SA's voyage through bankruptcy ......

Lensman_2

SA

What happened to the CAT? How do you know it's gone? Urgent reply required please...

Thanks,
Jim

startagain_2

Lensman wrote: »

SA

What happened to the CAT? How do you know it's gone? Urgent reply required please...

Thanks,
Jim

Hi Jim,

They have fitted a new exhaust system and I could hear some blowing afterwards from the front end. A mechanic at work said that he thought they hadn't cleared out the muck at the joint properly and take it back. I did. It seemed OK but a week later it started really blowing, the typical "cat gone" din.
In front of the clamp where they have fitted the new exhaust the cat pipe has ruptured. I personally think that they have overtightened it when I took it back and been too heavy handed. I can't prove it, a so called second opinion will end up in a lengthy slanging match which wont help in getting me to and from work, and I am stuck.
It does gall me that when I had the exhaust fitted I asked the mechanic if the cat was OK and he said yes, the manager yesterday told me the guy doesn't know what he is talking about! I can't win. Oh, for a guy around to take car of this sh*t. :rolleyes:
SA

Lensman_2

OK. Looks like a properly knackered one then and the mechanic was wrong. Sorry about that.

They have reccomended replacement if it rattles because the cat bit has come adrift inside its box. This is not a good reason to spend £300 while BR as they still work OK. Just wanted to make sure you weren't being taken advantage of.

TBH - no man required. You have done a proper job here Just a shame this was the outcome.

startagain wrote: »

Hi Jim,

They have fitted a new exhaust system and I could hear some blowing afterwards from the front end. A mechanic at work said that he thought they hadn't cleared out the muck at the joint properly and take it back. I did. It seemed OK but a week later it started really blowing, the typical "cat gone" din.
In front of the clamp where they have fitted the new exhaust the cat pipe has ruptured. I personally think that they have overtightened it when I took it back and been too heavy handed. I can't prove it, a so called second opinion will end up in a lengthy slanging match which wont help in getting me to and from work, and I am stuck.
It does gall me that when I had the exhaust fitted I asked the mechanic if the cat was OK and he said yes, the manager yesterday told me the guy doesn't know what he is talking about! I can't win. Oh, for a guy around to take car of this sh*t. :rolleyes:
SA

startagain_2

Lensman wrote: »

OK. Looks like a properly knackered one then and the mechanic was wrong. Sorry about that.

They have reccomended replacement if it rattles because the cat bit has come adrift inside its box. This is not a good reason to spend £300 while BR as they still work OK. Just wanted to make sure you weren't being taken advantage of.

TBH - no man required. You have done a proper job here Just a shame this was the outcome.

Thanks for your opinion Jim....

When you say it would still work properly, the power actually felt less and the noise was dreadful. It was so embarassing just driving it down there.
Anyway, I have got it back.... it seems fine and I take a bit of comfort from the fact that some people would have paid £450 and I got it for £300.
The manager actually said this morning that it was a gesture because he couldn't take the sight of me crying! :rolleyes:

Off to the soup kitchen tonight!

Advice anyone..............? I seriously need to recoup this money. I am lucky in that we have the Grand National next week and I can put as many hours as I need in. Do I just do it, earn the overtime and keep all the repair bills to justify it if neccessary, or do I ring in advance and get the OK from the OR?
I am just thinking whether to stay quiet and just get on with it.

What do you all think?

bluebird36

Oh dear SA,

I am so sorry to hear about your car... I think I would tell the OR about it (and maybe cry?) and ask if you can keep the overtime money...

That is just me though, perhaps it is not the best thing to do, but I am prone to panic over things like that and would probably worry myself sick of being found out...

Your post was very informative as my car just had new exhaust section fitted two months ago and is showing the same symptoms your car had, eg lots of loud noise (a sort of blowing noise) and no pull... Simply cannot afford to fix it, that's it - I need all my funds for the BR.

Am trying to stay positive though, promise! Hope you will sort the overtime issue out. Any tips on Grand National? As I am not BR yet I could win for both of us!

Hope you'll have a good week and that the car stays in top form from now on.

Hugs x x x

peachyprice

Sod the OR SA, earn the overtime and recoup your losses.

blind-as-a-bat_2

The OR is only intrested in a reguler increase in wages, its not worth there time or expense to collect one of amounts from overtime unless it becomes more frequent.

But you always get one that will anyway so keep stum:D

AirCooledHeaven

startagain wrote: »

Hi everyone,

My new self help book for depression has arrived. Unfortunately I am working every day until Wednesday so I haven't really got a chance to look at it until then. It looks good though and I am determined to make a real go of it. I am so determined for 2009 to be the start of better things.


SA

Hi SA

Just reading through your posts and want to wish you the best of luck in the coming months. If you are ever in a dark place and feel you could do with some support from friendly, understanding, non judgemental folk then pay a visit here:

http://talk-depression.org.uk.invisionzone.com/index.php

Best Wishes

startagain_2

Monday morning, 30th April.....

Hi everyone,

Well the car is back home and I gave her a good wash yesterday and told her that she has to stay healthy for the next few months as there are no funds available for repairs!

Thankyou so much to BAAB, peachy and phil for backing me up in the OR/overtime issue. I too sometimes think that it is stirring up a hornets nest ringing the OR in advance and asking permission for anything. Look at poor Don79 asking about her bonus. They immediately said they would take it and then backed down on appeal. As long as I have the receipts for the £440 I am sure I will be fine if it ever does come to light.

I am actually keeping monthly budget sheets with a record of all my outgoings and in the 3 month ends since BR, all have been in minus figures :rolleyes:
- due to the annual renewal of the AA, a quarterly phone bill and of course the car repairs. It just goes to show how tight it is on the SOA budget after BR.

Busy week this week with my "normal" job in the daytime, a couple of evenings working on live sport and then of course the Grand National on Saturday. Horse riding, haircut and "big shop" are all postponed until further notice and then when I am back in the black, normal life can resume!!!

I know no-one said it was going to be easy but cripes ..... living without credit is like being on a trapeze without a safety net ..... precarious!

Spring is almost here, we have lighter evenings and a chance to get out and about more ... I shall try and get out walking as much as possible blowing the cobwebs and fusty thoughts away.....

Have a good day everyone.....

SA

Lensman_2

Hi SA.

Hopefully the work you are doing will add some bouyancy to your finances and get you up from scraping along the bottom.

I think living without credit is like living without fags when you are used to 20 a day. It's hard - a change of lifestyle. I have been lucky enough to be able to put a bit aside - a few tenners really. Catfood and Jimfood tenners actually. But the urge to splurge on a pair of nice new sunglasses has been getting to me something rotten.

I know those tenners are worth much more than new sunglasses. But that doesn't help in a way. Still, I will resist.

Good luck for a few tenners to put under your mattress after this week.

Jim