Shrinking UK Economy & Rising Unemployment?

[marchie]

There have been a few articles over the last couple of weeks about the falling jobs market after the NIC increase, and my experience this week suggest that it might be starting a downward spiral, with fewer employees being available to answer queries, so potential orders lost, so fewer jobs needed etc. All of the below have websites boasting about their commitment to Customer Service and helping new customers to choose the product that is right for them

1. Rang 2 Fiat Professional Dealers early Monday morning to book a Timing Belt/Water Pump/Ancillary Belts change - 'We'll check with the Workshop Manager and phone you straight back' - still waiting.
2. After the Winter 2025 problem with the broken rear wheel spokes on the e-bikes, we have decided to upgrade the e-bikes with Trek versions, because they offer a total weight limit of 136kg [usual maximum is 100-115Kg], including rider, rucksack and bike rack load [daily shopping!]. The rear wheel spokes were probably supporting over 120Kg against a 110Kg maximum load limit.
Trek offer a bewildering array of Hybrid/Commuter/City et al bikes and the website doesn't make the differences between the models entirely clear. The cheapest bikes are around £2100 each, but can reach £4700- £5000 each, plus panniers and other accessories, so £4000-£10,000 potential purchase if someone will talk me through what would be best for me to buy. Rang 2 Trek Dealers, no answer after ringing out for 2-3 minutes, well before closing time. Voicemail left asking for a callback - heard nothing.
3. New Air Fryer arrived yesterday, and tried to buy Oil Spray/Pour Pump and Trayliners + new silicone tongs online. Amazon indicated at the 'Your Basket' stage that the earliest delivery date would be split between 18th July and 11th August, with a split delivery [but no indication of what would arrive on which dates. Placed the order, at which stage the delivery date changed to'all items delivered on 11th August'! Complained to Amazon, and had a callback of indifference - 'it's the way the system operates - can't do anything to help you', so I cancelled the order and placed it with Lakeland. More expensive + £3.95 delivery to a Evri Collection Store within 3-5 working days, but at least this side of Autumn ...
4. As for electricians and heating engineers to do the house rewire and modify/update the heating system, I should get call backs from about 30 trades people any day now ...

Steve

 

[saxonborg]

There have been a few articles over the last couple of weeks about the falling jobs market after the NIC increase, and my experience this week suggest that it might be starting a downward spiral, with fewer employees being available to answer queries, so potential orders lost, so fewer jobs needed etc. All of the below have websites boasting about their commitment to Customer Service and helping new customers to choose the product that is right for them

1. Rang 2 Fiat Professional Dealers early Monday morning to book a Timing Belt/Water Pump/Ancillary Belts change - 'We'll check with the Workshop Manager and phone you straight back' - still waiting.
2. After the Winter 2025 problem with the broken rear wheel spokes on the e-bikes, we have decided to upgrade the e-bikes with Trek versions, because they offer a total weight limit of 136kg [usual maximum is 100-115Kg], including rider, rucksack and bike rack load [daily shopping!]. The rear wheel spokes were probably supporting over 120Kg against a 110Kg maximum load limit.
Trek offer a bewildering array of Hybrid/Commuter/City et al bikes and the website doesn't make the differences between the models entirely clear. The cheapest bikes are around £2100 each, but can reach £4700- £5000 each, plus panniers and other accessories, so £4000-£10,000 potential purchase if someone will talk me through what would be best for me to buy. Rang 2 Trek Dealers, no answer after ringing out for 2-3 minutes, well before closing time. Voicemail left asking for a callback - heard nothing.
3. New Air Fryer arrived yesterday, and tried to buy Oil Spray/Pour Pump and Trayliners + new silicone tongs online. Amazon indicated at the 'Your Basket' stage that the earliest delivery date would be split between 18th July and 11th August, with a split delivery [but no indication of what would arrive on which dates. Placed the order, at which stage the delivery date changed to'all items delivered on 11th August'! Complained to Amazon, and had a callback of indifference - 'it's the way the system operates - can't do anything to help you', so I cancelled the order and placed it with Lakeland. More expensive + £3.95 delivery to a Evri Collection Store within 3-5 working days, but at least this side of Autumn ...
4. As for electricians and heating engineers to do the house rewire and modify/update the heating system, I should get call backs from about 30 trades people any day now ...

Steve

It’s been like that for years with the tradesmen in my area.

 

[marchie]

AM Phillip TruckTech quoted £2233 at lunchtime for the timing belt, water pump and diesel filter! I found a post on another Forum where AM Phillip Edinburgh charged £1500 in March 2024 for the same job, PLUS a full service, so the cost has apparently risen by 50% in a little over 12 months ... Edinburgh then said that they would not be able to work on my M/Home because it is too old for their tooling [It's a 2016 Reg/2015 Build so not eligible for the London-Brighton Rally just yet!]. Waiting for Ian Grieve Fiat/Jeep at Falkirk to see if they have any antique spanners ...

Steve

 

[nabsim]

AM Phillip TruckTech quoted £2233 at lunchtime for the timing belt, water pump and diesel filter! I found a post on another Forum where AM Phillip Edinburgh charged £1500 in March 2024 for the same job, PLUS a full service, so the cost has apparently risen by 50% in a little over 12 months ... Edinburgh then said that they would not be able to work on my M/Home because it is too old for their tooling [It's a 2016 Reg/2015 Build so not eligible for the London-Brighton Rally just yet!]. Waiting for Ian Grieve Fiat/Jeep at Falkirk to see if they have any antique spanners ...

Steve

Ring round some mobile mechanics Steve

 

[trevskoda]

Ask about, many of the best mechanics work from home and will do a better cheaper job, lucky im well trained we feller and do 90% of all work either on cars/vans outboards and not forgetting c heating, we tip here, go for oil with all the proper controls, no rad valves ecp if a house put them on upstairs rads, thing is you can service or change a burner unit if it fails, not allowed to touch gas, and thats where they get you big time.

 

[marchie]

Graham at Logan Mechanical Services will carry out the work on Staurday morning [when he's open for only 4 hours -reckons he will have the done with at least 1/2 hour to spare, because, if he's not removing seized injectors, he's changing timing belts, water pumps and diesel filters! He also gets jobs passed on by AM Phillip where he is paid less than the chargeout rate to the customer of £135+VAT, but I doubt the customer knows this ...

There should be change from £1,000 [£799 for timing belt and water pump, plus the more expensive metal cased diesel filter at £85 + VAT [lifted price from AM Phillip quote} and a small labour charge of £15-£20 for fitting, which is roughly what I hoped to keep the expenditure to

Steve

 

[rugbyken]

i had my timing belt done by graham last month he’s very thorough (he identified my bent axle )belt water pump & full service was around £1250 and that was on an A class 2013, his wife lisa office manageris really lovely , graham was recommended by wully and also gordon i think as a boy he was pals with gordon’s son

 

[Okta]

I don’t think you can blame bad service on the current state of the economy, it has been around for several years now. I got very good service with an order I placed yesterday, should I congratulate the economy or the supplier.

 

[trevexess]

There have been a few articles over the last couple of weeks about the falling jobs market after the NIC increase, and my experience this week suggest that it might be starting a downward spiral, with fewer employees being available to answer queries, so potential orders lost, so fewer jobs needed etc. All of the below have websites boasting about their commitment to Customer Service and helping new customers to choose the product that is right for them

1. Rang 2 Fiat Professional Dealers early Monday morning to book a Timing Belt/Water Pump/Ancillary Belts change - 'We'll check with the Workshop Manager and phone you straight back' - still waiting.
2. After the Winter 2025 problem with the broken rear wheel spokes on the e-bikes, we have decided to upgrade the e-bikes with Trek versions, because they offer a total weight limit of 136kg [usual maximum is 100-115Kg], including rider, rucksack and bike rack load [daily shopping!]. The rear wheel spokes were probably supporting over 120Kg against a 110Kg maximum load limit.
Trek offer a bewildering array of Hybrid/Commuter/City et al bikes and the website doesn't make the differences between the models entirely clear. The cheapest bikes are around £2100 each, but can reach £4700- £5000 each, plus panniers and other accessories, so £4000-£10,000 potential purchase if someone will talk me through what would be best for me to buy. Rang 2 Trek Dealers, no answer after ringing out for 2-3 minutes, well before closing time. Voicemail left asking for a callback - heard nothing.
3. New Air Fryer arrived yesterday, and tried to buy Oil Spray/Pour Pump and Trayliners + new silicone tongs online. Amazon indicated at the 'Your Basket' stage that the earliest delivery date would be split between 18th July and 11th August, with a split delivery [but no indication of what would arrive on which dates. Placed the order, at which stage the delivery date changed to'all items delivered on 11th August'! Complained to Amazon, and had a callback of indifference - 'it's the way the system operates - can't do anything to help you', so I cancelled the order and placed it with Lakeland. More expensive + £3.95 delivery to a Evri Collection Store within 3-5 working days, but at least this side of Autumn ...
4. As for electricians and heating engineers to do the house rewire and modify/update the heating system, I should get call backs from about 30 trades people any day now ...

Steve

 

[trevexess]

It's all because the UK has become a third world country over the past few years. Just compare us to South East Asia/Australia etc...

 

[Andy n Mandy Travel]

There have been a few articles over the last couple of weeks about the falling jobs market after the NIC increase, and my experience this week suggest that it might be starting a downward spiral, with fewer employees being available to answer queries, so potential orders lost, so fewer jobs needed etc. All of the below have websites boasting about their commitment to Customer Service and helping new customers to choose the product that is right for them

1. Rang 2 Fiat Professional Dealers early Monday morning to book a Timing Belt/Water Pump/Ancillary Belts change - 'We'll check with the Workshop Manager and phone you straight back' - still waiting.
2. After the Winter 2025 problem with the broken rear wheel spokes on the e-bikes, we have decided to upgrade the e-bikes with Trek versions, because they offer a total weight limit of 136kg [usual maximum is 100-115Kg], including rider, rucksack and bike rack load [daily shopping!]. The rear wheel spokes were probably supporting over 120Kg against a 110Kg maximum load limit.
Trek offer a bewildering array of Hybrid/Commuter/City et al bikes and the website doesn't make the differences between the models entirely clear. The cheapest bikes are around £2100 each, but can reach £4700- £5000 each, plus panniers and other accessories, so £4000-£10,000 potential purchase if someone will talk me through what would be best for me to buy. Rang 2 Trek Dealers, no answer after ringing out for 2-3 minutes, well before closing time. Voicemail left asking for a callback - heard nothing.
3. New Air Fryer arrived yesterday, and tried to buy Oil Spray/Pour Pump and Trayliners + new silicone tongs online. Amazon indicated at the 'Your Basket' stage that the earliest delivery date would be split between 18th July and 11th August, with a split delivery [but no indication of what would arrive on which dates. Placed the order, at which stage the delivery date changed to'all items delivered on 11th August'! Complained to Amazon, and had a callback of indifference - 'it's the way the system operates - can't do anything to help you', so I cancelled the order and placed it with Lakeland. More expensive + £3.95 delivery to a Evri Collection Store within 3-5 working days, but at least this side of Autumn ...
4. As for electricians and heating engineers to do the house rewire and modify/update the heating system, I should get call backs from about 30 trades people any day now ...

Steve

That's mental, we've never paid more than £500 for cambelt and waterpump replacement in any vehicle.

 

[Tjay]

AM Phillip TruckTech quoted £2233 at lunchtime for the timing belt, water pump and diesel filter! I found a post on another Forum where AM Phillip Edinburgh charged £1500 in March 2024 for the same job, PLUS a full service, so the cost has apparently risen by 50% in a little over 12 months ... Edinburgh then said that they would not be able to work on my M/Home because it is too old for their tooling [It's a 2016 Reg/2015 Build so not eligible for the London-Brighton Rally just yet!]. Waiting for Ian Grieve Fiat/Jeep at Falkirk to see if they have any antique spanners ...

Steve

I use T S transport in Dundee,found them to reasonable and very good
Tel 01382 733582.
Worked on my Peugeot, Fiat and Nissan.

 

[marchie]

I use T S transport in Dundee,found them to reasonable and very good
Tel 01382 733582.
Worked on my Peugeot, Fiat and Nissan.

I had the timing bely, water pump and diesel filter replaced ths morning by Graham Logan, of Logan Vehicle Services, who is a Fiat & Ford Master Technician, Carluke. £893.90 all iin. So, having 'saved' just over £1300 on the min agent price, I have been given a rough quote of £1300-£1500 for Rear Air Suspension, the bags that sit on the Bump Stops ... I should get the detailed quote on Monday, and I may well go mad and have a larger capacity solar panel fitted so that I can use the Lithium Battery to its full potential. Will definitiely a 'Sponsored by the Bank' sticker fpr the M/Home then

Another SKI venture [spending kids inheritance] ...

Steve

 

[trevskoda]

Talking to a mate over breakfast this morning about his fait, belt and pump £475, 2 front wheel bearing sets just over £200, good price i thought.

 

[GMJ]

Re Tradespeople

We recently moved house...well bungalow and...

- Spoke to the chap over the road as he had nice windows in and we wanted ours changed. It was his nephew who had company and did them so we got him around to give us a quote. All good: he arrived on time; did the quote when he said he would; inked in a date to start; and then started on time.
- Armed with that level of confidence I asked him if he could recommend a plumber; an electrician; and a fence installer. No problem at all!
- The plumber never rang back despite 2 messages from me and a shredding from the window bloke.
- The sparky eventually did ring back; then missed an appointment; eventually did turn up...and has got the work.
- The fence bloke missed 3 appointments; did turn up eventually; said he would get a quote to me within the week...2 .5 weeks ago. Still no quote and I have had the job done now.

We also had a flooring person in as we wanted to match up some engineered wood. He was great: turned up for the appointment; quoted on time; started and finished the job on time. I also asked him for the name of a sparkie and he recommended his brother (whom I have met) who would ring me the next night....3 weeks ago and still waiting! Tbf he also recommended a carpet fitter and the fencing bloke who both got the work as they quoted on time and did the work as agreed.

I got a plumber from 2 streets away to fit a new shower for us. All good but then he also quoted me for a new basin and tap in our toilet and I nearly fainted with the cost. I asked another plumber for a price who actually lives in our street. He popped round Friday afternoon; had a look and said he's be back yesterday morning with a price. He never showed!

 

[Landyseverywhere]

When we bought the plot I did some basic plans,passed them to a guy I found on eBay..he did the full plans and building regs application whilst waiting for planning permission I rang/emailed several ground workers only 1 showed up and he quoted a price so low he clearly had no idea so I bought an old digger and did the foundations and the wife and I laid the block and beam floor,whilst trying to get quotes from brikkies,roofers,plasterers etc they either didn't show or were quoting ludicrous prices ( for a cash job).So I put the shell up ,me wife and daughter put trusses up we tiled the roof,I fitted windows doors and stud walls ,dry lined it,wife and I started plastering boxing day,only outside labour was a sparky for bare minimum for signing off.All done now..but our local authority want an oftec certificate for install of heating system( even tho it's not part of national regs..oftec are not recognised/required like Gas safe apparently ,so now having lived here nearly 3 years with no failures/breakdowns or problems if we want a completion certificate I have to remove the boiler and get an oftec regs engineer to put it back in ! ( Something I won't be doing) The only need for a completion certificate is to sell ( no plans to do that..it was built as God's waiting room) and to get the vat back