jars

Afternoon all, I need some advice, although I think I actually know the answer already

I bought a stereo off Ebay last June and eventually got round to fitting it around August and had it installed until November with no issues. Didn't drive my car between November '12 & January '13 due to an operation and the next time I went to use the stereo, the GUI on the double din sat-nav went blank, although the music was still playing via Bluetooth.

I exchanged several emails with the Ebay seller to get it replaced under warranty and it transpired that they no longer sold the particular stereo I originally purchased, so they wanted to charge me an additional £30 to replace my broken stereo for the current version they were selling.  

I refused to pay anything towards the replacement given that I purchased the original unit less than 12 months ago, so was still covered under their warranty (which was confirmed by the seller) and I felt I should not have to lose out financially due to their product breaking..... had it not broken in the first place, I wouldn't need a replacement!

They didn't agree with this, but did mention that they have found a refurbished version of the stereo I had originally purchased but this was in Hong Kong. I duly accepted their offer to send me this new stereo but I had been very specific that I did not want to be charged anything to get a replacement. (For the record, I must have stated in at least 5 or 6 different emails to this company that I was not going to pay anything towards a stereo which needs to be replaced under warranty and this refusal to contribute anything was again reiterated in the email where I accepted the replacement from Hong Kong)

The new stereo duly arrived just a few days later(!) and thought nothing of it until I receive an import tax invoice from TNT. I will openly admit I am very green behind the ears when it comes to purchasing things from abroad and was not even aware that the stereo would be subject to import tax, nor did the seller warn me of this in any exchanged emails.

I have contacted Ebay and as I purchased the stereo over 60 days ago they are not interested in helping me. The import tax charge is very nearly £90 and the seller is refusing to pay TNT for this and I feel I shouldn't loose out because they sold me a duff stereo.

I accept that I could have had the new replacement stereo for £30, but this was for a stereo which had exactly the same spec as it's predecessor other than the new unit had a smaller screen, so I actually felt they were trying to fob me off with an inferior product, which was also priced less than the stereo I originally purchased. I also accept partial responsibility for not knowing that anything shipped from abroad would incur and import tax and that I was naive enough to expect the seller to cover it since but do think the seller has/had an obligation to tell/warn/remind me this.

Is there anything I can do about this import tax??

Any help/suggestions will be appreciated

After major surgery last November and 5 months off work recovering from it, I found myself analysing my life direction and decided it needed a change! I returned to work a week and a half ago to an "announcement" which effectively means there's a very, very real chance I will be made redundant sometime this year.

Now I'm looking at this is a positive light. I will receive a nice little payout due to length of service (12 years) and I will have some spare time(!) so want to put all this to good use and leave the Insurance industry for good! Yes I will have to find another job, but for the time I am re-training, as long as I am receiving an imcome, it doesn't matter who it comes from... Maccie D's, Tesco, it really doesn't matter to me, as long as I can work/earn money and re-train.  

Now I am intersted to hear from anyone who has gone through a similar situation. I appreciate plenty of people who have been made redundant in recent times, but how many have decided to use this as a catalyst to change their life direction and start a college, uni course or try your hand at a new career? What hurdles did you come up against? Anything happen which surprised you?!?

I suppose all I am after is someone who has gone through this and come out the other side smelling of roses! I'm searching for the confidence in what I am about to embark on is the right thing to do! I know the easy option would be to take the money, put it in the bank and simply find another pointless job I dislike, but in all honesty, this is too good an opportunity to pass up, so will be taking the plundge/risk!

Held at Caldicot in July... was just wondering if anyone has been and or anyone going this year?!?

Been asked by my brother in law and his best man to take a drive (they're coming up from Plymouth) up from Bristol.

Worth the drive or one to miss?!?!?

Today is the first day I have been left at home on my own after my recent heart op..... my missus' work would only give her 1 week's paid leave and given we are buying a house (should be built by April) we didn't want to take it as unpaid leave, so went back today.

However I have woken this morning to find that my chest wound is seeping green gunk, for the 2nd time since I've been home and after this particular wound dressing was changed by the nurse at the surgery only yesterday!

OK no probs, call the surgery and make an appointment to get it changed, again.....but no, they say the nurse was fully booked. Fair enough, I would like the GP to clean up the mess and the obvious infection and change the dressing, but was also refused this despite knowing full well they had appointments available for today... I can only assume this is below what the very well paid GP wants to do..... I was told to make my way to the local walk in clinic.

The issue is this is miles away from me and my GP surgery is at the end of my road.... its a 5 minute job, what's the bloody problem!?!?

I appreciate that I took a risk when we agreed for my missus to go back to work, so part of this problem does rest on my/our shoulders, but it still doesn't hide the fact that they are refusing to carry out the simplest of tasks to stop any further infection going deeper into my chest despite having the ability to do so. Yes I can also get on a bus, but this is too physically demanding given it has only been 12 days since open Heart surgery.

This is 1 of a whole list of problems I have experienced since joining this particular surgery back in September this year so I was wondering where I stand about making a formal complaint, if there even is an option to do this?!?

Sorry for the rant, but it has helped me calm down!!

I'm hopefully coming out of hospital today after
an op......

I've been in for a week so my beauty has not moved and not allowed to drive her for another 6-8 weeks...NOOOOO!!

How often would you guys suggest letting my worst half turn her over an take her for a quick blip to keep things sweet?!?

Naturally I allow her to drive my little Furby, but only when she HAS to!!

Cheers