am i turning into a G.O.F ?

Ok folks am I turning in to a grumpy old fart?

Let me explain.

Last week the council picked up our rubbish and unfortunately spilled some of it down the side of my car. Ok it washed off and I thought nothing of it. Now a week later and it happened again Looks like the same stuff (milk and stuff like that) and again down the side of my car. Now heres the thing. Im a bit ****ed as once is an accident and twice is carelessness. So I ring the council and ask them to clean my car. Get through to the contractor who didn’t ring me back and speak to the contracts manager who just said “wash your own car and argue about it next week…!”

Am I right to be ****ed off? And what should I do about it?

[Paul the 6th]

don't get me started on the council. Estate agents are the real nazis. They reckoned the garden was in such a bad state, they deducted 90 quid from my bond for it mowing and weeding, even though I mowed the ****ing thing the day before we moved out.

Also on the bill, there's 35 quid for "hidden rubbish removed from garage" - the estate agent was with me at the property when we vacated and yes, we checked the garage and I took one or two bits which I'd forgotten to pick up.

Actual real life nazis. Also, they did the clever trick of posting the info of the work to be done via royal mail so it arrived yesterday, I rang to complain and they said "well we've just posted the cheque to you about an hour ago - you should have rung us sooner to dispute it" - WELL WHY THE **** DID YOU CORRESPOND WITH ME VIA EMAIL RIGHT UP UNTIL YOU SENT THE DETAILS FOR WORK TO BE DONE VIA POST!!!!!!!!

Do not use ashtons lettings in york. Oh and try sending the council some rotten cheese and milk in the post - tell them you've cleaned it off your car as instructed.

Trouble is that they probably don't give a f**k what they did to your car.

Welcome to the grumpy old fart club!

Definately right to be ****ed off - just think of the amount of Council tax we pay to have our rubbish taken! theyre just adding insult to injury!

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by AndyBrad

Ok folks am I turning in to a grumpy old fart?
Am I right to be ****ed off? And what should I do about it?

Me too, in fact I turned in to a G.O.F. years ago when I was commuting to work on the train.

Constant delays, trains being cancelled and even once the train was rerouted so it passed my stop by twenty miles!

How I dealt with it was to draw up an Invoice for loss of earnings due to missing a meeting where I was due to take on a £600 contract. That got some attention.

My advice to you, draw up an invoice for cleaning of your car. Is it one that you do take great care of? If so charge them for a waxing too. Get a couple of quotes for cleaning prices and submit that with the invoice. Don't forget that if you plan to clean your car yourself, to include the labour time. If it is a full wash and wax, this can be over an hour, so is easily fifteen to twenty pounds.

You then post this with a letter explaining why this action is being taken and wait for a reply. I doubt that you will get a payment, but you may get an apology. You could also mention your dissatisfaction at the poor service provided, but do make sure that you keep your letter formal and polite. Imagine that you are sending out an unpaid invoice and use that tone.

It worked for me, despite my billing Great Weston Trains for over £700, I got about £200 back from them, the cost of my rail ticket and a little more on top. Mind you, I hate the rail companies and the way it has been fragmented, but that is another G.O.F. rant.

Welcome to the club, the annual dinner is a black tie event, with after dinner speeches by Desmond Lyneham and Arthur Smith!

LOL

to be fair i did get an apology and they have stated that they will be sending the area supervisor around next monday to ensure it doesnt happen to "my car" again Although i was kinda hoping for a free full valet

Originally Posted by AndyBrad

LOL

to be fair i did get an apology and they have stated that they will be sending the area supervisor around next monday to ensure it doesnt happen to "my car" again Although i was kinda hoping for a free full valet

You are right to be Pi$$ed off and it is good to hear that you did get an apology. However, I would be having reservations just in case it happens again after the area supervisor has been .

Good luck

[dizzyblonde]

Dunno, if your nice to the 'refuse collectors' they shut your gates, and come back and take what they've dropped. I always make a habit of thanking them(especially new ones)when I'm in. I've noticed that lately they've been leaving the gates open again, so think I'll have to see if they are new again. I make a habit of going out and shutting the gate behind them and thanking them...the next time they come they shut them.
I have two dogs who'd run a mile if the gates are open, peees me off when I open the door and they leg it on a Friday afternoon

A bit of a bugger if they stick crap all over your car though. Maybe having a word with them directly would be better

[timwilky]

Oi, there is only room for one grumpy old fart round here.

Bain of my life is refuse collection. Not the guys who do it. Generally they do a thankless task well. It is the service operation that Pees me off.

Fortnightly collections, and then they fail to turn up so you are landed with month old stinking waste. I now have the operations telephone number, you phone and they say you must have failed to put your bin out. No you haven't collected from my neighbours either. Well they will not be back in your area for a fortnight. So six week old waste.


The councillor responsible for waste just happens to live locally and be very approachable. It turns out the reason they don't collect is they cannot get access because of cars parked from a local garage, and other non residents

Answer, they now collect from us at 6:30am before the parking problem occurs. You just need to remember to put your waste out the night before, and not mind an early morning alarm as the truck winds its way down the road.

id say "have a good old moan" it make you feel better i think i am a victor meldrew too