The grumpy thread

[Pieman]

A certain car-buying website celebrating its 20th anniversary by bringing back its original TV advert.

GET.  TO.  FUCK.

And you won't be getting your hands on any of my cars, because thanks to a member on here I know how crap you treat your employees.  So fuck off.

[Mally]

8 hours ago, New POD said:

My son works in m the Finance Department at GSF. 

Apparently he can get friends and family discount..

So far in 4 years, he has failed to take the trouble to do this, so i try not to buy stuff there as it would piss me off too much knowing that I could have had a massive discount. 

I ordered a part I needed urgently on Wednesday Evening, with next day delivery.  Via DPD.  Thursday morning I looked at the tracking and it hadn't left the warehouse, so i phoned the customer services and found out through a nice bloke called Shuby, that it indeed hadn't left the warehouse and I definately wouldnt get it on Thursday. He refunded me and found that Southport had one in stock. But out of my way adding 30 mins to my comute but hey. 

He also confirmed that it would take my son 10 minutes to sort out a discount code for me.  

I saw my son on Sunday.  Said "Shuby says if you wander into customer services he will do it for you" 

He bloody won't.  

 

As he has no interest in your money, I trust you have changed your will.

[Remspoor]

I am having to visit the UK. This involves me driving around the M25. In case the road is closed or I have to take  a diversion I thought I would be a good person and register the car with TfL 

The Peugeot is Euro 5 compliant. However, they do not make it easy for foreign cars to be "in the system". Start by registering the vehicle add a number plate and tick the box that it is a foreign car, message comes up, We cannot find that car. No shit.

They want a car of the car docs and the Certificate of Conformity (CoC). Scanned the car docs and went to upload a copy of the CoC . It was then i discovered I need to open an account. Oh well this is not for me, I will just have to risk it. Why make it easy?

It is luck that I have a copy of the CoC from when I imported the car into Spain last year. God knows how you get on without one, They cost a lot of money of you apply personally to the manufacture. https://www.eurococ.eu/en/

[MikeR]

23 hours ago, New POD said:

My son works in m the Finance Department at GSF. 

Apparently he can get friends and family discount..

So far in 4 years, he has failed to take the trouble to do this, so i try not to buy stuff there as it would piss me off too much knowing that I could have had a massive discount. 

I ordered a part I needed urgently on Wednesday Evening, with next day delivery.  Via DPD.  Thursday morning I looked at the tracking and it hadn't left the warehouse, so i phoned the customer services and found out through a nice bloke called Shuby, that it indeed hadn't left the warehouse and I definately wouldnt get it on Thursday. He refunded me and found that Southport had one in stock. But out of my way adding 30 mins to my comute but hey. 

He also confirmed that it would take my son 10 minutes to sort out a discount code for me.  

I saw my son on Sunday.  Said "Shuby says if you wander into customer services he will do it for you" 

He bloody won't.  

 

I think the last thing I bought at GSF was a wiper blade , the place is about 10 miles out of my way on a major tourist route as well , good thing I have a Toyota engine ...

[horriblemercedes]

On 01/03/2026 at 21:09, dozeydustman said:

New kitchen has been completed. Not the grump.

Three tip runs this morning used three of my my 5 per month allowance. Not really a grump as I rarely go more than once a month.

the old fridge freezer. Not worth a carrot so decided to Freecycle/freegle it. It’s a bit battered and rough around the edges but someone who needs a family sized fridge freezer might find it useful.

The amount of people asking to see the dings and scratches then saying it’s too badly damaged has been unbelievable. It’s a free 6ft 6 tall family sized fridge freezer which works. Why are people such tosspots even for stuff being given away?

Damn, I would've been delighted with that and would've given no hassle. Oh well, too late now. I've got a brand new one in the kitchen!

[New POD]

16 hours ago, Mally said:

As he has no interest in your money, I trust you have changed your will.

No. I am intending to spend it all.  

[Mally]

2 hours ago, New POD said:

No. I am intending to spend it all.  

It's a difficult one that. It's very hard to spend it all when you don't know the moment of your departure.

We  gave much of ours to the kids as we went along. Because we get on, help each other, and always have.

I left myself enough to last to around 75, which is much longer than my parents.

However I'm still here at 80, and off to Spain again shortly with my girlfriend. Funny how things work out.

There's also the fact that you have a house or 2, as do I. Those could be converted to cash, by your local council, and/or your beneficiaries.

 

 

[Zelandeth]

Why the hell has the necessary process to get anything to work these days changed from "Read the manufacturers documentation" to "Find random poorly written thread on Reddit which while vague does actually work."

[sheffcortinacentre]

Because it's cheaper for them plus another part of built in obsolescence.

[Datsuncog]

New remote light switch (well, new last year) in the bedroom stopped working. 

That'll be why, then. 

New Duracell AAA battery, only a few months old, leaking like a mad thing. 

It's corroded out the terminal in the remote... and wouldn't you know it, IKEA have just discontinued this particular line of remotes and bulbs. 

Use by 2033? My arse. 

I've taken the rest of the Duracells out, and replaced them with Home Bargains' finest Pifco cells. 

Time was, shelling out a bit extra for a premium brand like Duracell bought you some peace of mind. I could imagine market stall no-name cells to be a bit dicey, but I'd thought I'd treat myself and 'do it right' with proper Duracells. 

More fool me. 

[New POD]

3 hours ago, Mally said:

It's a difficult one that. It's very hard to spend it all when you don't know the moment of your departure.

We  gave much of ours to the kids as we went along. Because we get on, help each other, and always have.

I left myself enough to last to around 75, which is much longer than my parents.

However I'm still here at 80, and off to Spain again shortly with my girlfriend. Funny how things work out.

There's also the fact that you have a house or 2, as do I. Those could be converted to cash, by your local council, and/or your beneficiaries.

 

 

That's my current retirement planning issue.  How long do you plan to live for? 

[myglaren]

25 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

New remote light switch (well, new last year) in the bedroom stopped working. 

That'll be why, then. 

New Duracell AAA battery, only a few months old, leaking like a mad thing. 

It's corroded out the terminal in the remote... and wouldn't you know it, IKEA have just discontinued this particular line of remotes and bulbs. 

Use by 2033? My arse. 

I've taken the rest of the Duracells out, and replaced them with Home Bargains' finest Pifco cells. 

Time was, shelling out a bit extra for a premium brand like Duracell bought you some peace of mind. I could imagine market stall no-name cells to be a bit dicey, but I'd thought I'd treat myself and 'do it right' with proper Duracells. 

More fool me. 

Possibly fakes?

I have some that have been here for years.  Unused.

[Mally]

36 minutes ago, New POD said:

 How long do you plan to live for? 

At my age I plan each day as my last. 

I'd like to go out fast, rather than lie in bed waiting 2 years like my next door neighbour, but sometimes you can't control it.

I wouldn't be afraid of using an off switch if I had one.  Not sure I can fast for 3 days, but..........

Edit.

Before I get a string of sad people, I'm off to Spain on Thursday and have another one booked shortly after,

I don't intend to pop off just yet.

[High Jetter]

40 minutes ago, Mally said:

I'm off to Spain on Thursday and have another one booked shortly after,

I don't intend to pop off just yet.

Good on yer, keep going until something stops you.

[paulplom]

Newcastle City Hall tonight. Managed 6 songs before fucking off.  The sound quality was absolutely terrible. The sound engineers need sacked. 

What went wrong @BorniteIdentity?

[Datsuncog]

11 hours ago, myglaren said:

Possibly fakes?

I have some that have been here for years.  Unused.

It's possible, though these Duracell were bought from Tesco just before Christmas, and I'd be surprised if they were retailing knock-off batteries. 

I had a look through the battery box and the others were alright; one unused D-cell battery (Sony branded) was showing signs of leakage too though it had an expiry date of 2027 so probably dates from COVID times. 

Should have stuck to Readycell from Lidl, they've never given me any trouble! 

[Split_Pin]

'Kodak*' or 'Panasonic*' batteries in packs of ten from Poundland have been my choice for well over a decade.

[chadders]

12 hours ago, New POD said:

That's my current retirement planning issue.  How long do you plan to live for? 

If you're that worried sell most or all of your assets and buy a Lifetime Annuity.

Me, I'm not Mystic Meg so have no idea when I'm going to die.

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

It's possible, though these Duracell were bought from Tesco just before Christmas, and I'd be surprised if they were retailing knock-off batteries. 

I had a look through the battery box and the others were alright; one unused D-cell battery (Sony branded) was showing signs of leakage too though it had an expiry date of 2027 so probably dates from COVID times. 

Should have stuck to Readycell from Lidl, they've never given me any trouble! 

Possibly damage packaging and then stored somewhere damp?

[eddyramrod]

13 hours ago, New POD said:

That's my current retirement planning issue.  How long do you plan to live for? 

I'm on borrowed time anyway, for nearly eight years now.  Fuck it, I'm going to enjoy myself whenever possible, and be grateful every time I wake up.

[Datsuncog]

53 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Possibly damage packaging and then stored somewhere damp?

Original Duracell packaging looked undamaged, and these weren't stored at any point - they went straight from the shop into the remotes less than three months ago. The remotes are used daily.

There's no damp anywhere in the house; after replacing the roof last year and having taken all the internal walls back to the framing to add insulation, I'm quite certain of that.

Just must be a manufacturing fail, which is a bit annoying for a manufacturer that styles itself as 'the #1 trusted battery brand'.

 

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

'Kodak*' or 'Panasonic*' batteries in packs of ten from Poundland have been my choice for well over a decade.

Normally that was my go-to - or else Hyundai branded ones from Poundstretcher - but I couldn't find any alkaline ones stocked by Poundland in December, so thought I'd treat myself with some premium ones instead, as Tesco had them on a Clubcard offer.

Never again, lesson learned!

[New POD]

2 hours ago, chadders said:

If you're that worried sell most or all of your assets and buy a Lifetime Annuity.

Me, I'm not Mystic Meg so have no idea when I'm going to die.

I think the retirement planning books  suggest using "some" of your pension pot to do exactly that. 

 

[New POD]

1 hour ago, eddyramrod said:

I'm on borrowed time anyway, for nearly eight years now.  Fuck it, I'm going to enjoy myself whenever possible, and be grateful every time I wake up.

Indeed.

Wake up. Check elbows for splinters. Open eyes and thank a higher being for letting you experience another morning again. 

[Zelandeth]

Duracell have always had a poor record for leakage in my experience.

[vulgalour]

Things continue to be frustrating here.  Got my PIP claim in the process of applying for the tribunal and the deadline for the DWP to respond to that was the 28th of Feb.  2nd March I still hadn't heard anything so called the number (50 minute wait time, thank goodness for the callback option) to learn that the DWP had done diddly squat.  That gets escalated to the tribunal judge now, and a complaint lodged on the grounds of the DWP causing financial hardship and the worsening of my health.  Now can't do anything at all with that until the DWP respond, heck knows what happens if they don't, but I'm still looking at 5 months until I get an appeal.  Request for an Urgent Appeal Review (or similar wording) also lodged, but again that won't move ahead until the DWP respond to it.

In the meantime, I'm trying to get a Fit Note from my GP.  Finally had my phone appointment to discuss that today only to learn than my patient record hasn't been updated with the diagnosis I recieved from the neurologist last year.

I really have no words for the level of incompetence on display with this whole process at this point.  It's like I don't exist. If (and it's feeling like a pretty big if at this point) I am successful with this claim it's going to be a hefty pay out which will be nice because my debts are stacking up and I am too ill to work hard enough to clear them and have no government assistance whatsoever.  Financially I'm relying on the trickle of income from Patreon, the help of my partner's family, and the kindness of friends.

I am beyond done with this whole miserable experience.  If one more person tells me to 'keep my chin up' or similar I may commit crimes.

[robt100]

2 hours ago, vulgalour said:

Things continue to be frustrating here.  Got my PIP claim in the process of applying for the tribunal and the deadline for the DWP to respond to that was the 28th of Feb.  2nd March I still hadn't heard anything so called the number (50 minute wait time, thank goodness for the callback option) to learn that the DWP had done diddly squat.  That gets escalated to the tribunal judge now, and a complaint lodged on the grounds of the DWP causing financial hardship and the worsening of my health.  Now can't do anything at all with that until the DWP respond, heck knows what happens if they don't, but I'm still looking at 5 months until I get an appeal.  Request for an Urgent Appeal Review (or similar wording) also lodged, but again that won't move ahead until the DWP respond to it.

In the meantime, I'm trying to get a Fit Note from my GP.  Finally had my phone appointment to discuss that today only to learn than my patient record hasn't been updated with the diagnosis I recieved from the neurologist last year.

I really have no words for the level of incompetence on display with this whole process at this point.  It's like I don't exist. If (and it's feeling like a pretty big if at this point) I am successful with this claim it's going to be a hefty pay out which will be nice because my debts are stacking up and I am too ill to work hard enough to clear them and have no government assistance whatsoever.  Financially I'm relying on the trickle of income from Patreon, the help of my partner's family, and the kindness of friends.

I am beyond done with this whole miserable experience.  If one more person tells me to 'keep my chin up' or similar I may commit crimes.

With Mrs Robt100 in the early stages of a PIP claim, and seeing how stressful that has been I can only imagine how it feels, sorry to hear you're still going through it!
MrsRobt100 has just been informed she has a phone interview on Thursday next week. She also called DWP on monday to find out why she hasn't heard anything, only to be told "they cant hurry anything up" and "they dont know why its taken this long to get to this point", and also to tell her that the claim starts from late November, when she rang to find out why they hadn't responded to her letter application, rather than from the date the letter was recieved in early october because apparently "you cant apply by letter"....might want to read and correct your own website then(!). Plus many other false promises of deadlines and so forth. 

[myglaren]

2 minutes ago, robt100 said:

With Mrs Robt100 in the early stages of a PIP claim, and seeing how stressful that has been I can only imagine how it feels, sorry to hear you're still going through it!
MrsRobt100 has just been informed she has a phone interview on Thursday next week. She also called DWP on monday to find out why she hasn't heard anything, only to be told "they cant hurry anything up" and "they dont know why its taken this long to get to this point", and also to tell her that the claim starts from late November, when she rang to find out why they hadn't responded to her letter application, rather than from the date the letter was recieved in early october because apparently "you cant apply by letter"....might want to read and correct your own website then(!). Plus many other false promises of deadlines and so forth. 

Seems to be par for the course.  My eldest daughter is having a similar experience with them, complicated by the local council, the DVLA and her doctor's being involved and all acting similarly.

Fingers crossed for a resolution.

[Wibble]

I feel for you all. Mrs W is hitting a brick wall too. Not for PIP but for vacination  compensation . She has chronic ITP, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, all of which the consultants have said is from having the AstraZeneca vaccine. She was fine before and it’s been over 2 years now and they still say their agent hasn’t received her medical records from the GP, despite them saying they’ve sent them. Good luck to you all.

[High Jetter]

7 minutes ago, Wibble said:

I feel for you all. Mrs W is hitting a brick wall too. Not for PIP but for vacillation  compensation . She has chronic ITP, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, all of which the consultants have said is from having the AstraZeneca vaccine. She was fine before and it’s been over 2 years now and they still say their agent hasn’t received her medical records from the GP, despite them saying they’ve sent them. Good luck to you all.

2 years? I'd have been beating doors down before now.

[Wibble]

2 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

2 years? I'd have been beating doors down before now.

The doors are locked and nobody’s there. You get no response at all.