Well, after a huge row with the council about the neighbours (both of them), the garden and many other things, I finally have a senior manager agree to come to the property to talk things through. When they are sitting in the house, they can witness the noise and problems first hand. I'll ask them if they would be happy living like this and try not to smack them when they give some lame excuse. And I'm recording the conversation. Interestingly, I also had a call from EH. They said that the noise (from downstairs) is not unreasonable in that it is general every day noise and agreed that it is more likely a problem with sound insulation. They said however that if the property was built according to the regulations in existence at the time, then it cannot be classed as being inadequate. However, I am sure the property has been converted since (that it was not originally a masionette) and that could mean that it is now inadequate. Something I'm trying to look into but I hate housing law.

There are a few "typos" with the letter - I'll edit it.

When I worked there, a lot of staff looked at the overall situation. If the premiums were high and there were few claims and premiums paid on time, then it was just the last three months that were charged, otherwise it would be the full year. I kid you not. I only ever charged three months if it was a renewal. I think there is a legal basis for charging the entire period, but I personally think it is a cheek if it has been renewed. The "legal" team I believe is the best practice team, who frankly could not tell their a***s from their elbows. I had many a row with them and usually had to go to senior underwriters (as the general underwriters weren't even CII qualified) to get the most basic things done. I would not bother arguing with them. Leave it to the FOS to sort out - DL can answer to them. BTW, do you have Robert's last name? PM me if you do - I'm intrigued if it is the same Robert I am thinking of.

I've already called social services and complained to housing about the noise. There's also another post in the landlords forum about my garden which is linked to this problem.

Sorry, ranting now, but what really p***es me off is that I keep getting told to look after the garden yet I cant do anything with it. I've been told I cant put a shed up or even a washing line as it will invade the privacy of the tenants downstairs whose living room is right on top of the garden. Yet the back garden, which is for the use of downstairs, has not been used once. When I asked about using it, I was told no - nor could I even go into it because the path goes past a window in the property downstairs and it would be invading their privacy. It seems to be all take and no give. If I cant use the garden, and even sitting in it means I'm practically out side of downstairs windows with the kid screaming so I get no privacy whatsoever. Why the hell should I look after the garden if I cant get to use it?

I've had a letter from the housing authority regarding the garden. Property is a masionette with our (small) garden to the front and downstairs garden to the rear. The letter is saying that unless rubbish is removed and the garden tidied, I will be fined and charged for labour for someone else to do it. I have complained before about this, but the enforcement officer just ignores me. The issue is that the rubbish referred to was left there by contractors of the housing authority during refurbishment, as well as some by the previous tenant and the new ones. I have emailed three times now to ask for it to be removed, but have been ignored. I don't see it as being my responsibility. As regards to the garden being overgrown, the grass is a bit long, and the hedge has been trimmed on the sides but not the top (because people keep throwing rubbish into the garden and I want some privacy). There is also a lot of overgrowing hedges and trees from next door's property (also the same housing authority). And as for the back garden, well, that hasn't been stepped in by new neighbours since February and looks like a jungle, yet I don't see them being harrassed over it. Is there a big heavy piece of legislation or case law I can throw at them? On top of everything else this is seriously making me ill.

There is apparently a relocation allowance with the job, so I will be looking into that. Ahhhh - downstairs baby has just woken up. A bit late this morning - usually starts at about 7am. Now I have 6 or 8 hours of constant screaming to look forward to.

Dear Sirs, On [date] I ordered [item details and cost] from you. However, I received the wrong item [details of item]. I contacted yourselves on [date] to advise you of this, and I returned the item to you on [date] which you have confirmed a being received, however I have yet to receive your refund. Your are reminded of the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000, which states at r. 19(4) that a refund must be given "...as soon as possible, and in any event within 30 days...". Your attention is also drawn to the OFT's guidance on Distance Selling (OFT69 ), which states that the refund must not be dependant upon return of the goods. I therefore expect you to refund the amount of [total cost you paid including that of return, if applicable] by no later than [30 days from when you notified them they had sent the wrong item or from when posted]. I trust this is an oversight on your part, and look forward to your prompt reply in order to avoid legal action being taken. Yours etc....

Typical of DL. They never learn. Mossy's advice, as usual is sound, though I would just go to the FOS who will, I suspect, uphold your compaint. That's the only language DL understand. As the value involved in the complaint (£700) is more than the fee they will pay to the FOS for he complaint being made, DL themselves will probably not uphold your complaint. Their main basis for agreeing with complaints used to be the cost and not how justifiable the complaint is. I suspect that is still the case.

Well, this one's about the other neighbours, but might as well keep it here. They started another party at about 1 am (30 minues after I went to bed) and finished at 430. Managed to get to sleep at about 5 am only to be woken up at 0730 by the little trampy bitch of a whore who lives there shouting obscenities in the street at one of her ex boyfriends. I did call the police who did nothing except log it, and have sent a nice little email to Northward's chief exec. I await he usual zero action by the deadline.

Any insurance contract will say it, I presume. It's a basic principle of performance of contract, but one that very few seem to understand or accept as being fair.

The period of insurance is generally a year from when the policy started (or was renewed). The size or type of the claim does not matter. Like I said, they have fulfilled their end of the contract and expect you to do the sme by paying the premiums.

Well finally got the discount put back for when I was a student. Now they have sent an adjusted bill for the time since then but with no discount. Got a phone call from the benefits office saying they are coming to my house to fill in a new claim form. Am I being paranoid in thinking this is an investigation or something? I cant believe all this is happening over one stupid wrongly ticked box.

In these matters, you have a contract with your insurer which states that, in return for the premium, they will fix your vehicle or make a payment for it if anything happens during the term of the policy. They have fulfilled their side of the contract. They now expect you to fulfill your side of the contract by providing the premium you said you would. Monthly payments are merely a payment method - not payment for a specific proportion of a year.

It will come down to the T&Cs, as there is nothing wrong with the product, there is no statutory right to return the item. I think the main factors will be the timeframe and whether they state a receipt is required (so long as it does not interfere with statutory rights, they can insist on a receipt), and any exclusions they may have to the policy. There is also, of course, the goodwill factor. The shop may decide to swap the item even if he T&Cs are not met. What they should not do however is refuse to exchange or refund when you have met the conditions for such.

Ask yourself also if the neighbours are really unreasonable or if your kids are up to something you do not know about. I know everyone thinks that their kids are not trouble makers, but there is a similar situation with a neighbour of mine and a family down the road who insist their kids are "no angels but not trouble makers". Problem is they are little b*****ds who have been seen by several other people smashing windscreens in as well as other misdemeanours.

That's why I keep saying to go to the FOS. The reason I say that is because is insurers insist on providing the corporate equivalent of battery farms of employees (call centers with untrained staff), then they pay the consequences when claims or complaints are not dealt with properly, as inevitably they will be. In that case, use the complaints procedure and make them suffer the consequences of having to be forced to do what they should do in the first place.

This post was going to be about what I said above but it would be a drunken and unwise rage. sorry. I'll stick to giving advice.

There are a few admin things which I have posted on - namely: Neighbour / noise / housing Getting a loan (though that's a bonus more than anything) I may actually post exactly my problem, though I am somewhat drunk at the mo, therefore I shall reconsider at when sober. But I suspect the answer will be the same - I will post. But it won't be pleasant.

Btw - APC I believe means Armoured Personnel Carrier (tanks to thee an me). Read a few back issues of Private Eye, they tell everything without the political bias.

I am quite happy chewing on a medium rare steak as I am on a salad. The main thing I have found recently, and out of necessity, is that fresh is best. I can't remember the last time I had a ready meal or fast food, and I find I am spending a lot less for healthier and more interesting food. a couple of salads a week, along with homemade omlette, fresh fish or chicken and then a couple of mediterranian dishes like lasagne, pizza (home made) spag bol and a chinese or indian chucked in costs me no more than a 15 quid a week for 2. I've had plenty of medicals in the past couple of weeks and the doctors say there is nothing wrong, despite me exceeding the weekly alcohol limits by a huge degree (courtesy of well meaning people). The truth is everything in moderation. And that's what I do (excpet alcohol). Meat carries proteins that can only be obtained through careful (and according to my doctor, stressful) balancing of non meat food. The morality is clear. We should not really be eating animals. But since when has can and should been a problem to humans?

Bump it up, and for god's sake, PLEASE get a petition going to give troops the equipment they need to do the job asked of them. That way, we may not need to have a road to carry so many casualties. One of my best friends is serving in Afghanistan. If he's coming home in a body bag, I'd rather it be due to him doing his job than because the vehicle he was traveling in was inadequate against the weapons used over there. That is his own sentiment. He actually said last week to his family and me: "I'd rather be shot defending people from d***heads than be blown up by those d***heads [Labour / MOD / government] who can't be arsed buying some decent APCs"

If you want to throw a brick, try a nuke instead. I'll feel better. But thanks.

Well my credit rating seems OK. I've had CCJs in the past (more than 6 years ago) which I am still paying, but I got a store card recently with no probs (only because my brother has a part time job in that store and needed 1 application to pass some target). I've also passed a credit check in the past to work for a bank so I think I'm OK. The reason why this is peculiar is that the job I have is an essential car user from near enough the outset. I only passed my test a few months ago and have not driven since. I therefore need to have a car before hand to get used to it and driving again. As I'll be waiting a month or so before a pay check, I'll also need some of the loan to pay for insurance and day to day essentials - that's why I asked about a graduate loan. Car finance by itself is not really suficient.

Cheers. It cannot possibly go up. I am in the lowest council tax band. If they created a lower one, I'd be in that. I'll check it out. Thanks again.