Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

Nice of you to assist and advise.

 

I took my wife's car in for one new tyre and when I went to collect it they tried to tell me the other tyres were illegal because they were more than 5 years old. As I'd never heard of such a law I declined their kind offer to relieve me of a couple of hundred quid and decided to check it out myself. When I did a Google search it suggested tyres over 7 years old should be checked for signs of crazing in the rubber. Nothing to say about them being illegal and certainly nothing at all about 5 years! Strangely enough I haven't used that 'tyre specialist' since.

 

That is the old one they come out with every time I get a new tyre.
Cant stand these places.

 

I forgot to mention in my previous comment about the tyres. The one tyre was replaced pre-MOT because it was getting low. Sailed straight through the MOT. When I went to collect the car I asked about tyre life. The response was basically that what was said was a load of b****** and effective life depends on many factors, and age is not a major one.

 

Good on you @Fat Controller . I hate the thought if folk being ripped off.
I meant to tell my younger daughter when she was over yesterday about this run if comments, because I think she was ripped off by the garage near her. The car had been MOTd and serviced in March, at our local garage, and all was fine, but when the engine was 'making a noise' she went to the one near her new flat -she moved in June. The outcome was new brake discs etc. I wasn't convinced about it all, but she was thinking that our local garage [that we've used for many years] had been at fault with not noticing anything.

 

Well done from me too @Fat Controller.

We're lucky to have found an honest chappy in the next village. Our old Zafira needed new thingies to hold up her boot lid and the Opel garage quoted about 300€ and involved a 90km round trip. Chappy got the parts for 60€ and installed them for 40€. He's done her servicing ever since for about 300€.

Younger Arona needed his first post purchase guarantee service and that cost 600€ including a new air filter at the garage where we bought him - 60km round trip. He'll be going local too now.

Possum bought her 2nd hand Duster from him and he included a full service, new wipers and a tickle to a minor bump on a wheel arch in the price.

I do have a weemoan today. Why, given that we're not blessed with that many rainy days here, does it rain on the day I set aside for gardening after checking the forecast for sun and rain?

 

I hope you explained to your daughter that just because a problem appears in June doesn't mean it existed 3 months earlier. Maybe she thinks mechanics are psychic?

 

Following on from the comment made by @Fat Controller said about being ripped off. I am grateful that I was brought up to query things if they did not seem quite right rather than just meekly accepting. There certainly did,but maybe not so much nowadays, appear to be that you did not question certain professions doctors and lawyers ( solicitors in my case living in Scotland) be 2 that come to mind.
I had not updated my will for god knows how long so emailed the solicitors and asked if they would email a copy for me to check. I did not have a copy myself.
A copy was duly sent to me. It is a pretty bog standard will but due to a change in circumstances I needed 1 yes only 1 clause which was 1 line long removed.
I emailed back advising what I wanted done. I never thought to ask how much a short codicil would cost.
I get a reply advising me the codicil had been added and I would need at some point to visit their office to sign the necessary change.
I nearly died on the spot…..somewhat ironic when I saw the attached fee note. £250 plus VAT ie £300 smackeroonies which worked out at more than £5 a letter not word!
Fuming I telephoned and spoke to some snotty girl who sounded about 12. I, as politely as I could asked to speak to the senior partner who I have had a few dealing with over the years. Upshot, an apology, fee waived but asked to donate £25 to a will writing charity, done, and told my daughter will have her will written for a small fee.
I am well aware that the costs of everything has gone up but there is increasing in prices and then daylight robbery. This has left a very nasty taste in my mouth and I know the senior partner is retiring very soon so think I will be looking for an alternative firm. If they can attempt to charge those kind of fees god knows how much sorting the likes of probate would cost.

 

Charges for legal work are crazy. My wife has a personal injury claim in at present, being handled under the legal support element of our home insurance. We had no end of trouble with the first person it was allocated to. Things like not responding to emails, totall inaction for months on end etc, and we complained. In fairness we had a phone call very shortly after making the complaint and it was assigned to a new person. They sent through an updated copy of the agreement with contact names etc. That listed the hourly rates of the various staff. Lowest was £275 per hour. Thankfully we don't have to pay!

 

I've always understood that you can write your own will provided you make things crystal clear and that you have it witnessed by a "professional" and one other person, neither of whom have a financial interest/gain from your estate.
Slightly different matter if your will is complicated in any way.
I believe some charities will offer assistance/reduced fees for making a will too so anyone intending to leave money to a charity may want to check if their chosen one has this scheme on offer.

 

The idea of having things witnessed or signed by a "professional" sounds like something out of the dark ages.
Its the kind of thing that really gets me going.

Its just snobbery.

 

My local Hospice was offering a Will writing service for a donation. I was quite
happy to give them a cheque for £100.