Readers Blog: The costs of everyday life in ripoff Ireland
I’m fed up being confronted by employees of companies with their hand out looking for money for extras. Whether its your phone network, your electricity supplier, or your going out shopping for daily necessities, all shops’ prices on everything seem like a bouncy castle — one day it’s up, the next it’s down.
Speed cameras, toll charges, hospital parking, buying a car, nothing can be taken for granted as being done for a sincere reason any more.
Even going for an NCT is nothing but a shakedown scam. I went for an NCT, but before I brought the car in, I checked everything within reason, because the car was in good nick and this was its first NCT and I was confident it would pass with flying colours. How wrong can you be?
The car failed, due to a fused bulb (which fused on the way, going through unavoidable potholes) and a front suspension ball joint, which is fair enough but...
I took the car to the garage and had the offending items replaced, went back to the test centre and showed the receipt for the work and cost of having it done, but that wasn’t good enough, you had to book in for a retest, which I did and had to pay €28 for the pleasure of doing so, added to the original cost of €50.
When you show proof that the work was carried out by a reputable garage with the documents to prove it, why the hell do you have to pay what amounts to an unnecessary fine?
In other eurozone countries, these tests are carried out in appointed garages that are strictly regulated, where items can be replaced on the spot for no extra charges apart from parts/labour. This reality reinforces my view that this robbery is being operated openly as tax-raising measures by government departments.
I spoke with a lady and her son, who is turning 18 and going for his driving test in two weeks. As a level-headed young fellow who neither drinks nor smokes, is in full-time employment, as well as farming part time and a burden on no one.
He was confident of passing his driving test and bought a 1.4 Opel car over the phone from a person in Letterkenny, who had taken his word and agreed to keep it for him.
But this young fellow was in for the shock of his life (and his parents) when he was quoted €9,000 by one insurer
AXIS insurance (which specialises in insuring young drivers) as he is on a provisional licence, but if he passes his driving test, it will be reduced to €6,500.
His father had to make a rather embarrassing call, informing the seller of the car that the situation had changed beyond reason, in regards buying the car, and that he was going back on his word and could no longer justify purchasing the car.
Other insurers wouldn’t entertain him at all for a commercial vehicle or even a tractor, until he is at least 21, with a year’s experience on a full licence behind him.
I’m just wondering how you get a year’s experience driving if you cant get insured in the first place?
This unaffordable cost leaves young fellows and women taking chances and getting involved in high-speed chases trying to avoid getting caught by the gardaí, and getting a criminal record it increases the workload of the gardaí and judges having to adjourn and put back cases for up to a year.
