Ever had one of those mornings...?

[dave]

Why, oh why is life in this country so difficult?
<rant>
This morning, the ex was late picking my eldest up for school due to an *incident* where she works meaning she had to wait for the police - As there were no doughnuts there, the police were understandably in no hurry to get there and thus, this meant that I had to take my eldest to the school coach - which in turn, we missed.

This meant that I had to take her to school 15 miles away (remember last year, her school burned to the ground on her 3rd day at school - well the replacement is 15 miles away!), and then return to take my youngest to playschool.

On the way back as I had my GF in the car we thought we would get some money out of her account - not an easy job, as her cashcard expired and when she asked for a replacement they sent the card to her old address (which she changed some 6 months ago), when she told them they said they would send another card to the correct address the next day (can't send more than one in a day apparenty) - which of course, they didn't. So when she has to get money out, she has to go into the branch.

This, we did. I drop her off and drive around the block to save from paying for parking. I get back and they tell her that she can't have the money as her old card has expired and therefore not valid ID, her other bank cards with statements, a photo ID card and a utility bill are not enough proof of ID you see - she clearly could have broken into a house of someone who looked just like her with the same name and address and stolen all this ID.

So, normally I would have driven the car through the front of the branch and smashed everything out of the way and just taken the money, but I had to get the nipper to playschool on time, so off we go - never mind, there's another bank the other side of the playschool, we'll go there.

Drop the nipper off - after phoning the playschool to get them to open the gates, as we are now late - and carry on to another branch of bank.

Drop the GF at the bank. Drive round for 10 mins trying to find somewhere to park. Walk back to the branch, and guess what? They are not letting her have the money. Having parked the car some 10 min walk from the branch, the option of driving it through the front was not available to me, so instead, I blocked the door and said "we are NOT leaving without this money. You'd better call the police where I will have you arrested for theft.". He says he will phone the manager. I don't care who you bl**dy well phones, says I. He comes back to the counter and says, "let me have a look at that ID again..." so she does, and then miraculously the ID seems to be sufficient this time. Funny that.

Anyway, get the money, and I then drive the GF back home and drop her off.

I'm now late for dropping my car off at the MOT station (the cert was burnt in the house fire last year, so I guess it must be time to do it even though I know it's early, plus I need it to buy tax and as it's 20 quid to get a replacement - theives!! - I may as well put it through again), but wait - it gets worse.

On the way there, to cut a long story short, I get stopped by the police - "Is this vehicle taxed Sir?", no, it's not. I'm on my way to a MOT station to get it tested again so I can buy the tax - the car has been off the road since September as I informed the DVLA. Copper makes a call from the car and returns - "No Sir, the car is not SORNed" - Well it bloody well was! I sent the bloody forms to them!

He then phones the MOT station who, yep, you've guessed it have never heard of me apparently - scumbags - I admit I was running a little late, but to deny me ever having made the appointement is a bit strong don't you think?

So, up comes a NCP carpark n*bjockey to take my car away and impound it - unless of course, I pay 180 quid to them now and pay the backtax (for a car that HASN'T been on the road since September and despite me informing the DVLA of this at the time!!!) when I tax it - so I have to phone up NCP (what is it with this privatisation - isn't it obvious that it isn't working?) and give them the dosh - luckily, despite the bank telling me that they are removing my OD, true to form, they haven't done so, and so I use it to pay this dosh so that I can keep my own car. And you thought bribery of officials only happened in third-world countries - difference is, it's legalised here.

So, in a nutshell - not a very good morning - Arrrrrgggghhh!!!
</rant>

[Spiceskull]

LOL - I know it was a bad morning, but this catalogue of disaster did have me chuckling...you couldn't make it up...still, it IS midsummers day...the day when we have nearly eighteen hours of glorious sunshine...not! It is tipping it down in Cornwall...

[dave]

It's loverly here - so it's not all bad!!

...but seriously, can you believe that luck!!??

[Spiceskull]

Originally Posted by dave

It's loverly here - so it's not all bad!!

...but seriously, can you believe that luck!!??

No...but then again sometimes these things are really sent to try us...now, if you get the same problems at the bank tomorrow, do you still have a car that you can drive through the counter?

[bally35]

Go back under the duvet, Dave and hope that ceiling doesn't fall in!
Do you remember what I asked the other day about CAG members being jinxed?
Now proof positive of the association.
You should do a poll on this, to see if we can come up with a link (have to omit initial request as lots of people join when they have first encountered bad luck e.g insurance claims etc)

[dave]

The thing I am most annoyed about is the fact that I will probably have to go to court for not having road tax, despite doing the right thing and acting completely within the law. I'm already 180 quid down - of which I get 100 quid back or something if I tax it within 48 hours - which, of course I can't do due to not having an MOT certificate (even though the car is MOTed) - the very reason I was trying to get one!!!! - Doh!!!

[Bookworm]

When you get your MOT, surely, the station that carries it out must keep a record? It is after all a government thing. Couldn't you get back to them and get them to trace your old MOT and issue a replacement/copy?

[dave]

Yes. But they wanted to charge me 20 quid for the copy - it was only 20 quid more (thereabouts) to get it re-moted, and as it's due up in about a month anyway, I thought I may as well get it done, rather than 20 quid now, and then another 40 in a months time.

[Bookworm]

Yes, but £20 to get your £100 back after getting it taxed may be worth it.

[dave]

Nah - they can whistle for the tax now; at least until I've recovered my dosh, if you get what I mean.

[bluewater babe]

I can't believe your story - and all by 11.30.

I think i was still in my PJs - no Pre-School on thursdays. Sorry, i've never been good with sympathy!!! But my heart goes out to you.