Now here's a thing!

Glad to hear it's all worked out well in the end!

More news, and good news, the Insurers will pay the full sum for the work to be done, even though it will be more than the market value of our car. Incidentally our car is in very good condition, and low mileage, so the actual market value does not reflect the value to us. If there is anything that needs doing over the original estimate - which seems to be doubtful, then we shall have to pay the balance, a reasonable request, we think. So I hope we have a happy ending - watch this space!Ethel that sounds like a really nice neighbour you have, not many folk around these days who do something for nothing, although we do have some bowler friends who are happy to help out if they can.

a similar thing happened to my mother who needed some trees pruning, she was struggling to do them herself and had asked someone for a quote, she had also asked the council for help as she is a tenant and they replied they could do the trees but might have a long wait.
A few day s later the trees were pruned and a neat stack of branches lay on the grass, she assumed the council had done it, she waited until one of the council gardeners were doing the local verges and thanked them. They knew nothing about it and said she was on a list but it might be a long time. She was a bit wary as she hoped it was not a 'fly by night' who might call on her and demand an extortionate fee but no-one came. It eventually turned out to be a kind heated neighbour who does kind things for others but does not make a big fuss to anyone, he did not want any reward but she was relieved to find out who it was.

PRINTMISS £2000 sounds a lot for a 'bang'. Is there no small garage in your area that would do it cheaper? Of course I don't know the details of the 'bang'.

Life can be so perverse at times!

Oh heck, not good!

Sorry more news on the subject. The bang on our car when the other half tried to get it out of the garage and miss the hand rail without my guidance, has caused more damage than the car is worth - money-wise that is, so we are now left with the option of receiving £740. for the car and no insurance and having another car, or saying no thank you to the insurance payment and getting the car repaired at our own cost, some £2,000 which would be cheaper than trying to find another car which suits as does the one we have, and which has been properly maintained all the while we have had it. In retrospect it would have been cheaper to have had the hand-rail installed, although we did not want it at the time, it would certainly have been less hassle. It is such a pity that such a lovely gesture has turned into such a worry, and I can't really blame my husband for trying to get the car out on his own, it was pouring with rain and blowing a gale, he did not want me standing out in that directing him. Such is life!

We have a net-working system here, (for the whole area), and I have posted on there about the good work we have had done.

Indeed it is - maybe you should be advertising their name and singing their praises more publicly!

Gosh - bashed in car notwithstanding - this is a heartening story.

I'm so pleased you got it sorted out PRINTMISS. It seemed such a shame that it was nearly what you wanted but not quite. Hoping all goes well now.

Only last night I was thinking about your story and wondering how you got on, PRINTMISS. What wonderful service!

An up-date on this, we did eventually decide that we must get something done about the hand-rail. We had another scrape, but fortunately this will be added to the original claim. The Company who put the handrail in originally were of course closed the week after Christmas, but a phone call to them was so politely received, I was really sorry to have to ask them to remove the handrail. Not to worry, they said, when can we come to do something about it - a date was set, and two very nice young men came along, altered the handrail, and it is now perfect. No charge again. There is goodness in the world after all.

I'm so sorry PRINTMISS. What an expensive nuisance for you and a shame that you will have to tell the people who fitted it that their Christmas surprise misfired.
On the other hand they could have used their common sense and found out what you wanted and needed.
Maybe they will still be full of a Christmas good will change it for you. I hope so.

OH! Woe, the hand rail was put so that it is on the path, rather than the bottom step. We knew this would be a problem with getting the car in the garage (and out again), but thought we could cope, so did not want to complain about the good-will involved. However, we now have several hundred pounds-worth of damage to the wing, probably needs replacing, plus scratching, this was on the second 'outing'. We really feel that we cannot live with something which is so difficult to deal with every time we use the car, which is daily, so we are going to have to ask the people who fitted the rail to remove it. I know that sounds really ungrateful, but having thought of other ways of a sort of "warning system" that the car is too close to the railing, we have decided that it is just not possible. I am very upset about this.

Goodness! How wonderful,

How amazing! Never heard of that happening before. Good way of advertising or Spirit of Christmas?! Let's go for the latter!

What a lovely story PRINTMISS I've never heard of any company being quite so philanthropic. Merry christmas to them

Thought you might like an up-date! Had an e-mail yesterday from the Hand-rail people, telling us that the rail had been fitted and there was no charge. I wrote back, saying we were not sure where the gift came from as we had friends who might do something like that, but they were abroad on holiday, so could not ask them, or if it was a complimentary gift from them, (they company) we could not think why. Had an e-mail back saying that as they (the company) were over this way and they knew we were wanting a new hand-rail it was a complimentary gift - when they quoted, we thought the price was a bit high, so had not progressed with our dealings with them.
NOW do I complain and tell them the handrail is in the wrong place and making access to the garage very difficult? I think not.

Wonderful story, perhaps it's "A Ghost of Christmas Past" , if not, hope you eventually find out who did the good deed PRINTMISS.

Oh! I am glad you all enjoyed the story. We shall ask our immediate neighbours if they saw a van of any sort, but we are rather secluded. Anyway, it is lovely.

I think you need to write a big notice, saying 'Father Christmas - Sorry I ever doubted you, Lots of Love Printmiss xxx' and attach it to the handrail.

I thought that before, merlot, but didn't like to say...

Be careful what you wish for. There might be a huge bill in the post

You can send whoever it was my way please!