It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

mardatha

Our car has a light on the dash that wont go off. Volvo says its the main computer and will cost £900+ to fix. We dont know what to do, its running fine but might not pass the MOT next year.

fantacee

I Give Up!

I'm only on page 174 and have been trying to catch up with this wonderful thread for nearly 4 weeks, it's like a never ending novel.. which I like

I'm saying Hi as I'm beginning to feel like I know you all and a bit like a peeping tom haha.. but before I go to the latest chapter I just wanted to say this thread is so heartening. Our (me, OH and DS) personal pooh hit the fan last year in about June, from reading the other boards I think it's called the LBM .. since then lots of things happening and lately have been on the OS further cutting exercise.. will share more when I get back to the end.

Take care all, virtual hugs to everyone and see you all soon :j

Chipps

ceridwen wrote: »

Have you checked them out on the www.saynoto0870.com website first to see if you can find a "standard" number for them? Most of the time I've found its possible to find a "standard" number for a firm.

Just a word of warning about the saynoto0870 website. It doesn't seem to be always updated. Where I work I have often had wrong number calls from people who dialled the standard number listed on saynoto0870 - and the saddest thing was it was for a service that people on low incomes would ring. A colleague and I emailed the website on a number of occasions to get the number removed but no luck - the wrong number was still there last time I looked. So the people not only got to call a 'normal' number, but were then told they had to go and call the original higher rate number they were trying to avoid. It's upsetting to tell them, and it is sad that a service that sets out to save people money ends up costing more.

ceridwen

Well its a point worth noting re the numbers on the saynoto0870 website arent always up-to-date - but, in my experience, I find most of the ones I've used anyway have been.

So its a point that some people need to factor in - others dont. To those of us with an all-inclusive tariff (ie all normal numbers are included in the fixed monthly fee) then it doesnt make any difference from a cost POV as to whether one has phoned a wrong number or no - it doesnt cost money anyway:).

Personally - i think its well worth having a broadband/phone fixed with a 24/7 all-inclusive tariff. Thats it then - done and dusted - I know exactly what I am paying each month - ie about £28 (unless there has been the VERY occasional firm that has proven impossible to contact any way other than ringing the 0845/0870 number - ie they're not on the saynoto0870 website and I cant find an email address for them anywhere).

No hanging around waiting till 6pm to phone either - as I had originally when I had only fixed the all-inclusive at evenings and weekends phonecalls.

EDIT: perhaps any firm that is concerned that people might be getting charged twice to phone them - ie a standard rate number, then an 0845 number could (anonymously if need be....) put up an up-to-date standard phonenumber on the website? Just a thought....

JulieGeorgiana

I spend £5-10 a months of 0845/0870 numbers!!!! I have an all inclusive phone line!

OMG that's an average of £90 a year saved!!

Lucky you guys don;t charge commission on advice!!

northwest1965

mardatha wrote: »

Our car has a light on the dash that wont go off. Volvo says its the main computer and will cost £900+ to fix. We dont know what to do, its running fine but might not pass the MOT next year.

I have a light on my dashboard, its been on the diagnostic machine the garage has but found nothing. I have also done a search on other forums and apparently it can be a common fault. Have you tried looking on a Volvo forum?

Hippeechiq - Any joy? Did you ask about the cable under the seat?

ceridwen - I agree, 24/7 calls is so worth it if you can afford to pay the extra amount per month.
saynot to0870 has saved me a fortune since I found out about it, its dreadful the amount per minute some of the companies can charge.

littleowl

And it is disgraceful that doctors' surgeries use these numbers!

JenniO

I always thought it was disgraceful that the JSA has a 0845/0870 type number! Last year when OH was on JSA, I tried calling to cancel his signing on coz his father had just died that morning and he was on his way to hospital and it took a lot of dialling to get through. Charging people money who are on the dole to call - shameful! :mad:

However, will just quickly add lady on the phone was v. nice about OH's situation.

jackieglasgow

mardatha wrote: »

Our car has a light on the dash that wont go off. Volvo says its the main computer and will cost £900+ to fix. We dont know what to do, its running fine but might not pass the MOT next year.

Could you not take the fuse out for the MOT Don't know how legal or dodgy that is but might be worth asking someone who would know!

mardatha

First thing we thought of Jackie ! But OH says the light should come on with ignition and then go out - if we got a smartass mechanic he would notice that it never came on. Been in Volvo forums and they asked me to read off the code number, then said oooh yer right that is the big one Been to local garage and he says Volvo has to code it in, so even if we bought 2nd hand on ebay they have to fit it. Car is old so we not sure what to do.