The advice thread for random problems #3

[AshMay]

Someone with a strong perfume?

That definitely sets me off occasionally but no one in the office has noticeable perfume!

Wondering if it's just more dust being blown around by the fans lately or even something outside. Weird

 

[Rxt156]

You are all superstars thank you!

and thank you for the lack of judgement lmao. I am shamed

Glad people have helped you! Can’t believe the landlord took the instructions. Unhelpful

 

[FlipFlop0706]

is it a fiat? You can get bumpers for a good price at most scrap yards if you cannot get it out

Yup Fiat 500, will have a look if I can’t make it look half decent!
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Bit of a random one, but if you happen to have access to industrial grade cleaning wipes, they might remove some of it. I had a painted door v silver car mishap and they removed the vast majority of paint transfer. The touch up kit should sort the rest.

Will have a look! Willing to try anything!
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Never heard of using a magic sponge before, but I reckon that's worth a try before you buy anything else. If it's paint left behind by him though, a gentle cutting compound should get it off, at least that will take your eye away from the dent. Can't see it in the picture if that's any consolation.

Pic doesn’t look as bad in the pic- but it’s all I can see now everytime I walk up to my car Friend is going to try and “pull it out” with a bit of hot water later but I reckon where it’s been hit he won’t be able to get to the other side to push it back out if that makes sense?

Thanks all for your help- making the best out of a bad situation! x

 

[TheGlossy]

yikes i just went to look for you and that’s evri levels
of uncontactable!

how are you corresponding with them now? whatever method you’re using i would ask for
a copy of their complaints process and who you would need to correspond with. they should really have this on their website but i can’t find it.

Thank you!

Yeah, completely unreachable. I have been exchanging with them through their messaging option on their app, but they’re terrible. I can’t find the complaint section either. I was thinking of writing on TrustPilot as they seem to be responsive on there.

 

[BaffledWarthog]

For the last week or so, invisible ants have been hanging around my kitchen. One of the cupboards had a group of them hanging out in there and even penetrated a closed jar.

I’m pretty clean and all my cupboards were clean. I also clean the counters after each use.

I removed all foods from the cupboards, threw everything away and left them empty. I ditched everything on the counters too. All surfaces have been disinfected. However, I have noticed two or three of them hanging around some dead wood in my kitchen (see picture below for one area).

I’m renting and the kitchen is 20+ years old. The dead wood has been there since I moved in. It seems the kitchen was never refurbished. It’s in several areas of the kitchen. I’m suspecting it has something to do with it and needs to be removed.

Does anyone know if this could indeed be the issue?


View attachment 2482220

You can look into carpenter ants but they usually build their nests in decaying wood. Especially if it's timber and the wood is dampish. I think overtime they can get worse and dig through the wood causing damage so your landlord would have to replace it eventually anyway.

 

[CoffeeMamma]

Hello anyone. Hope this is the right place to post this. Does anyone use domestic cleaning services? I feel very embarrassed about this, but I really struggle to keep my home clean, and so I was looking at hiring a cleaner to come maybe once a month to do some deep cleaning. I'm not sure though - I feel embarrassed and I'm also not sure how normal this would be? Does anyone else regularly use cleaning services? Are they worth it? Is it expensive? Are they discreet or will your entire neighbourhood know you have a team over? Is it safe?

Hey! I used a cleaning team when my mental health was bad, they came once a month in a normal car. The ladies were lovely and so kind. If I was feeling really down one would even make me tea I paid about £60 for a 4 hour clean, that’s all they needed to boss the 4-bed I lived in at the time. I would recommend shopping around for someone local, they offer really good deals if they don’t have to travel far. You can get them to come when everyone is at work if it makes you more comfortable.

 

[shadowcat5]

Don't be embarrassed, you're not alone! I took my children away for the weekend recently and I could not for the life of me work out how to use the oven in the caravan. There were no instructions anywhere! I flapped and had a mini meltdown because I was worried I'd blow the caravan up if I did it wrong.

I worked it out eventually (40 minutes later ) but there was definitely a moment when I was thinking "I am a fully functioning person, why can't I work this out" as I was desperately scouring the Internet for oven manuals .

I am glad I’m not alone lol! I stood there thinking “i am professional woman with a degree and a job. I pay bills. I drive a car. How can I not work out how to use this damn oven ?!”

also hope you enjoyed your holiday!

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

I have a couple of questions about my passport which seem really obvious but just to be on the safe side!
My pp says it was issued 24 Jan/Jan14 and expires 24 Jan/Jan 24- that means it expires on the 24th Jan 2024 right? I'm just confused seeing the number 4 so many times
So if it does indeed expire 24th Jan 2024 would I be okay to go abroad and return on October 18th with the 3 months before expiry rule?

It's 6 months isn't it?

 

[CoffeeMamma]

what sort of help can be offered, i called the council they were annoyed and said court can either suspend or go ahead with eviction. im worried sick, i have soial anxiety, all day ive been worried about going in tommorow
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what sort of help can be offered, i called the council they were annoyed and said court can either suspend or go ahead with eviction. im worried sick, i have soial anxiety, all day ive been worried about going in tommorow

What is a section 8 notice? - Shelter England

A notice is the first step to eviction. Your private landlord can give you a section 8 if they have a reason to evict you. For example, missed rent payments.

england.shelter.org.uk

There’s more information here but it looks like council tenants are given a chance to make a payment arrangement at court.

 

[Snippysnips]

That’s so sad. I don’t understand how these homes always end up so poorly run. But do threaten them with being reported to the ICO. It should wake them up with regards to data privacy at the very least.

Thanks, I will definitely look into them an I agree, the story's he comes home an tells me honestly just saddens me, the money they pay as well

I’m so shocked by this story!!! I wouldn’t even bother threatening them I’d just go ahead & report and I’d let them know you’ve made a police report for harassment too.

Snippy is your family in the position for dad to leave his role? I know it sounds idealistic but I’d be gunning to get him out of there or put him on sick leave.

I can’t even explain the rage that would course through me if a colleague showed up at my house like that.

Honestly he is, he's actually retirement age but the cost of living has him stressed plus he's never known what it's like not to work, we have all tried absolutely everything to convince him to just retire an he won't, we got him a greenhouse in the hopes it would give him something to focus on, I've even tried to talk him into me helping him do a little cooking vlog (he's 50+ years in the food industry an has been a executive chef on oil rigs) but he wasn't for that either, tried to talk him into cooking meals an selling them locally an he's just like nope, it's just causing us to stress out now because we are being involved in this with them trying to get our mobile numbers an now showing up to the house

 

[Meg78]

How do I get my neighbours dog to stop pooing on our lawn?

Starting to get really frustrated, they’ve got a six month old pup and let them freely roam our road unsupervised. We’re rural and with all this greenery around us the dog has decided that right outside my front door is the perfect toilet, and I’ve got a special needs child who doesn’t understand the “chocolate ice cream” can’t be picked up. They’re not the kind of neighbour you can have a reasonable discussion with, but I can feel my temper fraying as it’s become a daily occurrence and it’s putting my child at risk, so I need ideas for humane deterrents please!

 

[KindnessWins]

Apologies for the length.

I live in a flat and have new neighbours who live directly below me. They’re young, I’d guess mid-late twenties at best, and also from another country. I can’t quite place the accent but that’s irrelevant, what’s relevant is that there is likely a language barrier.

Since they moved in less than a week ago they’ve been blaring music throughout the day. So loud that it vibrates my floors and can be heard from every inch of my flat. It’s not constant but it’s a lot. I’m usually home from work around 5pm and it can be on and off until 10/11pm. There has been one or two days where there hasn’t been any music at all.

I want to approach them about it as my last neighbour was the same and it made my life hell until she finally moved out a few months ago. I live alone and look younger than I am so feel quite vulnerable. I also don’t live in a great area, there’s a lot of break in’s both in homes and shops, junkies, drug dealers etc which makes me feel even more vulnerable and a bit of an easy target. I will be selling my flat for obvious reasons but probably not for another year or two due to costs.

I don’t want to be a dick about it but I also don’t want to let them take the piss. I’ve been miserable in my own home since I bought it due to my last neighbour and would like to have some sort of peace for the next couple of years. I don’t expect silence but I do expect a bit of common decency and respect from others in the building.

They don’t seem like very friendly, approachable people and I have a strong feeling they may be drug dealers (spotting them is a talent I have obtained since living here). The constant smell of weed, people coming and going all day and night, flashy car and head to toe designer clothes were the first signs. There was also an instance at the weekend, so a couple of days after they moved in, where someone targeted the flat and attempted to smash the windows in.

Would it be ridiculous if I put a note through their door asking them to keep the music down? I don’t want a face to face interaction due to feeling vulnerable and don’t want them to know it’s me and be the face of the complaint. I’m also a bit worried that it might come across more rude than I intend to be due to the language barrier so thinking it might be better written down.

I’m aware I’m overthinking it but my last 4 years here have been hell on earth due to a multitude of reasons. The council and police have never been interested in helping me and I’m fed up of feeling defeated and depressed in the place I’m supposed to call home.

If it was me, I’d just ask them face to face in a nice way to turn their music down a wee bit. If they are drug dealers, the last thing they will want is police or any type of authorities turning up at their door to tell them there’s a noise complaint. I know it might be very intimidating for you, but at least they will know that you’re not afraid to approach them and ask them to be considerate.

 

[WeHadFunRight]

I have been playing for a friendly netball team for a few weeks on a Wednesday. It has been lovely and my team are so nice but the other women are absolutely toxic and it is totally making it a vile place to be. Slagging everyone off then telling tales about who has said what. Why can’t we just play and be nice. They play quite rough as well which is not my thing I try my best to stick to the rules but they really are horrid. I don’t want to leave as I like my team and they won’t have enough people if I leave not too sure what to do to escape the horribleness. Honestly women are ao bitchy I have loved it apart from that! Tonight someone has told me another team have been slagging me off for various things

They probably think they can get in people’s heads if they do this. It’s a horrible thing to do. Really sucks that they are ruining what should be such a nice, active hobby for you

 

[Snippysnips]

Absolutely no excuse for this, I should’ve paid attention to what I was doing.
I’ve been caught speeding, 52mph in a 30 zone! They are taking me too court. What can I expect?
I have a clean licence, will I lose it?

Should be points, would only be a loss of license if you have been passed less than 3 years I think it is, but I'd say it would be anything between 3 an 9 points

 

[CallMeHollywood]

Has anyone used a styling service like Stitch Fix?

I’m in a real predicament as I am returning to work from maternity leave at least a size bigger than I left and I feel like I just don’t know what to wear. I just had a look on a few sites and I came away feeling overwhelmed. I feel like if I try and dress myself I’m going to look frumpier than I need to and I just feel a bit lost at this point.

thinking if I sign up to one of these subscription sites they’ll at least be sending me some current styles I can give ago, but I am not sure who to go with, I think there’s another called lookerio or something?

You may get a better response from another thread that’s on here. Something like, “things you can do to make yourself glamorous”

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

How do I politely refuse to do work above my pay grade? I put in for a promotion 2 months ago, heard nothing back despite chasing, but I keep being told to do x y z which is time consuming & not my job, on top of my actual job role. I don't mind doing the work if I'm gonna get the pay banding for it.

I would tell them you don’t have the time and you’re not getting paid to do it. Say you don’t mind helping out once in awhile but it’s not in your job description. Also make it clear you’d love a promotion so you could do more of it

 

[stardust1]

Folks, have come home from hospital destroyed with residue from the tape they used for the cannula, IV lines etc. I’ve scrubbed my skin raw to no avail. Anything I might have laying around the house (or could get in supermarket) that might sort it out? My arms and chest are wrecked!

 

[JoeBloggs]

Anyone know if a&e will remove a toenail? I’ve had a really bad ingrown nail for over three months now and all the docs keep doing is giving me antibiotics. The nail is past the point of me getting it out myself, else I would have done so already.

Struggling to even put on a pair of shoes now, and I keep getting a tingly feeling in my foot/leg.

I’m really worried about it turning septic as my cousin died of sepsis four months ago not sure if that’s making it worse subconsciously.

Not for A&E but maybe for urgent care if you can't walk. They may only refer you though, unlikely you will get it done there and then. Perhaps call a local chiropodist for advice.

 

[trudyjudy007]

This is annoying and stupid but does anyone know of a way to block someone on Facebook from seeing your posts but without unfriending them? I have one of MiL’s friends on my Facebook and I very rarely post but whenever I do, she immediately calls Mil and tells her what I’ve posted. Mil then calls my husband and wants to know why we didn’t tell her we did xyz. It’s really fucking annoying. If I unfriend the wretched woman, all hell will break loose so I just want her to stop seeing my posts. I’ve tried searching but can’t find any useful answer.

I’d start posting twice as much and let MIL cry about it. Say you don’t need to tell her what you’re doing because Nosey Parker will fill her in anyway.

 

[Pesky Tarian]

Can anyone recommend some good pots and pans and knives please?

I have this set and they've been very good.

Pots & Pans at M&S

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