Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

Remember the slogan, "we're getting there",
I dont think they ever did.

 

At least with British Rail you had a seat with a window everytime, decent leg room and a table. And people had to face each other then too! But they were always breaking down and short of heating at times. I always had trouble opening the window to open the door - maybe it's still like that - haven't been on one for ages too.

 

Way back in the late 70s when I was a junior programmer in a software house I was sent on a short contract to Crown paints in Darwen, Lancs. I had to do a weekly commute from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly and then be driven there by the team leader. The trains were those Intercity 125s which swayed and whose brake fluid absolutely stank at the ends of every carriage.

One Monday a BR chappy was going along with a survey and seemed utterly astonished when I said the service needed improving - having paid in advance I expected a seat, or a 50% refund for having to stand for 2.5 hours. Hadn't got a clue about what customers need, desire or just expect for the price of a ticket which was not inconsiderable.

A return to BR mentality would not be welcome to me but then British railway prices are generally ludicrously high so I'm unlikely ever to let the train take the strain in the UK - except a go on a steam train to Settle or in the Scottish highlands.

 

I still have trouble opening the window to open the door.
Even jabbing at the button is pointless.

 

Coming into Queen's Park Station on the way home from school, we used to swing on the open doors. You had to do it when it was crossing the points before the train reached the station

 

I'm going to have to conduct a massive research session.

In 2022 fully comp was £309.96 pa
2023 fully comp = £356.48 pa
Proposed 2024 = £731.40 pa - all with LV.

The increase could be an age thing! It's my husband's name that's on the policy, I'm just a named driver, it's always been that way! But since last year's quote we've both had significant birthdays, he's turned 80 and I've turned 70. Seeing that he's not driven for the past 2 and half years maybe it's time to remove his name from the policy. These little steps in life somehow hurts when you're trying to hold an aging life together ----- ce la vie!

 

They're saying that it's down to all sorts of reasons @Jenny_Aster , shortage of parts, so repairs are dearer, shortage of manpower to do repairs, etc etc.
Mine went up a fair bit too this year, and my daughter's is ridiculous for the little car she has. Neither of us is driving at peak times either [she works from early in the morning virtually all the time] - that can make a difference, and she has me on her policy which also reduces it. The mileage you do also makes a difference, so it's always worth trying variations when you're checking prices. Some of the prices quoted are beyond belief.
Your ages may have something to do with it, so removing hubby could be worth trying...I just mean from the policy...not sticking him under the patio....
I always look around on all the comparison sites, and I rarely stay with the same provider, because you get humped for being loyal, although I believe they're clamping down on that now. All the benefits were to try and get new customers. I keep the protected no claims too, but that might be something you could compromise on, and things like home start breakdown services etc?

 

Ours more than doubled this year, @Jenny_Aster
I couldn't find anything else comparable, cheaper. So had to go with it.

 

Brilliant advice @fairygirl and @shiney. I really appreciate your time helping.

You did make me laugh about sticking him under the patio @fairygirl, fessing up, I can tell you he's come pretty close over the years .

You've helped me pull my thoughts together, and formed quite a few questions to ask. Thank you for the tip about Flow. Will be looking into that one. Apparently I've got till 10th May according to LV to change my mind, after that I guess I'm pretty much locked in.

If I were on my own I would be seriously thinking about not having a car, it would be so much more cheaper to use taxis. Maybe that's the greater plan.

 

There's also a time window with insurance @Jenny_Aster . I usually look around a month or so before mine is due, but the longer you leave it, and therefore the closer it gets to your renewal date, the dearer the options can be. That may be no use for you this year, but it's worth bearing in mind for next year
I often felt my Dad should just have used taxis rather than paying for ins, and maintenance etc for his car, but I understand it - the independence. I'm just like him, and I know I'll find it very difficult to give up my car. Dad's got to the point where it wasn't worth repairing, and I think that drew a line under it for him, but he really shouldn't have been driving, and he didn't drive enough either, so his skills were becoming poorer and poorer.

Lifting slabs is much harder than digging a hole too

 

Thanks @fairygirl. Will try and remember that tip.

If only there was a nice friendly, economical car hire place near by, it would be great to hire a car for the odd occasion, our car just sits on the driveway most of the time, it's a waste of a good car. It is a 'convenience' thing.

@shiney It seems like Flow is no more, it changed it's name in March.

 

@Jenny_Aster we are just the same as you. LV= wanted to increase from £405 to £735. After complaining on the phone they reduced it to £698. Hubby is only 71. Our neighbours thought it was a good price and should snap it up. So we did. But LV= were very cheap to start with, so maybe it's just catch up time.

 

That definitely looks like LV's plan @cactus_girl.

The deeds been done, LV cancelled and we've gone with Tesco, never would have thought of Tesco, only that they came up the cheapest on Uswitch and GoCompare.

For anyone interested, for our Mazda CX30, zero no claim bonus, lost key cover, courtesy car, roadside breakdown, windscreen cover, £450 excess = £519.

Thank you once again for your help @fairygirl and @shiney.

 

The insurance (rip-off), industy is a total mystery to me, their prices change almost daily for exactly the same cover.

I think it needs to be sorted out personally, I'm not sure if it's regulated, but we all know regulators at useless anyway.