The grumpy thread

[willswitchengage]

Government fail...

 

Who now is boss of the NHS? Yes, step up Jeremy Cunt, one of the most disgraced ministers of the cabinet who's CV includes being accused of lying in parliament and being massively lobbied by a private company - perfect for healthcare, then.

 

Oo and now the important one... transport. Yes bye bye Ms Greening of West London, although you will obviously still lose your seat when Heathrow's third runway is announced by the next election. So what do we know about this new fellow, Patrick McgLoughlin? Pro motorist? Pro trains? Pro planes? His record has seen him as an EU moderate, a climate change believer and a homophobe (all from theyworkforyou). Sadly however he has been 100% in line with the party whip, so I imagine he's there partly as a bit of a pusharound. Guardian seems to think he'll quietly drop the 80mph proposed limit, which I think is a good thing, although am sure others here will disagree. Bonus is though that he's not a plane-o-phile, and coupled with that BoJo is probably the most powerful Conservative right now, I really hope Heathrow #3 isn't built. I live 25 miles from the airport, and it's fucking loud enough already, let alone the five or so million people who live nearer. Airlines are subsidised to the tune of £10bn a year already (untaxed fuel - passenger duty receipts), they don't need another helping handjob under the table. Oh well, this is continuing 20 years or so of almost a transport minister a year - GR9 for consistent and well thought out policy, just look at the trains since '93.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Planes are good. This CO2 nonsense has to stop ASAP. If we need to keep cutting down on our emissions, let's sacrifice a few cows instead. The economic and social benefits which have been brought about by mass air travel are gigantic and should never be underestimated.

 

 

That doesn't mean that LHR is clever. It sits between London and the wilderness (Reading is a London suburb, Newbury is like a big village, and Swindon isn't exactly a metropolis, either). On the other hand, Luton is located on the M1, not far from the M6, and within striking distance of all three major train corridors in the country. It would make an awful lot of sense to channel most origin and destination London traffic, particularly long-haul flights, into Luton, while keeping Heathrow as a hub for connections on BA and some short-haul flights that can't be served from City. Of course, that's too sensible to be used as government policy, so they'll just keep expanding Heathrow instead, spending billions in the process to compensate everyone affected (needless to say, land is a lot more expensive there).

 

 

The 80mph limit increase is badly needed. With 90% of lorries having the cruise control stuck at an indicated 58mph, this gives the average motorist (IQ: 78) a mere 12mph margin between the effective slowest speed on the road and the speed limit. Instead of speeding up the motorway, this has the effect of killing off any lane discipline, making people more reluctant to slow down for accidents/traffic jams, and generally making them even less responsible for, and accustomed to, choosing the appropriate speed for the conditions.

[Volksy]

In the new 'cabinet' it appears that Maria Miller has been given the role of Minister for Culture and a secondary role for Women and Equalities...

 

Good job in the past she's:

Voted against Gay adoption Rights,

Voted against the human fertilisation and embryology bill (which would give lesbian couples the ability to receive fertility treatment),

Voted against the process of the racial and religious hatred bill,

And voted in favour of defining racial hatred, homophobia and prejudice as simply just 'freedom of speech'

 

Great move there.....

[Ross_K]

Don't right-wing cunts like her always do well in recessionary times?

 

Your average person:

* doesn't feel as generous/charitable

* wants a "safe pair of hands"/someone who won't rock the boat

* wants a bogeyman to blame for their troubles: gays, foreigners, that kind of thing

[pompei]

Ah, but she boosts the women quotient in the Government ...

 

Remember the jubilation felt by some women when Thatcher was elected? Britain's first PM would surely promote a pro feminist range of policies? Ah well.

[ayd]

Orange : rang them a couple of months ago to say my signal at home was now non existent to be told they were doing work on the mast and it'd all be resolved mid August.

Rang back today to say it was still no better and was told 'oh we've actually taken it down now and we aren't going to replace it' some bullshit about reducing carbon footprint (more like cutting costs).

Fuck it thought I, my contract was up so off I went to all the providers only to be told my next closest mast is....Orange....and fuck all chance of getting any other provider to offer a decent signal where I live.

 

Grumblingly had to renew my contract with Orange for a phone I can't use at home.

 

I'm off to hit stuff with a hammer until I feel better

[Ross_K]

Can you get one of those signal booster app things that work off your broadband? I know 3 and Vodafone use them...

 

Oh look, Orange Signal Boost: http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Satell ... 6843176798

 

Got to be worth a try?

[ayd]

Can you get one of those signal booster app things that work off your broadband? I know 3 and Vodafone use them...

 

Oh look, Orange Signal Boost: http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Satell ... 6843176798

 

Got to be worth a try?

 

 

That would be fine...if my phone had WiFi

[messerschmitt owner]

phone them up, tell them you want an upgraded phone to one with wifi - sorted!

[ayd]

did explain my slight 'pissed offness' but was met with a barrier of 'don't give a shitness'

 

snotty email now sent

[JohnDeere]

Reasons to avoid Direct Line (in case you needed any more)...

 

Just phoned up to cancel the renewal after getting better cover for £150 less from Tescos. 20 minutes on hold didn't get me in a better mood by the time they answered.

 

Anyway, being a petrol pedant I'd spotted that the other half's Fiesta Eco-save-the-planet-free-congestion-charge-netic was listed on the schedule as "Ford Fiesta 1.6D ECONET. 90". I had a vague recollection that they remapped the engine just before it was bought to drop the CO2 to 98g (hence the free C-charge), which meant the power went to 95 PS (70kw shown in the V5).

 

So being the honest type, I mentioned this to the Direct Line lady thinking they'd be happy that I'd pointed out that they had made a mistake originally. Instead she demanded £29 additional premium to cover the change till the end of the policy in November ... £29 for two months. For their mistake. I explained that it was their mistake (and she admitted they'd got it down as a 2008 model, rather than a 2010), and that 99.999% of Fiesta owners wouldn't have a clue what the 90 meant, certainly wouldn't know that Ford had changed the power output midway in 2010, and certainly wouldn't be able to convert the power in the V5 from KW to PS.

 

All she could say was that it was my responsibility to check the policy documents when they first arrived and tell them of any mistakes. I did try to explain that the policy documents look perfectly correct and it's only because I'm, ahem, a bloody car anorak that I'd spotted it recently. I asked her if she knew the power output of her car. "I don't have a car" was the reply (ideal if your job is flogging car insurance ... bit like being a florist who doesn't like flowers or a nudist tailor?)

 

Anyway, I finally got her to refer to a supervisor who graciously agreed to wave the £29. Which will keep us going till that policy gets shifted to Tescos in November...

[Ross_K]

Can you get one of those signal booster app things that work off your broadband? I know 3 and Vodafone use them...

 

Oh look, Orange Signal Boost: http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Satell ... 6843176798

 

Got to be worth a try?

 

 

That would be fine...if my phone had WiFi

 

Wow, you're living in the stone age. No phone signal AND no wifi?

[ayd]

Can you get one of those signal booster app things that work off your broadband? I know 3 and Vodafone use them...

 

Oh look, Orange Signal Boost: http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Satell ... 6843176798

 

Got to be worth a try?

 

 

That would be fine...if my phone had WiFi

 

Wow, you're living in the stone age. No phone signal AND no wifi?

 

and I work in I.T. so I am a charlatan to my industry

[Geep]

Reasons to avoid Direct Line (in case you needed any more)...

 

Just phoned up to cancel the renewal after getting better cover for £150 less from Tescos. 20 minutes on hold didn't get me in a better mood by the time they answered.

 

Anyway, being a petrol pedant I'd spotted that the other half's Fiesta Eco-save-the-planet-free-congestion-charge-netic was listed on the schedule as "Ford Fiesta 1.6D ECONET. 90". I had a vague recollection that they remapped the engine just before it was bought to drop the CO2 to 98g (hence the free C-charge), which meant the power went to 95 PS (70kw shown in the V5).

 

So being the honest type, I mentioned this to the Direct Line lady thinking they'd be happy that I'd pointed out that they had made a mistake originally. Instead she demanded £29 additional premium to cover the change till the end of the policy in November ... £29 for two months. For their mistake. I explained that it was their mistake (and she admitted they'd got it down as a 2008 model, rather than a 2010), and that 99.999% of Fiesta owners wouldn't have a clue what the 90 meant, certainly wouldn't know that Ford had changed the power output midway in 2010, and certainly wouldn't be able to convert the power in the V5 from KW to PS.

 

All she could say was that it was my responsibility to check the policy documents when they first arrived and tell them of any mistakes. I did try to explain that the policy documents look perfectly correct and it's only because I'm, ahem, a bloody car anorak that I'd spotted it recently. I asked her if she knew the power output of her car. "I don't have a car" was the reply (ideal if your job is flogging car insurance ... bit like being a florist who doesn't like flowers or a nudist tailor?)

 

Anyway, I finally got her to refer to a supervisor who graciously agreed to wave the £29. Which will keep us going till that policy gets shifted to Tescos in November...

 

Funny you should say that, I had to give up on direct line earlier today after listening to crap music interrupted by 'we're really sorry' every now and then for what seemed like forever. I noticed their breakdown cover I have is getting a little greedy as well, £118 and on looking I can join RAC or AA with relay for about £75. Think I'll do some searching before trying to speak to them again then tell them to poke it.

[willswitchengage]

Planes are good. The 80mph limit increase is badly needed. With 90% of lorries having the cruise control stuck at an indicated 58mph, this gives the average motorist (IQ: 78) a mere 12mph margin between the effective slowest speed on the road and the speed limit. Instead of speeding up the motorway, this has the effect of killing off any lane discipline, making people more reluctant to slow down for accidents/traffic jams, and generally making them even less responsible for, and accustomed to, choosing the appropriate speed for the conditions.

 

I'm a global warming apathetic, but it's fact that fuel is getting scarcer and I think it should be used wiser ways than in civil aviation, which is the most ridiculously profligate user. They should pay taxes on their fuel like everybody else, then they'd realise how much they're pissing down the drain.

 

Sadly disagree on your 80-mph opinion on pretty much the same argument... in that speed disparity on motorways is what causes ghost tailbacks - they don't have variable speed limit just to piss you off then there's the safety side but that's a debate for another day.

[Wilko220]

 

I'm a global warming apathetic, but it's fact that fuel is getting scarcer and I think it should be used wiser ways than in civil aviation, which is the most ridiculously profligate user. They should pay taxes on their fuel like everybody else, then they'd realise how much they're pissing down the drain.

.

 

I entirely agree - even if climate change theory is all bollocks, fossil fuels are still a finite resource which should be exploited sensibly. My biggest bugbear are domestic flights which are entirely unnecessary and the government could put additional tax on very easily. That would also provide a satisfactory answer to all those vested interests who keep telling us that we're running out of airport capacity in the UK, as it would free loads of capacity up.

[cms206]

Adrian Flux are cancelling the insurance on the Senator claiming I haven't fulfilled all conditions... except I have. No phone call, nothing. A letter today with a cancellation date. Grrr.

 

 

Any recommendations?

[Cavcraft]

Also it's 56mph not 58, and most trucks seem to be limited to about 53mph these days.

[wuvvum]

Also it's 56mph not 58, and most trucks seem to be limited to about 53mph these days.

Except Asda / Tesco / Argos lorries which are limited to 50. Unless the Tesco trailer is being hauled by an outside contractor, in which case it will bomb along at 56. Which leads to far more instances of artics overtaking each other and blocking up the middle lane than there used to be.

[Volksy]

Adrian Flux are cancelling the insurance on the Senator claiming I haven't fulfilled all conditions... except I have. No phone call, nothing. A letter today with a cancellation date. Grrr.

 

 

Any recommendations?

 

I HATE AdrainFux, had a massive battle with them last year over pretty much the same thing. There customer service, or lack of it, it atrocious. I go on to their sales website and request a 'New Quote' call back, they are pretty prompt at calling you, then ask to be transfered to customer service, which is direct and generally means that you don't have to queue. At least they are paying for the call!

[cms206]

I HATE AdrainFux, had a massive battle with them last year over pretty much the same thing. There customer service, or lack of it, it atrocious. I go on to their sales website and request a 'New Quote' call back, they are pretty prompt at calling you, then ask to be transfered to customer service, which is direct and generally means that you don't have to queue. At least they are paying for the call!

 

Cheers Volksy; they asked for a limited mileage declaration (signed - odometer doesn't work anyway) and a photo of the car in a garage, which were duly dispatched. Not been online much since I sent them off and they're saying they didn't recieve the photo. I'll need to ring about and get it up to my work before the tenth, sills are coming off anyway but it's a ballache all the same.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

If you can't get any satisfaction from them, you need to write a complaint to the insurance ombudsman (google it for addresses) and send a copy to the chief exec of Flux.

[willswitchengage]

Also it's 56mph not 58, and most trucks seem to be limited to about 53mph these days.

Except Asda / Tesco / Argos lorries which are limited to 50. Unless the Tesco trailer is being hauled by an outside contractor, in which case it will bomb along at 56. Which leads to far more instances of artics overtaking each other and blocking up the middle lane than there used to be.

 

I don't think that's too bad the new fleet of 50ers, quicker lorries overtake them in seconds instead of inching past at 56.00001mph

[Richard]

Anyway, I finally got her to refer to a supervisor who graciously agreed to wave the £29. Which will keep us going till that policy gets shifted to Tescos in November...

 

I've a feeling Tesco might be a Direct Line reseller, you might want to look into that before you move.

[Rocket88]

Also it's 56mph not 58, and most trucks seem to be limited to about 53mph these days.

 

I used to insure with a company called MCE [don't know if they're still around] who were good, and asked for next to bugger all info. Flux are shie, I had exactly the same scenario.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Also it's 56mph not 58, and most trucks seem to be limited to about 53mph these days.

 

When I'm doing an indicated 55-56 trying to maximise my MPG, I keep getting overtaken by artics doing about 3-4 mph more. OTOH, I hardly ever have to overtake anyone.

[Pete-M]

If you do an actual 56 mph you won't get passed by many non-Irish trucks.

[M'coli]

The clue there Luxo is your indicated speed - follow the lorries to keep to 56 mph or use a scat-nav or correctly calibrated speedometer* to find your absolute speed.

 

 

 

*Not as difficult as it sounds, they're available at Argos for under £20.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

That's fair enough. I'll try using a satnav to check it for a laff.

[Ross_K]

If you do an actual 56 mph you won't get passed by many non-Irish trucks.

 

Sad but true.

 

Although a lot of the Eastern European chaps who got their truck licences free with their camouflage pyjamas back in the cold war days are far worse.