Today I'm neither Angry nor Happy about....

[Worthy4England]

Car leasing....its an absolute minefield. Looking at the potential to lease something as convenient as a company car (with servicing, tyres and insurance in if possible). Any suggestions for lease brokers or companies? I'll be getting a car allowance from my company so want to cover costs and pocket a few quid if possible.

I've just looked into all this and have, in the end, decided to stay in the company car scheme.

I opted out, around 10 years ago, so I take the cash, which is then taxed at source as salary - makes the Tax Return a bit easier. Not suggesting that's the right way to go or owt for anyone else.

I originally leased-hired but there are a couple of things to watch out for. The Lease-Hire is often based on how many miles per annum you're going to do over the term of the agreement - someone clogging 160,000 over 4 years isn't going to be handing back a car with as much residual value as someone only doing 40,000 miles. It's better to over-estimate a little the mileage, as exceeding it incurs a bigger charge (you go for 80,000 miles and come in under, they get the benefit. You go for 80,000 miles and come in over, they get the benefit )

Many Lease-Hires have servicing, tyres and insurance (potentially) as "extras" - as this allows them to show a lower "headline" price - so look carefully. Make sure what each bit actually covers - so does tyres only cover punctures - i.e. if your car failed MOT because you've work the treads down, who replaces?

Devil as often will be deep down in the small print...

[Bruce Rioja]

Car leasing....its an absolute minefield. Looking at the potential to lease something as convenient as a company car (with servicing, tyres and insurance in if possible). Any suggestions for lease brokers or companies? I'll be getting a car allowance from my company so want to cover costs and pocket a few quid if possible.

I've just looked into all this and have, in the end, decided to stay in the company car scheme.

I opted out, around 10 years ago, so I take the cash, which is then taxed at source as salary - makes the Tax Return a bit easier. Not suggesting that's the right way to go or owt for anyone else.

I originally leased-hired but there are a couple of things to watch out for. The Lease-Hire is often based on how many miles per annum you're going to do over the term of the agreement - someone clogging 160,000 over 4 years isn't going to be handing back a car with as much residual value as someone only doing 40,000 miles. It's better to over-estimate a little the mileage, as exceeding it incurs a bigger charge (you go for 80,000 miles and come in under, they get the benefit. You go for 80,000 miles and come in over, they get the benefit )

Many Lease-Hires have servicing, tyres and insurance (potentially) as "extras" - as this allows them to show a lower "headline" price - so look carefully. Make sure what each bit actually covers - so does tyres only cover punctures - i.e. if your car failed MOT because you've work the treads down, who replaces?

Devil as often will be deep down in the small print...

Indeed. My bezzy rents a C Class for next to nowt, but, and as you say, that's basically the headline number - the restrictions are way too restrictive to accommodate my needs. I guess the deciding factor for me was when mine went in a couple of months ago and after a few phone calls along the lines of 'this needs doing/stop bothering me and just get on with it' I'd ran up a bill of just under £1K, all on the company tab.

[officer_dibble]

Sheesh.
Thats a point though - chips, scratches etc all covered on a company car. But if I lease one, not so sure. Two sets of small print! But the fcuking lack of choice is doing my nut in.

[thebish]

Sheesh.
Thats a point though - chips, scratches etc all covered on a company car. But if I lease one, not so sure. Two sets of small print! But the fcuking lack of choice is doing my nut in.

chips, scratches... ahhh... ummmm... I didn't realise people actually bothering to fix those was a thing!

[Bruce Rioja]

Apparently Clement Freud made Minced Morsels out of Madeleine McCann. Her feckless parents are apparently 'horrified'.

[bobo the clown]

Apparently Clement Freud made Minced Morsels out of Madeleine McCann. Her feckless parents are apparently 'horrified'.

Only AFTER she'd gone missing though. Be fair.

The properly horrid thing is that it reads like Freud AND his, still alive, wife colluded in some of this .... & she wasn't averse to some 16 yrr old boy action (& who know what wlse).

There aren't half some weird feckers around.

[Worthy4England]

OMGZ - Calvin has unfollowed Taylor on Twitter.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

OMGZ - Calvin has unfollowed Taylor on Twitter.

Underpants following people on the Interweb? Strange world we live in

[Gary the Enfield]

Today is the 17th anniversary of my son's death. He died 2 days short of his 3rd birthday. He would have been 20 years old on Sunday. Every year we go to the chapel in Great Ormond Street Hospital to look at the book of remembrance.

Why do I write this? Because the book says he was two years old. Technically he was but it just irks me because it feels like that stroke of a pen has robbed him of 363 days of life. I don't expect people to understand I just didn't want another year to pass without saying something.

And yes, I know it's a stupid thing to get wound up about but I'm not angry enough about it to put it in the angry thread.

[Worthy4England]

Unimaginably heart rending GTE. Can you not get them to add the days in too? No one can take away your memories and thoughts mate.

[Gary the Enfield]

Unimaginably heart rending GTE. Can you not get them to add the days in too? No one can take away your memories and thoughts mate.

Ah. If only. But then that would give us two days we didn't have with him. Which is cruel too. No. It's set. And it will irk me to my grave. Cheers Worthy.

[Bijou Bob]

I can't imagine the sense of loss you're feeling GTE and reading your post was heart rending. It's sometimes easier not to comment or to hide from other people's pain because it's hard to know exactly what to say. You, your family and your little boy are in my thoughts. It's not much, but I hope you can draw a bit of strength today from the fact that I'm sure that goes for all of the virtual community on here.

[Gary the Enfield]

I can't imagine the sense of loss you're feeling GTE and reading your post was heart rending. It's sometimes easier not to comment or to hide from other people's pain because it's hard to know exactly what to say. You, your family and your little boy are in my thoughts. It's not much, but I hope you can draw a bit of strength today from the fact that I'm sure that goes for all of the virtual community on here.

Thank you.

[malcd1]

I can't imagine the sense of loss you're feeling GTE and reading your post was heart rending. It's sometimes easier not to comment or to hide from other people's pain because it's hard to know exactly what to say. You, your family and your little boy are in my thoughts. It's not much, but I hope you can draw a bit of strength today from the fact that I'm sure that goes for all of the virtual community on here.

Definitely echoed from me GtE. Hard to know what to say but my best wishes to you and your wife.

[Worthy4England]

Door knocking hawkers. I generally give 'em about 30 seconds, just in case it's something important, then politely ask them to depart. Other half, however will listen to owt for ever - even though she doesn't generally want to buy whatever they're flogging.

After about 10 minutes of hearing some pair of feckers drone to the missus, covering their three legged dog, one armed wife, blind kids and a rabid hamster, I headed down the hall and said "We're not interested, thank you" - at which point one of the cheeky fcukers asked the missus whether she was "happy with that?", to which I politely pointed out that I didn't recall putting this to the vote, but if we do, I get 4 to their one each and shut the door.

What is it with these people? Give 'em a sniff of democracy and they take fcuking liberties.

[bobo the clown]

^^ The scuffers will be round this afternoon hearing you're a wife beater and a hawker denier.

[Worthy4England]

They'll get the same treatment then - I'm not interesting in buying what they're selling.

[Bijou Bob]

Listening to the match on Saturday in a little bar in Portugal on Wanderers player and Flicking to and from Radio Tango I decided a quick leak was in order after a few Sagres. Unfortunately, the Wi Fi dropped off inside the cafe just as MKD got their penalty and in a bid to restore it and find out what was happening, I failed to observe the very low ( VERY low ) door frame in front of me. I came round covered in blood lying full length on the bar floor with a deep gash on the top of my head. 48 hours later my head still hurts. Feckin ref.

[boltonboris]

Listening to the match on Saturday in a little bar in Portugal on Wanderers player and Flicking to and from Radio Tango I decided a quick leak was in order after a few Sagres. Unfortunately, the Wi Fi dropped off inside the cafe just as MKD got their penalty and in a bid to restore it and find out what was happening, I failed to observe the very low ( VERY low ) door frame in front of me. I came round covered in blood lying full length on the bar floor with a deep gash on the top of my head. 48 hours later my head still hurts. Feckin ref.

[TANGODANCER]

Not angry, just a bit sad. Just read in the B.N that at least two long-standing Catholic Churches are closing down.St Peter and Pauls pretty definitely, and maybe a couple more which might include the scene of my primary schooldays and churchgoing till was maybe sixteen. Okay, I can't complain since I no longer go to church and it isn't being supported enough to make it feasible. Just that I spent many happy hours there long ago at school, youth club and church itself. If I had my time to come again......