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I have a question. Volume 6 - Mark (RLBS)
In this thread you may ask any question for which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever.

It does not need to be motoring related. In fact, in this thread it should not be.

No politics
No Speeding, speed cameras, traffic calming
No arguments or slanging matches
Nothing which I think is not following the spirit of the thread.

I will delete any of the above. If the thread becomes difficult to maintain I will simply remove it.

However, as has been said a couple of times, there is a wealth of knowledge in here, much of which is not motoring related, but most of which is useful.

Volume 7 is now open, I\'ll leave this open for a few days to die down from its current questions.
HF - Me and My mortgage again - No Do$h
As the I have a Question thread is now at 129 posts, thought I would post this here so you get a chance to see it!

Me and my mortgage again - No Dosh (aol) Fri 14 Feb 03 10:13

Before referring to the Ombudsman you have to establish whether the lender has treated your enquiries as a complaint. From what you describe it seems that they may have simply treated it as a request for information.

If their correspondence hasn't referred to a "Final Response" you should write to them confirming that you are making a formal complaint and requesting that they provide you with a suitable response.

As regards solicitors, I wil quote from the Ombudsman handbook for complainants:

"Is Financial or legal expertise needed to bring a complaint to the Ombudsman?

No. The Ombudsman Service is a free and informal alternative to going to court..... If you do decide to employ a professional to present your case for you then you will almost certainly have to pay their costs yourself. Don't expect to get these costs back, even if we decide your complaint is valid".

In other words, the Ombudsman service are there to save you from running up legal bills, amongst other things. I deal with the Financial Ombudsman Service on regulatory complaints and can vouch for this first-hand.

Try www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk for more info, or ring 0845 080 1800.


HF - Me and My mortgage again - HF
Many thanks, No Dosh - I think this will need to be transferred over to the new 'I have a question' thread.

The lender has definitely treated my correspondence as a complaint, they refer to the word 'complaint' in their latest letter.

They haven't actually mentioned a 'final response' - the department dealing with my complaint has simply stated that there is nothing more they can do, and referred me back again to the department that started the problem in the first place!

I have stated many times that I do not wish to deal with that particular department again, because I only receive incorrect and conflicting information from them. I have asked the complaints people to liaise on my behalf with the relevant people, but they tell me they are unable to do so.

Thanks for the Ombudsman info, I'll check it out.
HF
HF - Me and My mortgage again - No Do$h
Best of luck.
HF - Me and My mortgage again - HF
Thanks, ND

I have another question - does what I explained above mean I can go to the Ombudsman yet, or do I still need something from the lender saying 'final response'?

My apologies to M for continuing on this thread, I was going to write this on the 'IHAQ' thread but it wouldn't have made sense there.
HF
HF - Me and My mortgage again - volvoman
HF - I'm sure I told you this before but just in case, I went to the FS Ombudsman when pursuing a serious complaint against a large life insurance company. In order to do this I had to first exhaust their internal complaints procedure and obtain a letter confirming this from
them. I don't think you don't need to pay a solicitor to get advice on how to proceed at this point. As I said last week, you may well have free legal cover under your house insurance policy (did you check ? it's often inlcuded as a freebie) or you could obtain advice from a CAB or Law Centre as I have done during Mrs V's work dispute. The trouble with the Ombudsman is that the amounts they can order to be paid out in respect of distress, inconvenience and such like are small so I don't expect you'll get much of a pay out for all the trouble you've had if you go down that route.
HF - Me and My mortgage again - volvoman
ps - just to make you feel worse (if that's possible) I didn't really feel the protracted process I went through was worth the trouble. I explained at the outset that my complaint was based on us being misled by incorrect verbal assurances given by the rep. which we were relying on at the time we bought the policies and that I wasn't claiming the contract documentation was wrong or misleading. At the end of the day, it was determined that the absence of anything in writing from the rep. to confirm his own bad advice (as if he'd write it down for God's sake !) meant I had no proof.

So why did they bother to go through the whole routine then when they knew all that from the start. Answers on a postcard please !
HF - Me and My mortgage again - HF
I'm completely daunted as to what I should do.

Guess it's back to the CAB again first. I really have had enough of all this.
HF
HF - Me and My mortgage again - volvoman
HF - Have you got free legal cover ? Have you checked your insurance policy documents ?
HF - Me and My mortgage again - HF
V,

It's not clear to me if I'd be covered or not, although it seems probably not - I think I will have to phone and ask them.
HF
HF - Me and My mortgage again - No Do$h
VM is right in that you will need to exhaust the internal complaints process. If you write specifically asking for their "final response" you can probably shortcut matters.

As regards VM's case, the Ombudsman Service takes the approach that "hearsay" cannot be considered as evidence, especially if this is contradicted by documentary evidence. What has to be appreciated is that there are a vast number of complaints made based on recollections of conversations from many years ago. With the best will in the world, these are unlikley to be 100% reliable.

In the case of regulated complaints, if an individual has more than 2 upheld they may well be dismissed from their current post even if they are now with a different company and have undergone extensive training. For this reason the FOS are keen to adjudicate based on documented evidence rather than hearsay.

NoDosh
HF - Me and My mortgage again - HF
Thanks very much, ND. I need to give this some thought, so I'll email over the weekend for you to receive on Monday.

It's a complicated tale, so be prepared for a long and convoluted email!

Enjoy your evening, and thanks again,
HF
HF - Me and My mortgage again - volvoman
Hi ND - not wanting to sidetrack HF's thread but the point I was making about the process was that I explained that I had no written proof of the mis-selling from the outset so if the Ombudsman knew that, why did they make me go through such a long and frustrating process when they must have known my complaint wouldn't be upheld for that very reason ?

Incidentally, we're all aware of the terrible and massive misselling that went on with regard to pensions etc. and my late wife was the victim of that too - at the hands of the same rep. Like most people we relied on the spoken advice of a trusted advisor who misdescribed the salient features of the policies we were buying. We did not check all the detailed legalistc blurb we got after the event !

The companies seek to defend themselves by telling us how complicated it all is and how well trained and professional their advisors have to be but then argue that ordinary members of the pubic can't rely on what their advisors actually SAY and need themselves to be experts in order to understand all the fine detail hidden in the depths of the contracts. Quite frankly it stinks !
HF - Me and My mortgage again - eMBe {P}
Volvoman - you have to appreciate that ombudsman services are a kind of legal process without being the full civil legal process. Here is my cynical truthful view. The system is like the civil service, once a complaint is offically received, they go through the whole procedure. They are not paid to use common sense, but to do their "job" which is to keep papers circulating and keep themselves employed. They arre the same type of people from the Home Office who were yesterday about to deport the granny who has been living in the UK for over 50 years! Its a case of "jobs worth". I know - because I used to deal regularly with Govt. Depts. a few years ago and they used to drive me to despair.

As for Fincancial Advisers, dont get me started! Like car servicing and other UK trades, its a case of buyer beware. Teach yourself as much as you can, become an self-taught expert, and then DIY. Always the best option in my experience.

HF - you are better off referring your case to Jessica Investigates of Daily Telegraph. That is the last time I will advise you of that - as you seem hell bent not to take it up.



** HJ Backroomers - ADD your photo albums at:
groups.msn.com/honestjohn/shoebox.msnw
HF - Me and My mortgage again - HF
HF - you are better off referring your case to Jessica
Investigates of Daily Telegraph. That is the last time I will
advise you of that - as you seem hell bent not
to take it up.

MB, it's not that at all - I was just trying to arm myself with some facts before approaching anyone. Now that the bank has said it has no documented proof re address change, I can finally take some action.

The telegraph is definitely something which I have not forgotten about.

Thanks,
HF
HF - Me and My mortgage again - No Do$h
HF - you are better off referring your case to Jessica
Investigates of Daily Telegraph. That is the last time I will
advise you of that - as you seem hell bent not
to take it up.


Jessica does a smashing job (I've had the pleasure of dealing with cases at her request) but please note that she won't usually take on a case that is with the ombudsman already.

Under the circumstances you may want to pursue the Jessica route before FOS.

Remember that for every letter published with a positive response, there are many dozens more where Jessica finds that the investigation has been conducted properly. Mind you, in this case it would appear not!

Look forward to hearing from HF on Monday.

HF - Me and My mortgage again - HF
Thanks for that, ND, what amazing luck for me to find someone with 'inside information'!

I understand, of course, what you're saying in that Jessica finds many cases *have* been investigated properly - it will be interesting to hear what you think when I email you all the facts!
HF
HF - Me and My mortgage again - eMBe {P}
no dosh said
>>> please note that she won't usually take on a case that is with the ombudsman already. <<<< I recall that HF is already aware of that.


>>>Under the circumstances you may want to pursue the Jessica route before FOS <<<< Precisely. Rather than get bogged down in a legalistic process with the FOS, far better to go to Jessica.
She is very fair. And like me will tell you straight where you stand, without undue niceties.



** HJ Backroomers - ADD your photo albums at:
groups.msn.com/honestjohn/shoebox.msnw
HF - Me and My mortgage again - HF
She is very fair. And like me will tell you straight
where you stand, without undue niceties.

I think I've been persuaded. I'll see what ND has to say about whether I've got a case worth pursuing, and then hopefully go for it.

A hell of a lot rides on this, so I've got to be sure I'm doing the right thing.
HF
HF - Me and My mortgage again - cockle {P}
HF, sorry to see that your saga is still continuing, mine with the same company now seems to be coming to a close, I hope.

The people who seemed to be the only ones who knew what was what were a group called Shareholder Services. I would suggest that you try and get referred to them, if you haven't already, they weren't exactly speedy but seemed to get results.
If you wish I have some numbers and names which may be useful, if you want them then e-mail me off forum at cockle@talk21.com and I'll get them to you asap.

The important thing to keep in mind is to not let them divert you, if you want an answer to a question then keep asking until you get it, a la Jeremy Paxman. I know it gets boring but unfortunately it seems to be the only way. They seemed to be allergic to putting anything in writing in my case but in the end I think I bored them into submission, sadly customer service appears to have become extinct in our mutual friends organisation.


Cockle
HF - Me and My mortgage again - HF
Hi Cockle,

Thanks for your post. I'm really glad to hear that your own particular saga is hopefully coming to a close - mine, I think, is just beginning.

You might have noticed in this thread that ND has very kindly offered me some assistance in this matter, and I'm currently liaising with him off-forum to try to deduce my best line of action.

At the moment, I'm still open to all possibilities/possible sources of future help, and as such I would be interested to hear about your Shareholder Services - I haven't heard of them before. I'll email you for details.

I won't be diverted - as I think I've said before, I feel they are trying to bully me into submission, and I am not yet prepared to lay down and die. As you say, there is no customer service anymore :(

Thanks,
HF
HF - Me and My mortgage again - No Do$h
Hi ND - not wanting to sidetrack HF's thread but the
point I was making about the process was that I explained
that I had no written proof of the mis-selling from the
outset so if the Ombudsman knew that, why did they make
me go through such a long and frustrating process when they
must have known my complaint wouldn't be upheld for that very
reason ?
Incidentally, we're all aware of the terrible and massive misselling that
went on with regard to pensions etc. and my late wife
was the victim of that too - at the hands of
the same rep. Like most people we relied on the
spoken advice of a trusted advisor who misdescribed the salient features
of the policies we were buying. We did not check
all the detailed legalistc blurb we got after the event !
The companies seek to defend themselves by telling us how complicated
it all is and how well trained and professional their advisors
have to be but then argue that ordinary members of the
pubic can't rely on what their advisors actually SAY and need
themselves to be experts in order to understand all the fine
detail hidden in the depths of the contracts. Quite frankly
it stinks !


A fair point, and well made.

What often happens is that incidental evidence will turn up during the complaint investigation conducted by the company. When FOS review a complaint they obtain copies of the files and will take into account any evidence they find that will support your allegation. You would be astonished how many times an adviser makes a note of a comment made to the client and these are frequently used to find in the client's favour. For this reason it is usually well worth going through the process.

As regards Pensions mis-selling, this is an altogether different kettle of fish and shouldn't be put at the feet of the individual adviser as fault can be seen to lie with the government of the day, the "industry", individual companies and yes, ultimately the advisers following instructions from all of the above.

You may be interested to know that recent changes in occupational pension legislation have resulted in clients who received redress for "mis-selling" being significantly better off than those who stayed in their company schemes. In other words, if they redress were calculated today, many clients who had received redress offers previously would not get such an offer now as they are better off through being "mis-sold".

As you can probably guess, after leaving the motor industry I went into financial services. I've been working on complaint investigation and review work full time since 1999 (I now head up a project team investigating IFA complaints), with 4 years before that as an adviser and field investigator. I regularly deal with the Ombudsman and the Press and would always be willing to help any backroomers (although they may not always like what they hear!).
HF - Me and My mortgage again - volvoman
Thanks for the feedback MB and ND ! I take all your points and since it's all ancient history now (and I've other legal fish to fry !) I won't take up any more bandwidth on the subject.
BTW I know HF truly appreciates your help!
HF - Me and My mortgage again - volvoman
HF - You'll be covered for free legal advice on the phone I'm sure but whether/how much it'll cover subsequent costs you'll need to ask.
I have a plumbing question. - Soupytwist
I have a newly acquired dishwasher (see Volume 5).

We need to connect the waste out pipe to something to get all the dirty water down a drain. Easiest way to do this is via the kitchen sink waste but there’s already a washing machine waste connected through that. Neither B&Q nor Screwfix seem to sell a sink waste pipe with two connectors on it. In fact, man in B&Q would not entertain the possibility of connecting both to the same sink waste saying that you’d end up pumping dirty water from one appliance to the other.

However, dishwasher supplier says that connecting the two is common and I shouldn’t worry about it.

Who is right ? If it’s dishwasher supplier where can I get the two input waste pipe section from ? I am prepared to knock a hole in the wall and use dedicated pipework if I have to but I’d rather not.

Thanks



Matthew Kelly
No, not that one.
I have a plumbing question. - Toad, of Toad Hall.
I need an MK older style exterior light switch for my garage.

1) Can I still get one or do they only make the weatherproof model on their web site.
2) On all the switches I've found the cable goes in the side or top. I want to drill the back of the case out and feed the cable through there. Will this be ok?
3) Anyone heard of Telco? Their stuff seems cheap...
--
These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads.
I have a plumbing question. - guzzler

>>I need an MK older style exterior light switch for my
garage.<<

Toad,
1. You might be lucky and find an old one kicking around an electrical wholesalers, or maybe a boot sale junk box.
2. You could drill a 20mm hole in the back of the box and then use a blind grommet (if you liken a grommet to a polo mint then a blind grommet is like the mint without the hole), then pass the cable through. Alternatively drill a smaller hole, pass the cable through and smother the thing with silicone.
Hope this helps>>
I have a plumbing question. - Stargazer {P}

Hi Matthew, Very common and easy to solve, many DIY stores will supply them, but also available online. . You will find sink waste pipes with U-bends and two additional water inlets for washing machines and dish-washers. I have had good service from

xxx, even if you dont get it from them you will see a picture of what to look for. regards Ian

Edited by Avant on 07/04/2014 at 21:55

I have a plumbing question. - Soupytwist

Thanks Ian, that looks ideal I'll try and get one on the way home tonight from Homebase, if not I'll order online from xxx. Matthew Kelly No, not that one.

Edited by Avant on 07/04/2014 at 21:56

I have a plumbing question. - Soupytwist
To follow up on this topic I obtained required part from Wickes and went home to fit it.

The outlet pipe from my Bosch dishwasher is about 2cm in diameter and made from hard plastic. The outlet from the washing machine is nicely flexible rubber so getting the end of that onto the trap spigot was easy. However the trap spigot is also approx. 2cm in diameter and made from hard plastic so getting the dishwasher outlet pipe connected to it was impossible. What I need is a short length of flexible rubber piping I thought, two jubilee clips and away we go. Upon consulting the instruction booklet it seemed as thought Bosch suggested the same. So, off I went to Wickes again, no rubber piping but a couple of washing machine pipe ends should do the trick, so I bought those. I couldn’t connect them either because the spigot connecting end of the pipe end was 2cm in diameter and hard plastic. I thought that if I cut the end off the waste pipe it would make it a bit wider and I’d have more chance of success, but one attack with the hacksaw later no different. I showed my wife the picture in the instruction booklet and she asked if I’d looked inside the dishwasher because there may have been something in there. I did and lo and behold there was a plastic bag containing a short length of flexible rubber piping and two jubilee clips. So I connected all of that up to my butchered outlet hose and spigot and switched on the machine. A small leak occurred, by the time the wash programme had finished it was about 10:30 so tonight I’ll be fiddling about with the jubilee clips again. The only problem is, now I’ve butchered the outlet hose I’ve got no comeback to Bosch, so fingers crossed it works.

Why is everything so difficult ?

Matthew Kelly
No, not that one.
I have a plumbing question. - Homme van Blanc
When in doubt, remember RTFM!
I have a plumbing question. - bernie
Hi Matt,I have only just read your saga about the dishwasher,but here goes.

As a professional kitchen installer,I have fitted quite a few dishwashers and washing machines.It is quite acceptable to drain two appliances into the trap with two spigots.the main thing to make sure of is that the appliance waste pipes form a bend in their pipes above the connection to the spigots,so as to prevent back siphonage.All appliances come with a plastic former to create this bend.I sometimes secure the pipe against the back of the unit with a 22mm copper saddle clip.

Your problem with the Bosch dishwasher is solved the way you suggested.Bosch always supply a soft rubber connecting piece with 2 clips to fix over the rigid pipe and the waste spigot.

Another way to do it,and this is often preferable is to fit a standpipe and tee in to your waste pipe,you can then just insert the dishwasher waste into that.

Bernie.
I have a plumbing question. - Hugo {P}
With hindsite, Wouldn't it have just been easier to put a pipe through the outside wall?!

I have to say, this has always been my option. OK, granted if you live in a flat or your appliances are not against an outside wall, this may be difficult.

However, I am about to fit a washing machine into a property and notice that the spigot on the end of the drain actually goes inside the drain on the machine. Hence, when the machine drains a small amount of water is bound to be forced out of the joint.

In my new house there is a simple vertical 1 1/2" pipe, which goes into a U bend and then connects to the pipework below all the traps etc coming from the sink. The start point of this pipe has to be as high as possible but still allow one to insert the waste from the appliance (from under the work top), otherwise draining the sink could cause it to shoot water out of the top of the pipe.

We have connected our dishwasher to it without incdent to date.

H
German Karnivals - John R @ Work {P}
Does any one watch German TV (on Astra Satellite or if you live there)?, and has seen the entertainment programs on HR, MDR,ARD, 2DF (and some others).

Where, on-stage there are some chaps sat at the back wearing "chains of office" like a Mayors chains and bright shiney hats like Punch's (out of Punch and Judy). The audience sit in rows drinking, and generally are in fancy dress.

We only see these shows in Feb.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, what do they represent?

John R
German Karnivals - Billy Whizz
My goodness John, you should get out more. So you've been watching these channels all year just waiting for the funny hats to re-appear???

But I am sure someone will be along later to give us the answer. That's what I like about the Back Room!

Billy
German Karnivals - John R @ Work {P}
There is never anything worth watching on cable so a while ago I re-connected my old Astra Sat box. Lo & behold there were 30 odd (some, very odd) German stations still recievable.

Problem is, I only understand about 1 word in 15... so we don't know whats going on with these shows. There is nothing comparable in the UK.



John R
another question from me - HF
Hi,

This is going to sound a bit bizarre, but does anyone know if there's any way of finding out, pretty urgently, about recent court cases? I'm not able to explain this very well, but if I have the name of the court, names of defence lawyers, and nature of case, (which has been concluded and therefore presumably reported in newspapers at the time)can I find any further info anywhere?

I've been searching sites in the area I'm referring to but found nothing yet.

I know this is a shot in the dark but am hoping someone might have some idea?
Thanks
HF
another question from me - No Do$h
Which type of court HF? Crown/County/Magistrates etc?
another question from me - HF
Crown, ND - this has nothing to do with my own aforementioned problem!
HF
another question from me - No Do$h
Crown, ND - this has nothing to do with my own
aforementioned problem!
HF

What, your brakelight not working :o)
another question from me - HF
ROFL!!!!!
another question from me - No Do$h
Most if not all online court listing services only provide full details if you subscribe, but www.lawindexpro.co.uk/ibn.shtml offers a "demo" facility.
another question from me - HF
Most if not all online court listing services only provide full
details if you subscribe, but www.lawindexpro.co.uk/ibn.shtml offers a "demo" facility.


I'll take a look - thanks ND.
HF
another question from me - HF
No luck there, but thanks for the link anyway, ND. I'll have to keep thinking, I've got to get to the bottom of this somehow. Maybe I'll just have to keep trying to find a report of it on the online local papers fro that area.
HF
another question from me - Mark (RLBS)
e-mail me with what you are looking for.

M.
another question from me - HF
M, thanks, I'll do that.
HF
German Karnivals - DavidHM
It's called Karneval, and generally is a big deal in north western Germany particularly, although it provides an excuse for Germans everywhere to drink large quantities of beer, funnily enough. Loads of people dress up in ridiculous costumes and play folk music (though of course some do it all year). Kölle Alaaf is one of them, I believe.
German Karnivals - John R @ Work {P}
But what do the chaind and hats signify?

Are they like somthing halfway between the Masons (as in the love of regalia) and the local Rotary Club?

I can't find much on the interweb regarding this and am considering caling the German Embassy !!!!!
It's doing my head in...

John R
German Karnivals - John R @ Work {P}
Whoops, fingers too big...
chaind = chains

John R
German Karnivals - Cardew
German villages hold shooting club carnivals(Scheutzenfest)A Master is elected each year and wears chains as a badge of office. They normally wear lederhosen.

Not to be confused with the Carnival held in many cities on the Rhine and the Munich Carnival held in October which originally, I believe, was a celebration of wine harvest. Although Munich is associated with beer - I mean lots of beer!
German Karnivals - Dwight Van Driver
HF

If we knew which Crown Court then it would poibnt us in the right direction.

Without knowing then each Crown Court has Clerks Office which should be contactable by telephone. From the it should be possible to find out the rsult of a certain case.

Sorry the above is a bit woolly but hope it helps.

DVD
German Karnivals - HF
Thanks for your reply, DVD.

I'm not at all sure if legal implications mean I shouldn't post any details of this on site, even the name of the Crown Court, as it concerns a person other than myself.

I'll email M as he's kindly suggested, and see what he says.
Thanks again,
HF
German Karnivals - HF
DVD, and anyone else,

I'd be grateful if you could answer this question - if it's naive, I apologise, it's just that I don't know the answer.

When a trial is held in a Crown Court, is that Crown Court likely to be in the locality of the alleged victim, the defendant, or where the alleged incident took place?

An answer to this would really help me out.

My thanks to anyone who can reply.
HF
me again - HF
DVD,

sorry to post yet again, but having re-read your earlier post - I know the outcome of the case, I need to try and establish who the defendant was.

I know that sounds loopy, and all in reverse order, but that really *is* what I need to know.
Thanks again
HF
German Karnivals - NWS
Where it took place. Unless there is a specific reason eg a football crowd violence trial where there is a poss that members of the jury may be supporters of one of the teams involved or a case is particularly high profile in the media eg the Leeds FC players alleged assault which was moved to Hull. If it's a really significant trial eg major organised crime it may be moved to a court centre geared up for show-piece trials.
German Karnivals - HF
NWS - thank you for that - takes me a little further in my investigations.

Thank you
HF
German Karnivals - Dwight Van Driver
HF

As stated elsewhere it does not neccessarily follow that a Crown Court hearing will be in the area the offence was committed for a variety of reasons.

However, what will apply , is that the Magistrates Court of the area where the offence was committed and the first point in the trial system, will be the Court responsible for sending the hearing to Crown Court either off their own bat or because an offender has elected trial. Mags Court are the original Hearing Court.

So if you know the area where the offence was committed then The Magistrates Clerk's Office of that Mags Court will have a Court list of Defendants and charges and which should show which Crown Court the case was referred to. Knowing that then the Clerk's Office of that Crown Court should have a similar list of cases dealt with and the result and to whom you should address your enquiry.

Now comes a problem you may encounter. That of Data Protection and disclosure of information. There may be some relunctance on the part of the Court to release records which no doubt will be stored on Computor. However if this is encountered then try the fact that Court lists naming defendants are made available on Trial Dates to the Public at large as is the sentence which is passed in Open Court. Further that paper records are first created which if I remember correctly (I may be wrong) stops full application of non disclosure under D.P.

Finally if all fails have a word with your local Press as if it was a high profile or interesting Trial they may have a record in their Library.

DVD
German Karnivals - HF
Many thanks for all that information, DVD.

I don't actually know where the offence was committed, and so far all searches on the area for the Crown Court in question, including local papers, have drawn a blank.

In fact the information I have seems to be somewhat contradictory, and there's a remote possibility that there was, in fact, no offence in the first place (ie some sort of wind-up) although I think this highly unlikely.

In the light of the seriousness of this matter, and the fact that I don't have any real proof of what's been going on here, I think I'd best not say anymore until I find some more solid information.

Again, I'm very grateful for your information, as well as to all others who have replied to me on this.
Thanks
HF

German Karnivals - John R @ Work {P}
Thanks to DavidHM & Cardew, a clue from DavidHM was the spelling of Karneval which has delivered a shed load (now in the Oxford book of words...) of info from the WWW.

I just cannot imagine anything like this in the UK, there seems to be so much community pride and enjoyment in these shows and parades.

English TV does not have any Variety style entertainment, only repeats and 'flys eye on the wall' programs with 'decorating' thrown in as a filler... monkeys with catapults could do better.

I wonder if I can claim political asylum in the west of Germany?


John R
German Karnivals - Phil I
www.serve.com/shea/germusa/karneval.htm

All about Karneval in English (small type but with lots of links)

When you post a URL as the beginning word of your reply, it will only recognise it as a link if you ensure that it begins with a space. I fixed it for you. Mark.
German Karnivals - Phil I
Tks for that. should have gone back & checked.
German Karnivals - smokie
I visited Erfstadt (in the Cologne distract) and then Cologne for their Carnival last year. We went to visit the family of the girl my daughter is "exchanging" with as part of her GCSE course.

Not sure if it's the same as you are talking about here, but I was gobsmacked by the way everyone seemed to get involved. We landed at Cologne airport and taxi'd to the city. We immediately looked out of place as everyone was in the carnival spirit, with fancy dress, wigs, silly hats, the lot. And mostly stone cold sober too (it was before lunchtime!). We then went out to Erfstadt - all the local towns have their own Carnival which leads up to the main regional carnival. The local carnival was a parade of all the local groups, bands, farmers, police etc etc - you name it, it was there. The procession lasted over an hour - this in a relatively small community - and it seemed that everyone around was either in it or watching it. The participants had bucketloads of sweets which were thrown to those of us on the pavements. My daughter ended up with a huge carrier bag full.

The local carnivals happened all week, culminating in the main Cologne carnival - a HUGE procession which took over 4 hours to go by us. Again, masses and masses of sweets/chocolates etc freely distributed. Then afterwards great festivities, fireworks and fun well into the night.

I could not get over how the community spirit lives on in Germany. In my spare time here, I am involved in community stuff and it is nigh impossible to get people interested or involved. The other notable thing was that, where we have events over here they are largely attended by charity stalls and aim to fund raise, whereas over there it was backed by the local business and there wasn't a fundraiser in sight.

Well, having said all that - did we find out the purpose? No, not really. Something to do with driving out the forces of winter I think...witches hanging over private doorways was a memorable sight.

The carnival is widespread in Europe apparently, and I would recommend anyone to go to it.
German Karnivals - John R @ Work {P}
Thank you all for the info on Karnevals.

Smokie, what you saw is going to be televised this comming weekend on MDR. I wish I were there... I think I'll try to arrange it so we are on holiday there next year to see it for ourselves.

Prost



John R
I have a question. Volume 6 - OAP

I have just opened my mailbox and found the following message:

From: norton@hotmail.com

Subject: Kill any virus as it attempts to infect.

I have not opened this message. If it was genuinely from Norton (Symantec) surely they would not be using an Hotmail address!

Suggestions / comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
I have a question. Volume 6 - Dynamic Dave
It's spam. 3 of my old hotmail accounts recieved the same email from that same address.
I have a question. Volume 6 - cockle {P}
OAP, very very unlikely to be genuine.
I've been with Norton/Symantec for some time now and they have never contacted me in this manner.
I would expect a company of their stature to use their own addresses @symantec.com or something similar.
Personally I would hit the delete button.




Cockle
I have a question. Volume 6 - No Do$h
It's a software e-tailer trying to sell you the Norton package. I've had it a couple of times lately. You can safely delete.
I have a question. Volume 6 - BrianW
Symantec alerts is in the form of a web page and have a yellow background at the top with "Symantec security" with "Alert" in a red circle all on that background and a picture of the Antivirus box on the right.

If it's just an e-mail it's a scam/hoax (or even a virus).
I have a question. Volume 6 - mal
Does anyone know anything about domestic intruder alarms,
I have been having problems with my alarm since it was replaced by an alarm specialist company due to an electrical storm.
The company in question have had to return on a number of occasions to rectify false alarms on the tamper circuit without success.
They now refuse to look at it again and I think they suspect that I may be thinking of taking the matter further as they now say according to their records they have only been out once and rectified the problem,it is out of guarantee.
The alarm sometimes trips when a light is switched on so I suspect the controll unit must be faulty.
Question, can some sort of filter be installed to prevent power spikes setting my alarm off.
I am on a sole supply from an overhead power supply because of the property being on it's own.
The unit is an "accenta 8"
"on a long shot"
Regards mal.
I have a question. Volume 6 - Mark (RLBS)
Mal,

I'm answering with experience and no knowledge !

I had the same issue. I had to get an [pretty smart] independant guy come out. It was exactly to do with the current spiking.

However, he didn't put a filter in, instead he tracked it to a faulty connection on the main fuse box.

Not *very* helpful I know, but its all I can tell you.

Mark.
I have a question. Volume 6 - mal
Cheers Mark,
That sounds promising, will take a look myself at the fuse box connection which incidentaly also supplies the (useless) "electro osmodic" damp proofing system - don't ask how that works.
I have a question. Volume 6 - Peter D
Mal,

Firstly lets do a few tests, open the box up and override the door tamper. Now pull the mains fuse, close the door and test the alarm flicking the offending switches. Now assuming you still have a fault replace the fuse. If the offending light switch is connected to a florescent light, if so this is the problem. Try changing the starter, if that’s not the problem consider the power factor correction capacitor, perhaps exchange it for one from another fitting and test again. Now if you are sure it is not the fitting and the lighting circuit ‘Ring’ is intact.
Now disconnect the circuit Tamper pair of wires ( I assume you have pass codes for the panel ) Now measure the resistance of the loop with a meter, it can be 10’s of ohms depending on the length of cables in your system but not hundreds. Put a link wire straight across the tamper connections and test the panel again, if the panel does not detect the lights then the fault may be outwith the panel If this is OK To further eliminate the panel obtain a resistor of similar value to that that measured and place that across the tamper connections and test again if OK then it may be a lighting ring fault.
Test the ring by disconnecting one the ring at the fuse box and buzz it (Mega) or meter. If you just have a meter and it looks OK ( Turn all lights off before you turn the power off ) re connect one end of the lighting ring, isolate the free end and power the box up. Check all lights still work and that the free end is now live ( Be careful mains can kill ) If they all work then swop the ends and check the lights again. This will ensure there is not a break in the ring. If some of the lights stop working then it point to a break in the ring at the last fitting that worked.

Now assuming all is well, reconnect everything and close up the fuse box. Go back to the alarm panel, obtain a 0.1uf non electrolytic capacitor and wire it directly across the tamper loop, in the same connector as the pair of tamper wires and see if that fixes the problem. If it turns out that it is a particular light fitting that causes your problem due to induced interference then it can be sorted by installing an ICL Inrush Current Limiter this will soft start the light and cure your problem. The ICL needs to be 0.1 ohms hot and 6 to 10 ohms cold. The 0.1 ohms minimum or less value keeps the device cool.

The simplest thing to try is the capacitor but be careful you are not covering up a wiring fault somewhere else. Come back to me if you still have a problem. Regards Peter
I have a question. Volume 6 - Mark (RLBS)
Now *that's* what I call an answer !!!!!!!
I have a question. Volume 6 - mal
For a "long-shot" that was some result.
Have e-mailed Peter with more details and also to thank him for such a comprehensive reply.
Mark, have not had time to look at fuse box yet.
Strange thing is,it has been ok since I posted the queery,this we all know is "s**s law".
I have a Tax question. Volume 6 - davo
For the last three years I have received huge demands (£1,100, £1,800 & £1,200) for payment of Tax undercollected on PAYE. It is not supposed to work this way. I complained and demanded compensation, you can claim up to £500 per year, they admitted that they messed up the codes etc in each year. They sent nice letter this week-end and a cheque for £110 compensation.

Thing is, all very nice, but how bad do they have to be to pay £500? And is £110 enough, I think not.
I have a Tax question. Volume 6 - Pugugly {P}
Anyone know whether I can get any audio tape to CD software. Nice shiny computer due to be delivered soon and SWMBO wants her back catalogue put on CD. Can you help.
I have a Tax question. Volume 6 - bernie
I,ve done this myself a few times.I don't know if this is the best way but it works.

I plugged a walkman type player into the input of the sound card (creative ) and then used the "recorder" part of the creative software and recorded the tape tracks and saved them.

It the very easy using the software that usually comes bundled with the CD writer i.e Easy CD Creator,Nero Burning etc to drag and drop said tracks in what ever order you fancy into the burning list and Voila ! your tapes transferred to CD.
How do I print part of the thread? - mal
I wish to print off Peter D's excellent reply to my problem about my alarm.
How do I print only that part of the thread.

Regards Mal
How do I print part of the thread? - Billy Whizz
Use threaded view, select the relevant post and print.

Billy
How do I print part of the thread? - mal
Thanks Billy Whizz,
Been reading in flat view for so long just simply forgot that obvious solution.
Monitor connector pins - Tom Shaw
One of the pins on the connector from my monitor to the PC has broken off and stuck fast into the mating hole on the female connector on the base unit. Attempting to plug in a new monitor before I realised this has jammed the broken pin in tight, and I am reluctant to use any force to try and remove it. However, the old monitor with the missing pin still works, can anyone tell me if this is because it is still making contact or is it that not all the pins are live and it is one of the dead ones that are missing?

If so then I can simply remove the corresponding pin on the new monitor and not worry. Any advice appreciated.
Monitor connector pins - Mark (RLBS)
Not all pins are used.

Before you remove the pin though, you need to check to be sure.

Either take the back of the plug and see which wires are connected, or search the user guide. Somewhere in there it would normally give details of the pins used with which wire.

If neither of those work, then looking inside the computer may allow you to judge which wires are used from the inside.

At the end of the day, if you cut the pin out and you were wrong, then the monitor won\'t work until you put a new plug on. But a new plug is not expensive or difficult to fix, just a little fiddly, and all you will need to do is to cut the existing plug open to see the pin/wire allocation.

Monitor connector pins - smokie
Try here - www.mycableshop.com/techarticles/VGA.htm. Implication is that all pins ARE in use, but I understood they weren't too.
Monitor connector pins - Mark (RLBS)
In which case you'll have to open it up and push the pin out from behind. Probably easier than you think.
How do I print part of the thread? - Dynamic Dave
I wish to print off Peter D's excellent reply to my
problem about my alarm.
How do I print only that part of the thread.


Highlight the words of his post, copy them and paste into either notepad or whatever Word processing package you happen to have.
I have a Tax question. Volume 6 - Stargazer {P}
Pugugly,

You can buy some relatively cheap software to record and burn a new CD from an analogue input. This is really designed for converting old LPs to CD (that is how I am doing this). This works by using a turntable with low level output (few mV) and connecting it to a standard hifi amplifier with a tape/line out sockets working at a standard 180mV. The software kit comes with standard conversion cables to take a stereo lineout (2 RCA phone plugs) to a computer soundcard microphone input (stereo 3.5mm jack plug).

Of course any input to the stereo that can be output on the lineout can be recorded onto CD in this manner, eg the tuner, dvd soundtrack, or tape deck, the only problem with the latter is that you will want to use the tape/line in for playing the tape and the tape/lineout for the recording. Depending on the amplifier it may be possible to play the tape and still get a signal on the amplifier tape/lineout to send to the computer.

Will try and find out what the software is called, this is useful because you can filter the noise (hiss and crackles) to clean up the recording before burning the CD

regards

Ian L

Ian
I have a Tax question. Volume 6 - Clanger
try this, it comes with a cable and I find it quite simple to use

www.fasttrak.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=10...0

if the link doesn't work, it's called audio cleaning lab 3.0 and will do vinyl as well as tape.

Good luck.
Darcy.

I have a Tax question. Volume 6 - Pugugly {P}
Brilliant ! What a Site. (Does anyone have copyright on that statement...) seriously thanks a lot.
I have a Tax question. Volume 6 - Pugugly {P}
Brilliant ! What a Site. (Does anyone have copyright on that statement...) seriously thanks a lot.

Print out = cut and paste to a Word Document or a Notepad document and print.
I have a Tax question. Volume 6 - Mark (RLBS)
Volume 7 is nwo open, new questions there please, although obviously the current questions can be concluded here.

I'll lock this one in a day or two.

Mark.
I have a question. Volume 6 - Mark (RLBS)
Pulling the volumes together
I have a question. Volume 6 - Mark (RLBS)
pulling the volumes together.