stupidity really.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I would like to see the stats on this woman's success rate at sueing tradesmen, as she sounds like a total amateur rather than a professional extortionist. TBH any 'arbitrator' is going to ask that question immediately aren't they, just like your trading standards guy. 'Madam, If you weren't happy at the time why did you hand over the money?'. She sounds like a grade A nutjob.

[Bobthebeard]

I would like to see the stats on this woman's success rate at sueing tradesmen, as she sounds like a total amateur rather than a professional extortionist. TBH any 'arbitrator' is going to ask that question immediately aren't they, just like your trading standards guy. 'Madam, If you weren't happy at the time why did you hand over the money?'. She sounds like a grade A nutjob.

Not sure of the statistics, but she successfully sued a firm of decorators, a tiler and a builder. She also sued the guy that owns the stables where she has a horse, and won. Tenacious old bat that plays the 'wronged old lady' card' and the law is often on her side. I know this retrospectively, but hey ho.

[Parky]

Could you not just give her back £50 in pennies? Be worth seeing the old bat carrying that to the Bank just to prove a point

[mercrocker]

Solicitor's letter will sort her out.   I hate to use the legal profession but sometimes there is no alternative.   Especially since dog shit, paper bags and matches have become less commonplace.    

 

Mrs R. had a nasty situation with a silly old back-and-front who took on some vintage dolls of hers to repair.   When she came away from giving him a couple of extra ones to do he suddenly "lost" some stuff in his house and phoned the Old Bill who arrived with the big stick and wanted to cart Mrs. R. away there and then.  We negotiated this down to an interview "under caution" at our solicitors.    Once it transpired that it was he who had our property and not vice versa I got said solicitor to pen him a strongly-worded letter warning of slander, mischievous allegations etc etc.    

 
Old Bill weren't interested and all Mrs R. got was a letter to say no further action would be taken "unless you come to our attention again".   Not bad for a blame-less 60 years on Earth, is it?    Just because some poisonous/stupid old cock mislaid some stuff.    

[Bobthebeard]

Never done it before so have no experience of such things... Apart from the obvious, what exactly is a solicitor's letter?

Also I assume it would cost me more than the daft old bat is claiming that I owe her.....

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

 

Also I assume it would cost me more than the daft old bat is claiming that I owe her.....

 

- that ..........

 

Can't you do a quick online hunt for freebie versions, or citizens advice etc... so they can do it for you? A 'proper' legal eagle will certainly cost you more than this is worth at all....... but saying that, you can of course hit her for all costs incurred, damages, stress etc.... so it could end up a payday (not worth the whole nightmare though of course).

 

Best of luck with it.

[cort1977]

I really wouldn't bother with it any more Mr. B.   Keep all the information in a file just in case but ignore her and try to move on.   Did you get a reference no. or correspondence from Trading Standards? Keep all that stuff but no further action on your part.   It's very frustrating but you'll never win, involving solicitors will just cost you money for no real gain.

[Guest Hooli]

Most solicitors do a free 30min session, you could arrange one & take your paperwork with you. They'll tell you what go further would cost etc at the time.

[Bren]

Even old people understand what get fucked means.