The grumpy thread

[xtriple]

Was checking how dire my bank account was looking last night (dire indeed!) and noticed the AA had taken twice my usual monthly payment! Rang them this A.M. and asked why and was told it was the new renewal price as it had just renewed.

 

At this point I was expecting a bit of a punch-up as I had not received anything from them about the renewal and said so to the chap. He was instantly apologetic, brought the price down to a quid a month more than last year and refunded the difference they had just charged me.

 

So I started out fine, got grumpy (but not with the agent on the phone) and ended up fine again. Does that count as  'grump'?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Cheers GG! I hope this will be sorted one way or t'other by then, but if not I might take you up on that!

[greengartside]

Cheers GG! I hope this will be sorted one way or t'other by then, but if not I might take you up on that!

Not a problem boss, good luck!

[Captain Furious]

My ST220 has had a weak battery for a while now, its never actually FTP'd but has given ample warnings that its on the cards.  No problem though, because when I was having some battery woes on the Mk2 Granada a year or so ago I bought a brand new battery -  it later turned out that the battery wasn't the issue so its spare, it is also the correct size for the Mondeo.

 

So last night I fitted it, nothing, just a click from the starter motor.  So I hooked it up to another car using some substantial jump leads and left it running for 20 minutes, still nothing, just the exact same click.  Weird, I have never not been able to jump a car before even if the battery is completely borked.  What are the chances that the starter motor has decided to pick this exact moment in time to pack in?  I did the usual wiggling the gear leaver, rocking it in gear etc.

 

So I currently have the original battery on charge so I can swap them back and try it, I can't really believe the new battery is completely dead because I use it reasonably regularly to jump start the Mk2 and keep it charged up.  Also when the battery is completely flat the dials start going crazy and doing sweeps of the gauge - which they're not doing

 

This car is being a real fucking problem child since its MOT...its only because the air-con and heated seats still work that I persevere, as soon as either of those fail its game over.

[Lankytim]

Wasn't that old Mazda featured about 18 months ago? Someone spotted it in a bus breakers and a deal was done over the phone but when they went to collect they found the dozy secretary had told the DVLA it had been scrapped- when she saw the logbook she thought it was an old bus? I think the breakers refused to sell after that.

 

I can't be the only one that remembers that escapade?

[bramz7]

Pretty sure that was an old Corona...or something. That was up in Scotland I believe.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

correct, i remember that Corona

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

I found out I was a serious chunk of cash down on what should've been in the account....... WTF!

AHA - they're still paying into a pension fund I distinctly cancelled 6mths back - it's crap - so bad they themselves don't bother trying to punt it on to anyone...... I'd asked local blonde bimbo to cancel it whilst in the branch for another of their fuckups. She went and got advice from senior colleague.... clicked around, website was useless and not working. Internal system then.... click x 5 or so - All done Mr W..... 

I, of course, being a fucknugget, didn't check. 

Now, over 1200 down into a fund that is total shite.... went in - guy in nearby branch looks - sees and sorts problem in 5secs flat. 

Meeting arranged - I want my fucking money back you cunts - or words to that effect but in a less 'get arrested for threats' kind of way.

Not a fucking chance apparently......... 

 

Bank guy (BG) - I see it's been paid over the last 6mths.....

Me - yup - while it was apparently blocked by your colleague over there....... 

BG - so we paid it when we shouldn't have.....

Me - yup - that's about the size of it....

BG - calls centre...... 

 

 

BG - sorry sir - we can't just refund it like that - it isn't that simple.

Me - So, your colleague didn't do her job - I pay something I wanted blocked - losing my money - and it's somehow NOT your banks fault.....? ( I lost patience then ) - Sorry - but how the screaming FUCK does that work then?

BG - no need to be offensive sir....

Me - I appreciate your view on that - but you're not the one looking at a loss of that much because your company employs fucking morons - are you?

 

Meeting with manager for next week - see how THAT works then! Cunting bank charging, incompetent thieving cunting arseholes!

and breathe.........

[Guest Hooli]

Liked for how entertaining it would have been to watch you.

[Lankytim]

Aha, Corona- same colour though I think!

[Supernaut]

Not a grump from me directly, but I'm currently watching a colleague go through the pain of getting a 2006 Seat Leon TDI through the new MOT regulations.

 

It keeps failing on emissions, even though it would have passed under the old regulations. The mechanics are on about their 3rd attempt now, after putting snake oil down it, and taking it out for a thrash to get it up to temperature. My colleague is now in great danger of having an otherwise usable car that's utterly worthless. This is after spending £300 on this MOT so far, on brakes and suspension work.

 

 

I'm NEVER buying a modern diesel.

[Zelandeth]

Bloody heat...

 

Had to dive out to grab something an hour or so back, Xantia hasn't been started since Thursday or Friday.

 

The temperature gauge should NOT be this far off the bottom stop before the engine has even started!

 

 

Just had a look at the forecast.  29C every day until the end of the week.  Fscking wonderful...

[dollywobbler]

Bloody heat...

 

Had to dive out to grab something an hour or so back, Xantia hasn't been started since Thursday or Friday.

 

The temperature gauge should NOT be this far off the bottom stop before the engine has even started!

 

 

Just had a look at the forecast.  29C every day until the end of the week.  Fscking wonderful...

 

Mid-30s by Friday. But thankfully not in Wales. Mind you, it's muggy as hell now. It was actually quite chilly this morning.

[Supernaut]

Colleague's car has somehow passed its emissions, so it now has an MOT.

 

I actually saw him drive past in it when I was cycling home from work, as he left earlier than me to collect it and return the courtesy car, then he had to go the other way to get home.

 

I think the idea of selling it quickly with a year's MOT and getting a small petrol is firmly planted in his mind, though.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Apparently the temperature yesterday in Scrabster was 17 and it was raining.

 

Might just have to fill up the Golf and go for a little drive to escape this Hell.  My shaded bedroom is currently 29.

[ruffgeezer]

Not a grump from me directly, but I'm currently watching a colleague go through the pain of getting a 2006 Seat Leon TDI through the new MOT regulations.

 

It keeps failing on emissions, even though it would have passed under the old regulations. The mechanics are on about their 3rd attempt now, after putting snake oil down it, and taking it out for a thrash to get it up to temperature. My colleague is now in great danger of having an otherwise usable car that's utterly worthless. This is after spending £300 on this MOT so far, on brakes and suspension work.

 

 

I'm NEVER buying a modern diesel.

 

I definitely didn't tell you to but some stickers, service labels or "seat recommends repsol" etc, and place them over the euro emissions label.

 

They cannot test it to the new rules if the label isn't present or visible.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Passat going in on Wednesday for paint.

ML just been diagnosed with a sensor in the manifold fucked- part £200 but turbo got to come off so looking at £500 and can't do it till end of week.

E46 330d just overheated after drip from rad seems to have got worse- who'd a thunk it in 33c heat? I bought some rad weld this morning for it too ! Maybe I'll have a look later when it's a little cooler.

 

Looks like Enterprise are going to get more of my money this week..

[Guest Hooli]

I tried going back to the gym after a week off because I've done something to my back, that was a waste of time & I had to give up before I damaged it again. Damned annoying as I'll be a fat weak shit by the time I get back in there.

[NorthernMonkey]

I definitely didn't tell you to but some stickers, service labels or "seat recommends repsol" etc, and place them over the euro emissions label.

 

 

They cannot test it to the new rules if the label isn't present or visible.

Correct. I had a Focus TDCi last week that has never been out of third gear and someone had accidentally* placed a timing belt sticker over the emissions info.

 

Simply test to old standards....

 

In unrelated news, I need some more timing belt stickers now.

[sierraman]

How hard is it to pay a fucking loan off ?

 

If its the tsb very hard. Branch told us to phone loans but there is more chance of contacting the dead. I am sure they no longer want business.

Tell the counter you want to borrow some more. I think they'd see you quite quick then.

[sierraman]

Fucking smackrat bastards have turned over work at the weekend. Crowbarred the robin door and bonnet, then nicked the battery.

Put the back window through on my mates mint hiace and nicked his batteries (twin)too.

Did some customer cars as well, just cut through the battery cables...cunts

Eh? What's a battery worth scrap? £5? Seems a lot of fucking about when you could wrap a chain round a few cats and rag them off and make hundreds.

[sierraman]

Well, I just rang him about the 929. He was pretty cagey about giving me a price and he says the CoD has already been issued, but seemingly he would sell it whole for parts. Apparently someone else had just rang about it before me! I think he’s probably trying to get a bit of a bidding war going, but he did promise to ring me back about it when he knew what he was doing with it or whatever. So we’ll see. I am up for paying a reasonable ‘2018’ price for it as opposed to a 2003 price, but I am not up for the stress of being played off against other mystery bidders, so if he comes back and says ‘OK Richard the price is X if you are interested’ maybe something will happen.

 

SL: Offer noted and highly appreciated!!! If a deal is done I will defo be calling in that favour! Thanks!

What are your plans if its got the COD?

 

Worst thing you can come across to a scrap man is that you are desperate for it.

[cobblers]

Eh? What's a battery worth scrap? £5? Seems a lot of fucking about when you could wrap a chain round a few cats and rag them off and make hundreds.

If they weren't shit thick, they wouldn't have to go out nicking batteries to make a fiver.

 

Plus you need to spend £20 on an exhaust cutter to steal a £50 cat. That requires planning. Maybe they'll use the battery proceeds to buy one? 

Or maybe they buy some snide gear and choke to death on their own sick 

[Guest Hooli]

 

Or maybe they buy some snide gear and choke to death on their own sick 

 

We can only hope.

[Lord Sterling]

...E46 330d just overheated after drip from rad seems to have got worse- who'd a thunk it in 33c heat? I bought some rad weld this morning for it too ! Maybe I'll have a look later when it's a little cooler...

Does the E46 leak from the front, usually just under the front bumper? If so, it's more likely to be an expansion tank problem. I have this on my E46, I keep the water topped up but it'll be going in soon for remedying.

[Saabnut]

The ghost* in my Bentley (see my blog for details) has manifested again with a new trick. Arrive at shop, central locking has tripped, pressing open leaves the door locked. Great. Slide across to passenger side and exit. Buy milk and bread, open rear nearside door to place shopping in car. Try drivers door again, nope, so back to the front passenger door. Whilst unattended and during my epic* shopping expedition that took about 3 minutes, the passenger door is now permanently locked. The rear offside door did this prior to going to France so it has been a 3 door T2, now it is a 1 door T2. Climbing in the back then over the seats into the front looks proper dignified. Bastard!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

What are your plans if its got the COD?

Worst thing you can come across to a scrap man is that you are desperate for it.

Dunno really, don't have a strategy. if the car looks saveable I guess I will attempt to persuade the DVLA to reverse it somehow!

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Does the E46 leak from the front, usually just under the front bumoer? If so, it's mkre likely to be an exlansiin tank problem. I have this on my E46, I keep the water topped up but it'll be going in soon for remedying.

Yes that's exactly where the water appears from, I'll have a look later when the sun goes down a little. Thanks .

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Dunno really, don't have a strategy. if the car looks saveable I guess I will attempt to persuade the DVLA to reverse it somehow!

Just buy a log book off eBay , there's so many of the fuckers , there's bound to be a 929 one. Admittedly you might have to change the colour or pretend it's an RX4. ( or a Cortina)

[dollywobbler]

Dunno really, don't have a strategy. if the car looks saveable I guess I will attempt to persuade the DVLA to reverse it somehow!

 

They can be reversed, and DVLA do seem quite pleasant to deal with in this regard. If you can prove the car still exists, and is what the V5 said it was, then I think you stand a fighting chance. Of course, it might be absolutely cream crackered, but at least if it escapes, EVERYTHING of potential value can be removed.