The grumpy thread

[adw1977]

  On 20/03/2023 at 14:26, adw1977 said:

Had a minor bump in my modern a few days ago.  Reported it esure online.

The only contact I had in the first 24 hours was a text message saying "As the Coronavirus situation continues to develop we've started to experience some disruption which is impacting on the service we can provide in our contact centres and it may take us longer than usual to respond to you." As if it's still 2020!

And twice now they have texted me inviting me to call their solicitors to make a claim for injury when I don't have any.

As for when they might arrange to get my car fixed, sod all, naturally. 

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Well they eventually stopped texting me every day about non-existent injuries but I today found out, only by chasing it myself, that the earliest I can get the car repaired through Esure's approved repairer is in four weeks time, which will be six weeks after the accident.  According to Esure that's totally normal. 

Oh, and because I didn't pay extra for legal cover I have to somehow chase the at fault party to recover my excess of £150.  Marvellous.

[Ghosty]

  On 27/03/2023 at 21:25, Talbot said:

they will almost certainly cover your costs and offer at least a partial refund.

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I've had a £350 refund off them for fucking up a mobile fitting appointment before.

Asked for four Pilot Sports fitted to a Civic Type R at a cost of about £650 and the guy got two done in three hours and on one SIDE of the car, leaving it unusable.
He couldn't get the other two tyres on, turns out the mobile fitting van isn't suitable for 19"s but this isn't stated anywhere. He said kwikfit would call me back but they left me in the dark for a few days and phoning customer services was a shitshow.
Had to rearrange for a few days later, when the second mobile guy came, early and unannounced before I'd even got home from work (supposed to get a text ahead),  he admitted openly that the first guy was incompetent and that it shouldn't have been accepted as a mobile job.

Emailed customer services about the whole thing and asked for a 50% refund, got a phone call from a guy very high up that said he completely agreed, and authorised it.


I say definitely kick up a fuss.

Currently having a similar experience with Google - bought a Pixel 6 directly from them last year.  USB port recently stopped providing a reliable connection, so enquired about warranty three weeks ago. They said send it to us, we'll fix it on warranty. I said I couldn't as I didn't have a backup phone. They said no problem, we'll send you a replacement and when it arrives, send us yours back.
Did this and the refurbished replacement had a faulty microphone. Tell them this and ask for a brand new replacement, they first insist on me factory resetting the phone to verify the BLATANT HARDWARE ISSUE THAT I'VE CLEARLY DESCRIBED isn't a software issue, then say yes but you have to send it us first this time, and we'll send your new phone out when this one is marked as delivered.
I begrudgingly agree - I've had to buy a spare phone to cover myself.
The faulty phone gets to their return centre in Warsaw (!) in under 24 hours and they fail to acknowledge the delivery on the tracking, so I ask them about it after a day, and they tell me to allow 2-3 business days to inspect  the phone and send a new one out.
Three business days pass and nothing, so I enquire and a new support agent replies, supposedly top of the tree. She says it's still in the warehouse.

I tell them that's not good enough and as they're keeping me waiting and leaving me out of pocket, I ask for compensation, either an upgrade in phone to account for inconvenience or new phone plus 50% refund.

Another business day before the reply, sorry we still don't know where your phone is, we can't offer an upgrade only like for like, and we'll look into compensation options. Tomorrow is the fifth working day, still no news, they have my money and my phone.

Fucking pisstake, I'm making sure I'm compenstated generously for this.

[chadders]

  On 28/03/2023 at 17:03, sdkrc said:

Thanks @chadders, genuinely appreciated. Someone else has pinged me Paul's number. Going to try one last time to get someone local through some contacts, when that inevitably doesn't pan out I'll give Paul a buzz. 

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Here's another message from him:

"Tell him to ring the manufacturer direct. Most do a fixed price repair for around £300 and they'll have the parts on the van."

[High Jetter]

I know, I shouldn't moan about the council fixing* potholes but every day it seems that one or the other roads around here is closed for repairs as they rush to spend all their budget before the end of the financial year. Added to which the delays and temporary lights to facilitate (another) network of fibre cables means any journey is guaranteed to take extra time.

[chaseracer]

  On 29/03/2023 at 12:35, High Jetter said:

I know, I shouldn't moan about the council fixing* potholes but every day it seems that one or the other roads around here is closed for repairs as they rush to spend all their budget before the end of the financial year. Added to which the delays and temporary lights to facilitate (another) network of fibre cables means any journey is guaranteed to take extra time.

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We've just suffered through a period where EVERY MAJOR ROAD into Cannock had at least one set of lights-controlled roadworks.  

Surprisingly*, it would seem that Highways England, the county council, the district council and the fibre installer do not communicate with each other, whether deliberately or by incompetence I know not.  The resulting UTTER FECKIN CHAOS was predictable to everyone, except them.

[horriblemercedes]

Honda Civic Type R (EP3) parked up over winter with battery disconnected. Connected battery and it turned over but too slow to start. Charged battery and got the same. Tried the same with new battery. No difference.

 

Might just break it for parts tbh. Life is too short to fuck about with this stuff

[Datsuncog]

Alternator bearings, maybe?

Had the same symptoms with MrsDC's Yaris back in December, after a few months of disuse... is it possible to slip the aux drive belt off and see if it turns over any quicker?

[wuvvum]

  On 28/03/2023 at 18:18, Bren said:

Secondhand alloys.

Need a set for the BMW.

People are offering utter shite - cracked buckled need tyres refurb.

And asking hundreds.

Throw em in the sea.

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I expect @yes oui si will have a set in his downstairs bog that would do you.

[horriblemercedes]

  On 29/03/2023 at 13:30, Datsuncog said:

Alternator bearings, maybe?

Had the same with MrsDC's Yaris back in December, after a few months of disuse... is it possible to slip the aux drive belt off and see if it turns over any quicker?

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I'll have a look, but I don't think so. I'm not sure if it's mechanical or electrical resistance. Jump leads from a running car didn't make it turn over any faster either

[yes oui si]

  On 29/03/2023 at 13:41, wuvvum said:

I expect @yes oui si will have a set in his downstairs bog that would do you.

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One of the sets there is bmw fitment... 15x8 billet two spokes 😂

[Datsuncog]

  On 29/03/2023 at 13:42, horriblemercedes said:

Jump leads from a running car didn't make it turn over any faster either

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Nope, same on the Yaris - though eventually I got it to start on the jumps, and then the screaming drive belt told me something other than the battery was awry.

Best of luck - always a massive annoyance when something goes wrong like this, but if you can get it running you might be able to get more than just a scrap price if you still want shot of it?

[horriblemercedes]

  On 29/03/2023 at 13:59, Datsuncog said:

Nope, same on the Yaris - though eventually I got it to start on the jumps, and then the screaming drive belt told me something other than the battery was awry.

Best of luck - always a massive annoyance when something goes wrong like this, but if you can get it running you might be able to get more than just a scrap price if you still want shot of it?

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The reason I don't think it's alternator is that the belt and all pulleys are turning freely, it seems. I don't think the resistance is there. But I will give it a go because I'd be stupid not to

[Datsuncog]

Ah, fair enough - if it was that, then it wouldn't be turning freely!

Still, fingers crossed it's something not too major - though it sounds like your patience is getting kinda thin with it?

[horriblemercedes]

  On 29/03/2023 at 13:59, Datsuncog said:

Nope, same on the Yaris - though eventually I got it to start on the jumps, and then the screaming drive belt told me something other than the battery was awry.

Best of luck - always a massive annoyance when something goes wrong like this, but if you can get it running you might be able to get more than just a scrap price if you still want shot of it?

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Fair play, DC. You might just be a genius. It appears to be a seized alternator 

[Datsuncog]

Heh, I think we'll call that a lucky guess! Similarly aged Japanese buzzbox, maybe 18 years is all you get before the alternator fails?

But yeah - I managed to get a new OEM Denso unit off eBay and (eventually) got it fitted, and the wee thing's been grand ever since.

[horriblemercedes]

  On 29/03/2023 at 14:14, Datsuncog said:

Heh, I think we'll call that a lucky guess!

But yeah - I managed to get a new OEM Denso alternator off eBay and (eventually) got it fitted, and the wee thing's been grand ever since.

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I whipped the belt off and it started immediately, as with you. I can also see a flaw in one of the modifications that allows water to drip onto the alternator pulley 

[Ghosty]

Google think appropriate compensation is a £40 discount code that's only valid for three months.

Nowhere near good enough.

[richardmorris]

  On 29/03/2023 at 12:35, High Jetter said:

I know, I shouldn't moan about the council fixing* potholes but every day it seems that one or the other roads around here is closed for repairs as they rush to spend all their budget before the end of the financial year. Added to which the delays and temporary lights to facilitate (another) network of fibre cables means any journey is guaranteed to take extra time.

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Four sets of temporary traffic lights on my trip to work this morning, in 8miles. Not fixing holes, but gas works, water works and fibre companies.

[eddyramrod]

Last week my compact digital camera died.  Why is it so difficult to get a halfway decent replacement?   (ETA bloody thing is less than a year old, after my previous one also died!)

Worse though: last night, during Day 3 of desperately deleting old emails in order to retrieve some storage space to accept new ones, my lovely new(ish) laptop flashed up a dialogue box a fraction of a second before going to black screen.  I haven't been able to get past the black screen since, so this morning I took it in to my local trusted repair shop.  The engineer's on holiday and won't even be looking at it until Monday. 

Fucking marvellous.

I'm typing this on my 2009 desktop machine that I haven't used in about two years.  On this I can't even get at my emails, never mind open up space.

It's true, you know: "The Machines" are conspiring, and will get us in the end.  Cuddle up, it's closer than you think!

[Low ontime]

  On 28/03/2023 at 08:06, Metal Guru said:

With all respect to Kwik Fit and other guys who work at similar places, they  not mechanics. They are fitters doing a limited range of mechanical jobs. 
(And before anyone asks, no I can’t fit a tyre , or exhaust although I can manage batteries and oil changes.)

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I’m ex Kwik fit, there are some great fitters and some horrific fitters.

I left as it was getting not so much tyre fitting but dragging an elastic band over an oil drum on.every.single.job…

[Low ontime]

  On 27/03/2023 at 16:36, jakebullet said:

Idiot sister bitches to Ma screen wash isn't working on her juke-o-doom, and Ma volunteers I will 'look at it' instead of telling her google a garage then.

There is a tiny trickle coming out of the jets. Found a connector in the pipe, and it blasts from there. Hmm, going to be the combo splitter non return valve I can see under the plastic but can't get to without taking everything out. Eventually got it out by jamming fingers painfully where there isn't space. It is indeed fucked. Went round every parts place in town who all have choice of 4mm or 6mm t pieces, and the bastard is 5mm. Took a 6mm and managed to get the pipes on with persuasion. Put the bastard thing back together, and voila, screen wash working.

Idiot comes out, and I say it's done. She thanks me profusely  bitches that it's been a long time, and the car has more important problems that need fixing than the screen wash. When am I going to fit a new exhaust? How about Tuesday the 3rd of Get to fuck? Does that work for you?

Asked Ma why was I volunteered* for this shit, and Ma wanted it done as idiot's answer to no screen wash is lower the window on the motorway and lean out with a can of de-icier to clean the screen.

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I would leave her to sort her own problems out, sounds very ungrateful.

basic gratitude goes a long way.

However you can’t choose your family etc…

[richardmorris]

  On 29/03/2023 at 19:35, eddyramrod said:

Last week my compact digital camera died.  Why is it so difficult to get a halfway decent replacement?   (ETA bloody thing is less than a year old, after my previous one also died!)

Worse though: last night, during Day 3 of desperately deleting old emails in order to retrieve some storage space to accept new ones, my lovely new(ish) laptop flashed up a dialogue box a fraction of a second before going to black screen.  I haven't been able to get past the black screen since, so this morning I took it in to my local trusted repair shop.  The engineer's on holiday and won't even be looking at it until Monday. 

Fucking marvellous.

I'm typing this on my 2009 desktop machine that I haven't used in about two years.  On this I can't even get at my emails, never mind open up space.

It's true, you know: "The Machines" are conspiring, and will get us in the end.  Cuddle up, it's closer than you think!

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Have a look at the London camera exchange.I’ve had good cameras and binoculars from them . Lcegroup.co.uk 

[MikeR]

  On 29/03/2023 at 19:35, eddyramrod said:

Last week my compact digital camera died.  Why is it so difficult to get a halfway decent replacement?   (ETA bloody thing is less than a year old, after my previous one also died!)

Worse though: last night, during Day 3 of desperately deleting old emails in order to retrieve some storage space to accept new ones, my lovely new(ish) laptop flashed up a dialogue box a fraction of a second before going to black screen.  I haven't been able to get past the black screen since, so this morning I took it in to my local trusted repair shop.  The engineer's on holiday and won't even be looking at it until Monday. 

Fucking marvellous.

I'm typing this on my 2009 desktop machine that I haven't used in about two years.  On this I can't even get at my emails, never mind open up space.

It's true, you know: "The Machines" are conspiring, and will get us in the end.  Cuddle up, it's closer than you think!

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might be worth looking at CEX for a camera , got mine from there and with a 2 year warranty  .. 

[MikeR]

I have just done the dirty deed of updating the house PC ( win 7 )  with a newer box that runs win10 , it runs great .....

everything is supported now for a bit longer 

but its different ....  init   , where is this button , that button , cant find word , is it logged in to the email ...

................

...

tech support is a thankless task ..

 

 

[adw1977]

  On 29/03/2023 at 19:35, eddyramrod said:

(ETA bloody thing is less than a year old, after my previous one also died!)

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Less than a year old must be under warranty, surely?

[High Jetter]

  On 29/03/2023 at 19:35, eddyramrod said:

Worse though: last night, during Day 3 of desperately deleting old emails in order to retrieve some storage space to accept new ones, my lovely new(ish) laptop flashed up a dialogue box a fraction of a second before going to black screen.  I haven't been able to get past the black screen since, so this morning I took it in to my local trusted repair shop.  The engineer's on holiday and won't even be looking at it until Monday. 

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I only use webmail, no local storage issues.

[jakebullet]

The Mrs's block of flats is getting a new air source powered heating system. Yay! Heat when you want it instead of crappy storage heaters.

Except, to get the new system you have to let the council in the flat. N the Mrs has OCD, hoarder tendencies & extreme anxiety about letting people in the flat. Oh, n she's INSANE about recycling.

It's got to the point where it's her turn, and the spare room is still the spare room of DOOM. Went to try and help her out, and her initial idea is we'll just neatly* stack these random boxes n bags of crap, and it will somehow increase the space by 98%. Convinced her moving crap about doesn't reduce it's volume and you need to look in the boxes.

It's hours of fun. OCD tells her the slightest bit of dust is deadly so she needs lots of PPE and hand washing every 10 seconds. Hoarding means lots of empty boxes for products she no longer owns, but she's kept the box 'cos it has the manual in it. Extreme recycling means you must ponder how to break everything down into it's component parts. Or preferably "we could give it to the charity shop and they can sell it".

We could take these VHS tapes to charity?
Nobody wants a VHS copy of eastenders taped off the telly.
Can we dismantle and recycle the components?
No!!!!!!!!!! 
~Half baked schemes about who we could give them to~
I go and feed them down the rubbish chute. Lot's of moralising about what we should have done.

Being a woman there is a lot of shoes. Many are completely knackered, hideous or she can only find the left foot. She has this idea from somewhere that you can donate any shoe to charity and in the unlikely event a one legged woman doesn't want it, the charity will sell it to a recycler* who will break it down into a bit of leather, a worn out rubber sole etc and recycle these tiny scraps into, well something. Trying to get round this one by saying the dump site has a shoe bank, and you stay in the car while I recycle them by accidentally throwing in the general landfill skip.

There is also a ton of shit her son left behind 19 years ago. Given he doesn't acknowledge you exist, isn't it time you stopped storing his GCSE geography exercise books? He's not coming back for them any time soon.

Still, be nice to have heat in 2035.

[Pieman]

With all the shit you seem to put up with, my advice to you would be to move abroad and get a new identity.

[jakebullet]

  On 29/03/2023 at 23:44, Pieman said:

With all the shit you seem to put up with, my advice to you would be to move abroad and get a new identity.

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On the bright side cunts next door have fucked off this week. I'm assuming they've discovered Easter break pricing is more, and not having an education never did him any harm, so why not take kids out of school n have more drinking money?

[Pieman]

Hop over the fence and find out what those aircon units are really there for.