I have asked Aviva to start a pension, taken out in 1987, next month. They say that my signature has changed. They insist that I get a signature form witnessed by someone who is likely to charge me for the privilege (accountant, solicitor, etc). I am a qualified accountant. They have corresponded with me since 1987. I do not believe that this is actually required - they are just trying to avoid undertaking an electronic data check at their cost (£10 or so). They also want to see a passport or 2 part driving licence - even though the DVLA has instructed us all to destroy the paper licence which no longer has any legal status. I have bought and sold properties with less complication and red tape than dealing with Aviva

After taking my car to be MOT'd Friday 27/09/2013 in Maidstone, Kent. I was told the car had failed its MOT. I was aware the rear brakes would possibly need replacing, however I feel I was pressurized into having work done that was not necessary, mainly because they were aware I was away from home, and not familiar with the area. Firstly I was also told the rear brake efficiency on the hand brake was at 11% and this was due to the rear brakes and discs being worn, or possibly hand brake cable. They did a brake test and the rear brakes showed 11% on the test value, this was not shown to me until after work was done. However on the service brakes passed at 67% I also failed on one front tyre, which needed repairing, however the other front tyre was showing signs of wear, neither of which I thought to ask to see, for this I feel naïve. The operative said they were not sure if the rear brakes needed replacing, it could be a hand brake cable, the test value was 11%, the pass needs to be 16% However the service brakes showed a test value of 67%, before the brakes and discs were replaced, and 61% after! After all brakes and discs were changed front and back the test value for the parking brakes showed 21%. I was also told my brake light switch was likely damaged, and there were no back stop lights. Although at this stage they were not overly worried. I work late into the evening and can see my rear lights working when reversing into a parking space. I said I was very surprised this was the case, but again I was not confident to challenge what they are saying, one enters into a relationship of 'Trust' and expects the work being done is genuinely required. Neil a mechanic chipped in when I said what needs doing for it to pass, and before they had inspected my brakes visually (only test at this stage which could mean it was the cable, it did not advise were they were showing low percentages) he said I can do the brakes this afternoon. We can definitely get it through its MOT today, although the switch might be a problem if that needs doing. When I returned home I checked how easy and how cheap is was to get a brake light switch and were it was located on the car. Half an hour later, Neil called confirming the rear pads and discs need doing, and advised I have two new front tyres which I agreed, he said unfortunately we have noted your front discs and pads are also badly worn, and the brake test result doesn't always show them up until we get the tyres off. All your brakes and discs will need replacing. He quoted £662.00 all in. Which I assumed with tyres, alignment, brakes, discs, and labour. I asked about the switch and said I would need a price for that, could he confirm it would pass the MOT, he said yes and did not seem overly concerned about the brake switch which was not the case earlier, until I reminded him on the phone. I checked the price from Alfa, and Unipart a brake light switch is 15.00, on my car they are fitted inside the car. I was not convinced this needed doing as my brake lights worked a few days before. I was even less convinced this work had actually been done when I asked Neil where the switch was, which he said under the car, it was difficult to access and hard to get in and went on to explain in detail how he had to get under the car and twist it in, it was very difficult. The brake light switch is not under the car on my model its inside the car sitting along brake pedal shaft, it is released when you depress the brake pedal and the lights come on. This concerns me that either work has been done that is not necessary or not done at all. I called back KWIK FIT Maidstone on returning home asking them to explain the bill in more detail. I also explained to Neil my brake light switch was not under the car as he had said, he quickly said oh no not on your model its not. It is very easily accessible, not as you described I explained, I am concerned this was not replaced, he remained silent and then explained I had 25% discount on brake parts. This prompted me to ask why I was also charged for brake fluid that was not in need of changing, there is no fluid burn test result on brake test diagnostics, this was not explained to me by Neil. When I spoke to him after I picked up the car he explained why they change it, however I asked if that was my decision to replace it if it wasn't necessary and I had no evidence it needed replacing, not documented on brake report. He said they would recommend it but ultimately my choice. In summary I think I have been overcharged for works that were not necessary, the front brakes see above test report and a switch I do not think was changed or needed, and brake fluid. I don't know what to do, I feel that I have been taken advantage of, I have dyspraxia and in situations like this where I am under stress, I cannot think or articulate things how I want to. I think ultimately I will have to put this down to experience, but would like some advise Tracy

I had a spongy clutch pedal, asked the garage to sort... went to collect the van from the garage who had changed the entire clutch and slave cylinder, (which was only a year old) making no difference at all. had to pay 450 quid to get it out, then took it back and they found the problem was the master cylinder which they fixed in 30 minutes with a part lying around their garage. They have said If i get an engineers report that the slave cylinder is not leaking they will refund, but I just want to know my rights in case they get problematic. I have video recorded everything, including them admitting they got it wrong. Apparently it is very simple to determine if a slave or master cylinder is leaking. Takes about 30 seconds but I will spare the tech details.

Hi Wondering if anyone can help. My parents just had a cyclist bang into the side of their car at a roundabout due to the cyclist being in the wrong lane and cutting accross the first exit. He was not wearing a helmet and was completely in the wrong.... there were also witnesses to this. The cyclist fell onto the road and banged his head and was taken to the Hospital for a CTScan. The car was undamaged apart from a scratch on the paintwork so could have been driven away but instead the police chose to impound the car until the results of the Catscan were reported, this happened a few hours later and he was found to just have surface skin damage ( a few cuts and bruises) and they then advised that the car could be collected. My parents were then charged £150 for this!!!! Now is that not plain stupid??? Is there any way this can be reclaimed back as I just dont see why 2 people in their 70's should be charged £150 for something that is in no way their fault..... what can I do to resolve this??? All help welcomed. :mad2:

I received one of these for parking my car on a drive for which i am part owner , we have houses to the rear to which there is a gate allowing them access to the rear of there gardens off their road , so they have no use of the gate on our drive so not stopping any access to properties. nobody called asking for access at my property and have been parking like this for over 4 years with no problems should i take to court.