Passports

Nothing to do with driving instruction but worth knowing.

A while back I said to book your Theory/Practical Driving tests go to the official Ugov site or use me website, either of which will charge you a booking fee.

Just heard of a couple who paid £98 to get their passports checked and sent, plus they also had to pay £72.50 each for their passports.

They were checked by “passportdirect.org.uk” the home page apparently stated it was an ‘Official IPS Website’

I renewed my passport a couple of months back. Got it checked and sent by our local Post Office and thought the charge of £8.75 rather expensive.

Apparently not.

Green School of Motoring: Renault owners beware!I'm now on my 4th Clio, th...

Green School of Motoring: Renault owners beware!

I'm now on my 4th Clio, th...: Renault owners beware! I'm now on my 4th Clio, the first two had trouble with the timing belt tensioners, the 3rd was great. Last wee...

Renault owners beware!

I'm now on my 4th Clio, the first two had trouble with the timing belt tensioners, the 3rd was great.
Last week my 12 plate Clio started making a familiar noise so I phoned Renault in Stockport, Greater  Manchester. Took a few hours off last Thursday 10 October and drove down to let them see it.

A mechanic I assume, came out to have a look and said it wasn't the timing belt but the alternator.  Renault don't keep spares and have to be ordered which I knew about from passed experience. I mean why would a Renault dealership keep Renault spares in their service area!!!!!!

It was consequently booked in for Monday 14th, had to get it there for 8.30am and they would need it all day, understandable.  Took an hour to get there, highest speed probably 20mps up our street then for just a few seconds 40mps on the M60. My wife following behind in her thirsty BMW to bring me back.

2pm I started phoning hoping to get the car back before we got caught in the returning rush hour traffic jam. Took for ever for someone on reception to answer, even longer to get through to the service department where the only person who could help wasn't available but would return my call within minutes. By 4pm I'm beginning to lose my temper, which I admit isn't difficult.

Then came the good news, they would do it Tuesday, if they spare arrived. I didn't swear, very difficult but apparently I misunderstood. They didn't say they would do it Monday they said they wanted it for the day to find out what was wrong with it, then they would order the part and with a bit of lock it would be done the following day. The chap who initially looked at it and said it was the alternator, wasn't official, and also there are 6 different alternators for my car so they can't order one until they have taken out the old one to see which it is. They can't put the car's details in the computer to discover which alternator it is, because they have to actually take it out and look at it. (I have not been drinking) Couldn't speak to any managers because none were on site.

Because I made a fuss they are going to do it Thursday morning, the book  time is 2½hrs for the job, so I shall make sure I'm sat in reception as soon ass they open. Perhaps a manager may be there!!!!!!
Anyone local, stay clear of Renault Stockport.

Green School of Motoring: When I bought my 12 plate Clio it cost me an extra...

Green School of Motoring: When I bought my 12 plate Clio it cost me an extra...: When I bought my 12 plate Clio it cost me an extra £50 for a spare wheel, the weight of the spare  makes the car less fuel efficient, so ins...

When I bought my 12 plate Clio it cost me an extra £50 for a spare wheel, the weight of the spare  makes the car less fuel efficient, so instead you get an 'Inflation Kit'. 
My argument against that was, 'what happens if you rip out the side wall of the tyre?'  The answer was it's doesn't happen very often.
Earlier this week I heard of that happening to a local instructor, apparently he didn't even know he didn't have a spare just assumed he would have one.
Then reading the daily paper later that evening the RAC said that in the 12 months up to August 2013 it got 120,000 call out to  unrepairable punctures, none of which had a spare. 
I'm old fashioned and don't move with the times so I'll stick to having a boring spare!

                                            Spare Wheels

When I bought my 12 plate Clio it cost me an extra £50 for a spare wheel, the weight of the spare  makes the car less fuel efficient, so instead you get an 'Inflation Kit'. 
My argument against that was, 'what happens if you rip out the side wall of the tyre?'  The answer was it's doesn't happen very often.
Earlier this week I heard of that happening to a local instructor, apparently he didn't even know he didn't have a spare just assumed he would have one.
Then reading the daily paper later that evening the RAC said that in the 12 months up to August 2013 it got 120,000 call out to  unrepairable punctures, none of which had a spare. 
I'm old fashioned and don't move with the times so I'll stick to having a boring spare!

After a conversation with a pupil can I remind everyone not to put photo's of their driving licence, passport or student card on the internet.
Talking with my pupils not one of them believed me that someone could copy, say their driving licence and be using it. They were even more shocked when I said the first they would know would be when a letter informing them of some motoring offence arrived in the post.