The state of our roads are driving me mad!!!
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As a driver i am so frustrated not just for the usual running cost of running a car but now the extra as the damage its costing due to the potholes!!!
Last year i went to get my usual annual service and mot. I was so shocked at the time my car was only 4yrs old i was told my whole suspension had needed replaced and had to get new tyre so given the mechanic the go ahead with the suspension it cost £500 that was the cheapest and where i bought the car wanted £1000! Then went to my friend tyre garage and when the tyre was taken off i had a cracked alloy all due to the potholes!
I got a new tyre and ended up getting the alloy welded as new alloy cost is £500 so i was so out of pocket it was just after xmas last year. So now i'm due to go again for the next annual mot and service but decided to go to the tyre garage just to make sure all is fine i've got winter tyres on since oct i have noticed one tyre going down so i thought i'll go and sort it out and i was so pleased when he said my tyres are still perfect not used much tread but i got shown another crack in the alloy in the same alloy i got welded as over a bit!!!
Now i can't get it welded but have to go and buy another new alloy and I've still to go and get the service and mot and i will just die if he says my suspension has gone again i have a sneaking feeling it may have..
I'm so disgusted and i've never put a claim in to the council as i been hearing quite a lot of claims have been made against the council. So yesterday i made a call to the council and i've got a claim form on its way.
Does anyone have any experience of putting a claim in and how successful have you been? Or am i wasting my time?
Responses (8)
I haven't Serena, but it's a good idea and I wish you luck!! Got huge potholes on the minor roads where I live, no way you can drive in a straight line, just as well they're single track!
They, the council, will expect you to provide hard and fast evidence that it was their roads that caused the damage to you car.
I had a similar experience some years ago, where a pot hold actually indented the metal wheel rim of my car. By the time I had made the claim, they asked for photo's of where the incident had taken place and when I went back to the spot, the council had filled it in after numerous oter claims.
Because I couldn't provide them with the documentary evidence they required, my claim was rejected.
Don't raise you hope's too much!
Moral of the story has to be to get the photos before you lodge your claim then Serena, let us know how you get on
Jazzj has the right approach,photo evidence showing location as well as the hazard needed. It would be good to hear the outcome, hopefully favourable, Serena1.
I wish you luck Serena, make your case as watertight as possible with as many photos of the potholes as you can. If all else fails and they turn your claim down, take it to the local papers, might shame them into doing something!
Thanks Jazzj, Parchy and Greydo. I've got the photo of the pot hole and informed the council and my friend at the tyre place let me take photo of the cracked wheel so i just hope it is successful as i never do anything like this! It'll just be my luck but i'll give it a bash!
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, got to be worth a try hasn't it..fingers crossed
Wish you luck with this, serena.
Good luck Serena - give them a big smile and I'm sure they'll fall over themselves to help !!!!
Get a witness as well...
>;o)
I honestly think that we are going to have to accept pot-holed roads as a matter of course in the future ... I was speaking to a highways inspector for a neighbouring local authority and he stated that at least 50% of what he reports is never attended to. And it's all down to cuts in public spending. And it's not only potholes, it's also simple erosion of the tarmac that leaves long 'scars' in the road and they by themselves can cause constant wear to tyres leaving them with irregularly worn tread as of course can those 'sleeping policeman' that if not treated with the utmost respect can radically affect tyre wear. This is why our tyres are not going the distance and having to be replaced due to isolated areas of tread down to 2mm.
AS for local authority damage claims being successful, I have great doubts as the success of those as it will only push up taxes and create yet another compensation culture, regardless of how we feel about it.
To my mind, and while many pot holes cannot simply been seen or anticipated in the dark, I am afraid that the only answer is for speed restriction and better anticipation of them being there. Easier said than done I agree!
Good point about the compensation culture Snoops, but they are so infuriating...am beginning I think I need a 4x4 just to get the children to school!
And before anyone moans about 4x4s, I do live in a rural area and the roads are ruined by the tractors!
Thanks Snoopy! I do agree with what you say it's just so unfair I've never claimed got anything and it's happened to me last year and I was so out of pocket and now again this year! Yet I'm reading and heating about all those folk that are getting full compensation and are never out of pocket!! Why is it some people are so lucky or is it they are just on the ball??!!
Some people just know how to play the system.........
Your so right, Jazzj!!!
And I'm not one of them :(
The tarmac is poor quality - the stuff they use in America is amazing I have never been on roads so smooth and hole and bump free.
Yet the home of Tarmacadam and we cant even get that right.
You're so right about the quality of the tarmac, Omen.
The stuff they use round here is such poor quality it only seems to last five minutes.
I am told that the Romans had it right .... did they lose the recipe?
It's a bugger about the Romans, Snoops......
The Romans didn't have 44-ton lorries on their roads. I read somewhere that a 40-ton (never mind 44-ton) lorry does 1 million times as much damage to a road as a 1-ton car, ie you could send a million cars along a road and they'd only do as much damage as one big lorry.
I'm sure you're right, thetruth!
Serena 1 have you made sure that it is your council NOT the outsourced sub-contrating company that is responsible for maintaining the road.So many of these works have been outourced these days.
Oh i'm not sure now, cs. I called on fri the RALF reported the pothole and they gave me a reference number and told me to quote it to the council and they will send me a claim form i haven't received it yet... Pot hole was on a main rd not on an industrial estate so i presumed its the council and they didn't say otherwise.
If the maintenance of the highways was outsourced to a private company then the council would NOT be the party to whom you should seek compensation from such a claim.You may need to chase up the claim form and get confirmation from the council that they are the ones who maintain the roads.All the best!
Thanks cs! I've not heard that before thanks for highlighting it to me!! I will keep you informed!
Always record your phone calls..
Maplin sell a great wee doofer - you can connect it to your smartphone if it has a mic socket or link it to your hifi or even buy yourself a dictaphone - when phoning the council you will always find yourself having a dick'ta'phone.
boom boom
>)
Serena 1 how did your phone enquiries go regarding pot hole problems. If call not made it, I would suggest noting facts, names of people and time of calls to be noted on A4 paper. If nervous sip a glass of water and take a huge breath before calling then go for it.Wish you all the best on that Serena.
Thanks cs I was back on the phone today after i recieved the claim form today. I was pleasantly surprised it was a charming gentleman on the phone that gave me wonderful advice. The other day it was a woman very unhelpful, it must be the effect I have on men lol.
Anyway he said which I got his name and time of call (impressed) that I can claim for last year too and this time as long as I can provide receipts from last year and I can take photographs pothole and cracked wheel on this occasion. He said the councils inspectors will visit the potholes and analyse if it can cause the damage so in theory potholes bigger and deeper thd better. He has given me the go ahead to carry out work on my car as long as I keep all the evidence. Oh and I've been warned its a lengthy process up to 4 months to receive compensation if successful.
That's fantastic news Serena. You keep at it and don't do a wobble or I may have to comradely push you smoothly along right to the end of this case. If you want your financial justice you have to earn it and fight for it in this world, I'm afraid.I am currently having to seek financial justice after the council's contractor crashed into my car which is not roadworthy and my case will take up to 6 months to sort out.
Thanks cs it's good to know I can have your support and guidance!
How awful about your car! Tell me you weren't in it at the time? I presume they are accepting liability... Have you got a courtesy car? Isn't it such an inconvenience when something like that happens so much added stress!! I hope you get it all sorted keep me posted!
No I was not in the car at the time as car was parked outside home and the sub-contrators were supposedly maintaining the roads. I have had no courtesy car because the insurers claimed it was not a legal requirement so I have had to cope with taxis and public transport of which I hate but the daily fees for the sub-contractors have been adding up.
Thankfully your ok! That doesn't seem right you left without a vehicle somehow! I do hope you get it sorted quickly I struggle without my car for a day when it's in getting a service!! Like you said earlier you have to fight it!!! Good luck!!!
CS that's awful!! Don't forget to keep all your receipts for travel and claim for them against the council's insurance
That is precisely why Firwood road no longer had those stupid speedbumps i mean 7 or 8 on the one road - complete madness.
A better way of slowing traffic is to have those bollard islands that break up the road into one lane where you have to stop to let one car by - they have them up near the old bowling alley in EK and they work a treat.
Claim the council - always remember to carry a camera in your car (or get yourself a smart-phone).
You nbeed a witness ideally and photos of the damage and the hole will put you well on the way to getting a payout - keep at em they will try and fob you off and try to get rid of you using all sorts of tricks.
I hate the council its full of useless no-hopers - Bit like the civil service - full of idiots that couldnt get a job in the real world - all the managers are arse kissers like the Heo , seo and Eo's in the civil service - what a shower I've never worked with such a lame bunch of Tajazzals!!!
>;o)
Oh my OD, I woke up this morning, the sun shining through the window, and I felt energised and happy to be alive ... then I read your epistle about the council and my heart sunk .... never thought of myself as a no hoper, arse kisser or shower. Having said that, that's exactly why I am sometimes not popular with my employer ... I do live very much in the real world and sometimes do things that my employer may not agree with. And when I have done that, I then go and kiss some arse! LOl!
Oh i didn't realise Snoopy you finally got your pussy?
I wish you worked in my council area you could have sorted me out...
Finally got my pussy, Serena? Where did that come from?
sorry snoopy it was the bit go and kiss some arse just a presumption....lol
I did make the connection Serena, but didn't have time to comment :)
Thanks very much Jazzj here was me thinking i was having verbal diarrhoea which I do often!!!
Excuse me for being thick, but what has 'kissing arse' got to do with acquiring a pussy? I really think I need this one spelt out ...
I've been watching too many documentaries on animal loving shall we say...,
Not the ones about the baboons?
What did they do, Snoops?
My dinner has been digested thank goodness...
That's one thing I can never get is human doing animal... Cringe!!!
Not my field I am afraid ... but I believe the sheep are enjoyed in Wales ....
Is it Wales too I heard it was up north in Scotland not anywhere near me may I get that in!
Saw on channel 4 regarding the horses seemingly very common girls taking the term "hung like a horse" a bit serious...
I have obviously led a sheltered life Serena and to be honest not a subject that I want to laugh about.
Having said that, I do know a very funny joke about an elephant and a mouse!
OMG, serena, is thast serious about the girls and the horses?
So glad I haven't eaten anything today!
Oh what????? You making that up Serena??
Absolutely serious! There was a documentary on channel 4 several times about pet owners doing very inappropriate (in my opinion) to their pets.... I may had majority was out in the sticks in the states it seemed. It was so disturbing! No not funny!
Sickening, truly sickenng..........
Let's change the subject!
So snoopy lets hear the joke?
Good idea, having just eaten my tea I feel rather queasy ...
Hopefully snoopy's joke will lighten the mood?...
Either that or it'll finish us all off completely........
Well there was this mouse and this elephant ....
yes.... yes... got my intention...
Oh no, he's going to leave us hanging all day.....!
Ladies, ladies, ladies ,,,, I do go to work you know although I would love to be getting between you more .....
Okay this elephant is walking through the jungle and she meets this mouse ... the mouse asks if he can 'make love to her' so the elephant invites the mouse to jump on and take her from the rear. As the mouse jumps on and starts banging, the elephant continues walking. At that moment, the elephant treads on a massive thorn and lets out a massive 'Oooooooooooooooooooh!'.
At this point, the mouse looks down and shouts .... 'Yeh, suffer bitch, suffer!!'
Have I missed Snoops getting his pussy - didn't see any mention of it ??
I am now reading Serena's and realise she just made that one up about your pussy. I presume you won't be kissing the pussy's a**s* as you don't know where it's been!!!!
From pussies to horses to Wales and sheep now to the North what a weird world we live in. What's matter with these people that they are messing with nature.
I did read about a chap in the field with a sheep and everyone from the train could see him performing. I bet everyone had a good laugh. He got fined for what he did to the sheep.
If you work for the civil service snoop you know what I say is perfectly true!!!
All the bumlickers get to the top and you could chop half the staff and the productivity would not change.
The civil service is full of wasters who came out of school and had no idea what to do in life - saw the advert - applied - got the job as a CO and never had the guts to do anything else.
Brutal as always but I speak from the hip and experience.
I never speak strongly on anything i dont have experience with - one of my good friends is a civil servant - he is a waster himself - and he says the exact same thing aboutmost of the civil servants in his area and my aunt who works for the mod also says same so....
You sound like you break the mould though , you are quite diligent and intelligent and no doubt do your job well so no ass kissing here i can tell you are one of the hyenas - not quite a wolf - never kiss ass snoop - its what makes you one of the sheep - be a wolf and you will never loose your self respect like 90% of employees.
Fined, Sabre? He should have been hung, drawn and bloody quartered!
And it's not only potholes that just appear in the roads. Last year our (rural)road was closed for two days for re-surfacing. We and our neighbours happily accepted the inconvenience as the state of the road was pretty awful.
The following day I went out to find that they had resurfaced the whole road, except for a very large pothole at the end of our drive which was sticking out about a foot into the road. They must have had to make a real effort to go round it and avoid filling it in!
I complained and they sent somebody out to fix it, but what a waste of money that was when it could have been filled in in the first place!
How stupid was that? Did they explain why they did that?
It just proves these days you just can't get workmen to do the job right the first time without any hassle!!
Now what do you think, serena....?
All I got was an automated reply to my email saying my comments had been noted.
I'd like to put the men in the hole sometimes Feline - I'm sure they do it for badness. The blinking dustmen stopped outside our bungalow a few month's ago and spilt loads of oil. I was blazing, they just laughed. I thought ****holes no Christmas presents for you. Then I felt sorry for them and forgave them and put some beers on top of the dustbin. Who's the daft bat !!!
That's not daft its lovely!
What a cop out feline on their part... I'm sure that is what they say to every complaint they receive and expect us to buy it - noted my ....!!
Ah, Sabre, so it's you who's responsible for all these bloody drunken dustmen spilling rubbish everywhere.......;-)
this an old report from 1996, but it makes some good points, and gives some figures that might make it worth while someone doing an updated version of it.
http://www.igreens.org.uk/great_road_transport_subsidy.htm
Thanks Mike and welcome to the forum!
I will have a look at that.
A stupendous document - I've digested the first half of it and note very prominently that the lion's share of the apparent 'subsidy' to road users in 1996 was a notional cost of environmental pollution. As cars are much more-heavily encumbered by emissions rules nowadays, a lot of that notional cost would disappear. Green activists use such figures, but the numbers (although comprehensive) are a blizzard of notional statistics.
As for the road vs rail debate - I will happily use trains and buses to go everywhere if I can get buses and trains that will take me from my house to any destination that I wish to visit at a time that I wish to travel, arriving within a reasonable total journey duration. No? Thought not. Road users use roads and private transport precisely because of the inflexibility of trains and public transport. End of story.
As an update on this posting, I met a local authority highways inspector a few months ago and he admitted that 50-70% of what he reports gets no action and I think we can see that in action with the general repair getting poorer and poorer.
I have got to the point now where I am constantly 'driving defensively' around these potholes and other severe surface erosions as I know that my tires will suffer from premature and uneven wear yet again. The tyre business must be making a fortune on the back of this.
I just think that unless we see an explosion of resurfacing/repair work in the summer, we are going to simply have to get used to poorer road surfaces. Is this just another result of Cameron's 'forward vision' Britain?
And now they are talking about private enterprise getting involved with tolls to boot. Nothing, it seems, is sacred in this once great country.
Bonkers to introduce more tolls - what we need first is for all of road users' taxes to be spent on road building and maintenance, rather than the quarter that is currently spent (not my numbers, by the way - from Edmund King of the AA...).
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