Should I complain?

[placidfemme]

Yesterday I finished work early for a change (4pm) and on my way home I had 3 lots of bad drivers to deal with all at once...

Heading up towards the bridge (just before you go under the Shelley Beach Overpass and onto the bridge). And I noticed that the cage behind me was right up my ass, to the point where I thought "shit if I brake he's gonna rear-end me" so I was keeping an eye on him in my mirrors (I could see him clearly in both... and he was an ugly fuck too), on my right was a red car (lol yeah the colour is all you need to know) and on my left a white Van (Galbraith Plumbing & Drainage Ltd, Member of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers,
30 Barrys Point Rd Takapuna Auckland 0-9-489 8002 Plumbers).

Now my luck turned to shit, not only did I have the car right up my ass, but both the red car and the wanker van driver started to pull into my lane (both without indicating) and for a split second I thought "Ok I'm gonna get squashed between these assholes then hit from behind by the twat following too close".

For the first time EVER I used my horn and held it down and thought "well I'm gonna get hit anyway" and jammed on both brakes (nice feeling when your back wheel looses traction and slides to the side when your front wheel doesn't wanna move at all). For a split second I closed my eyes and waited for the impact from behind and possibly both sides (not the smarted thing to do I know). I opened my eyes again and ther red car had pulled back into his lane and I saw her give me a wave as if to say "sorry". The car behind me had pulled back, but the fucking van driver was still moving into my lane, his indicator still not on, and my horn still blaring away, I had my sunnies on so I don't think he could see my eyes but it looked like he was looking right into my face. HE KNEW I WAS THERE. And he still kept moving into my lane... which at this time, wasn't too bad because I had reduced my speed greatly (which wasn't that fast to start off with), when he had finally moved infront of me, I was absolutley fumming, and my heart was somewhere between my stomach and throat, and if I hadn't of been gripping onto the handlebars with no doubt super white knuckles my hands would have been shaking badly.

As you all know my temper string is only about <--> so long. I split lanes until I was next to the van, then pulled into the lane next to him and tried to keep calm and lifted both hands and shrugs my shoulders as if to say "what the fuck where you doing?" and both the driver (a young guy) and his passanger threw me the finger and were swearing at me..

GRRRRR fucking assholes.

So I know the company name (plastered all over the side of the van) and the company is:Galbraith Plumbing & Drainage Ltd 09-489 8002

Should I call them up and complain about their asshole driver?

[Lucyloo]

Absolutely!
Talk to the manager, and explain what happened.
He needs to know that he has people driving his vans that are giving the company a bad name!

[placidfemme]

Absolutely!
Talk to the manager, and explain what happened.
He needs to know that he has people driving his vans that are giving the company a bad name!

Should I call up or write an e-mail?

[Sniper]

Yep, give them a fucken good rev up and go to the cops

[Lucyloo]

Should I call up or write an e-mail?
Definately call....but keep calm when you are telling the story.

[placidfemme]

Yep, give them a fucken good rev up and go to the cops

I didn't get the Van's rego... took all my energy saying the company name over and over all the way home so I didn't forget to write it down...

Yeah I'll give them a call....

Will let you know how it goes

[Sniper]

Do that, do you want me to give them a call too?

[Keystone19]

Have a think about Frosty's "count to ten" thread before you do anything...

[Str8 Jacket]

Should I call up or write an e-mail?

You should definately call them! I think the "strong but subtle" approach should go down a charm!

[Lucyloo]

They should be able to tell who it was driving as they would have been on their way back to the office after completing a job.

Keep us posted!

[James Deuce]

Next time that happens, change down two gears and nail it. DO NOT STAY IN THE ZONE OF STUPIDITY.

Acceleration is just as valid as an avoidance technique as braking. Visualise that scenario in your head and practice avoiding it (mentally) by accelrating.

[ManDownUnder]

What would you advise me to do if I'd just gone through it?

I'd complain personally - but yes... count to ten so the complaint is rational and complete. Jot down notes so if anything more comes to mind you have it to make all the facts and details more complete

Good luck!
MDU

[Postie]

defiantly call, its bad enough that they are arrogant enough to cut up a bike, but to start flipping you the fingers is bullshit, make you wish it was acceptable to carry shot guns on yer bike, like Terminator and Mad Max..............

[James Deuce]

THere is little point complaining. Without eyewitnesses the story will be very different when related by the pillocks in the van.

What's the bet you, "came out of nowhere"?

[placidfemme]

Next time that happens, change down two gears and nail it. DO NOT STAY IN THE ZONE OF STUPIDITY.

Acceleration is just as valid as an avoidance technique as braking. Visualise that scenario in your head and practice avoiding it (mentally) by accelrating.

I did consider that... and usually I do, but ahead was a car and with the van pulling in from the left I don't think I would have been able to get past without the front of the van clipping the back of the bike... and accelerating towards the right would have been that much harder because of the red car moving in... and if you ride over the bridge you'll know just as you get past the Shelley Beach overpass the road curves to the right...

I know I freaked out, and I should have done a bunch of other things *is making mental notes*

I called up and spoke to the Director (apparantly), told him who I was, explained the situation, and finished with "I just thought this is something that should be brought to your attention as it risked my life, along with other road users, and after all your company name is plastered all over the van, not a good image to put across to the public".

He asked me for exact details (time, location, description of driver), and he said he knew who it was right away as only one of their drivers had a passanger with them and was working on the city side that day...

He said he would deal the issue right away and thanked me for letting him know. He also said he had been considering putting those "How am I driving? Call ***-****" stickers on his vans. And now he will order them.

*feels a lot better now*

[Str8 Jacket]

*feels a lot better now*

Good! NOw I suggest that you go get your free Tui beer . . . .

[DemonWolf]

Good Stuff placidfemme.. Your've made a change in the world (though at the risk of yours). Hopefully the guy driving the Van learns a lesson (prolly not, but we all can wish that these people could learn something about driving properly!)

[Deano]

What's the bet you, "came out of nowhere"?

Just like a size 11 steelcap boot should do for these wankers.

It never ceases to amaze me the gall of some arseholes who flip the bird or make threats when they are blatantly in the wrong.

Still, most wing mirrors are not cheap to replace these days. :rofl:

(Don't try this at home kids - a polite call to the company manager is the way to go.....at least initially anyway)

[Sniper]

Well done PF

[Paul in NZ]

He said he would deal the issue right away and thanked me for letting him know. He also said he had been considering putting those "How am I driving? Call ***-****" stickers on his vans. And now he will order them.

*feels a lot better now*

Good onya!

[crashe]

I did consider that... and usually I do, but ahead was a car and with the van pulling in from the left I don't think I would have been able to get past without the front of the van clipping the back of the bike... and accelerating towards the right would have been that much harder because of the red car moving in... and if you ride over the bridge you'll know just as you get past the Shelley Beach overpass the road curves to the right...

I know I freaked out, and I should have done a bunch of other things *is making mental notes*

I called up and spoke to the Director (apparantly), told him who I was, explained the situation, and finished with "I just thought this is something that should be brought to your attention as it risked my life, along with other road users, and after all your company name is plastered all over the van, not a good image to put across to the public".

He asked me for exact details (time, location, description of driver), and he said he knew who it was right away as only one of their drivers had a passanger with them and was working on the city side that day...

He said he would deal the issue right away and thanked me for letting him know. He also said he had been considering putting those "How am I driving? Call ***-****" stickers on his vans. And now he will order them.

*feels a lot better now*

Good on you for calling. :clap: :clap:

Thats the only way the company owners/directors will know what their drivers are doing out there on the roads.

As Jim said.... plant it out of the situation if you can.

[Ixion]

Well done for reporting him. Those are the wankers that really make me mad. I've followed such people in the past until they got to their work place, and done in, asked to see MD and complained. Hopefully the blast he gets from his boss will make him think twice in future.

See the difference between the red car - made a mistake, oop, sorry. No sweat, mistakes happen , we all make them. I never get mad at someone who sends a "sorry" message.

And the opposite, the van - made a mistake, refused to acknowledge it and turned violent and nasty.These are the people that cause death on our roads . I will do whatever I can to bring them up short

Don't , by the bye, be hesitant about using that horn. Mine gets a LOT of use. Not just when there is danger but when it looks like danger might develop. If Harry Inahury races up to the corner where he should give way flat out, and grudging slams his brakes on at the last second, then he can expect a blast from my horn if I'm coming along toward him. Because I can't tell that he is going to give way. So I assume he isn't. Use that horn. The road code even recommends it.

[Pwalo]

Next time that happens, change down two gears and nail it. DO NOT STAY IN THE ZONE OF STUPIDITY.

Acceleration is just as valid as an avoidance technique as braking. Visualise that scenario in your head and practice avoiding it (mentally) by accelrating.

Good advice Jim. Acceleration is one of the huge advantage that any bike enjoys over a cage. And always have an escape route planned.

By the way why do you call yourself 'Placid'.

[placidfemme]

Don't , by the bye, be hesitant about using that horn. Mine gets a LOT of use. Not just when there is danger but when it looks like danger might develop. If Harry Inahury races up to the corner where he should give way flat out, and grudging slams his brakes on at the last second, then he can expect a blast from my horn if I'm coming along toward him. Because I can't tell that he is going to give way. So I assume he isn't. Use that horn. The road code even recommends it.

Yeah I was rather chuffed (happy) with myself for using the horn, in the past where I've had near misses (some my fault... others not my fault) I've forgotten to use the horn and only afterwards thought "I should have". But yesterday I did it without even realising, I was impressed that my thumb found the little horn button/switch thingy without me even thinking about it.

As I mentioned I've had a few close calls before, but yesterday when I closed my eyes I seriously thought that was it, and thought "I hope this doesn't hurt".

*loves my horn now* And my horn might not be a normal one... it's really loud...

Pwalo: I'm placid because... um... I like to take people by surprise lol I dunno, it was the nickname I used to use years ago when I used to chat often, and when I signed up I couldn't think of anything else lol

*isn't placid... has a bark like a rotty but I cower away like a sick poodle when confronted face to face lol....*

[Lucyloo]

He asked me for exact details (time, location, description of driver), and he said he knew who it was right away as only one of their drivers had a passanger with them and was working on the city side that day...

He said he would deal the issue right away and thanked me for letting him know. He also said he had been considering putting those "How am I driving? Call ***-****" stickers on his vans. And now he will order them.

*feels a lot better now*

Glad that you received a "good" response.
At least you know that the driver will be aware that he may not always get away with bad behaviour.
Hopefully he will think twice about doing anything similar....at least while in a company vehicle.

[crashe]

*isn't placid... has a bark like a rotty but I cower away like a sick poodle when confronted face to face lol....*

Yeah right NOT. :whistle: :whistle:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[raster]

Good on ya Placid, I reported a Dodge RAM, go through one red light this morning, then procede to use the right turning lane to overtake another car who had stopped at the next red light, I stopped on the side of the road and reported him then and there.

[NhuanH]

I think you should complain Placid. You certainly do not complain enuff.

Why is it all these bad things always happen to you mate?

*EDIT* Get air horns with some annoying melody, like a Cavalry bugle call or summin

[Beemer]

I've nearly always had an excellent response when dealing directly with companies like you did, PF. The only time it didn't work was when the arsehole who had nearly killed me was the company owner so he tried to wriggle out of it at first, then said he thought I was at fault anyway!

In all the other instances, I have asked to speak to the owner or manager of the company and explained calmly what happened. Each time I have been apologised to and told that the matter would be viewed seriously and the offending driver given a verbal warning about their behaviour. One guy even asked me to make a formal complaint to the police because this driver had been warned before and he wanted something he could use to get rid of him. After all, what do you remember from this incident? What the guy looked like or anything like that? No, you remember the name of the company and you have a bad impression of them.

Good on you for complaining - it does make you feel better when someone takes you seriously and thanks you for letting them know.

[Ixion]

I've nearly always had an excellent response when dealing directly with companies like you did, PF. The only time it didn't work was when the arsehole who had nearly killed me was the company owner so he tried to wriggle out of it at first, then said he thought I was at fault anyway!

In all the other instances, I have asked to speak to the owner or manager of the company and explained calmly what happened. Each time I have been apologised to and told that the matter would be viewed seriously and the offending driver given a verbal warning about their behaviour. One guy even asked me to make a formal complaint to the police because this driver had been warned before and he wanted something he could use to get rid of him. After all, what do you remember from this incident? What the guy looked like or anything like that? No, you remember the name of the company and you have a bad impression of them.

Good on you for complaining - it does make you feel better when someone takes you seriously and thanks you for letting them know.


Yes, companies usually are quite responsive to such complaints. The only exception is Dorkland bus companies who don't give a rat's toss.

[mstriumph]

You did good!

it would have been wrong NOT to complain under those circumstances - silence equating to approbation in the minds of the miscreants and all that?

its great that you got a positive response, too

But the best thing is the learning experience a narrow escape like that is?

[Stroker Girl]

It never ceases to amaze me the gall of some arseholes who flip the bird or make threats when they are blatantly in the wrong.

Tell me about it! Pukekohe seems rife with these type of special people. Twice I've had cars pull out in front of me on the bike and as they go by they've pull the finger! Usually I'm in too much shock to even respond in like back :motu:

PF, glad to hear your close call didn't result in anything more serious and hope that arsehole in the van get a serious warning. Good on ya for complaining.

[Eurygnomes]

Yay for you PF! I'm learning the 'accelerate through the potential incident' trip too...so many times, I'll get on the brakes and then realise that the brakes mean that I'm now SLOWLY approaching the hazard instead of peeling away from it as I'd feel more comfortable doing. It's a weird feeling - I know in teh car I'm a lot more likely to slam on the brakes.

I hate it when people follow really closely. On the way home on Thursday night (dark out) I had a car full of teenaged boys follow RIGHT up my back wheel (I could smell their breath...and it was rank). I was not impressed. I did the weave from side to side thing (as much as one can without drawing coppers attention to oneself) and yet they stayed there. It's like, "I don't want to speed, but neither do I feel the need to stay at risk from these pricks". I suppose I could have pulled over and let them pass. Idiots.

I'm SOO impressed you rang the company to complain. Good on ya chick!

[Gremlin]

Well done for ringing the company, and good on the owner/manager for being a decent guy.

Have to ask tho, why does all this crap keep happening to you?? Bad luck? Is there something you are doing that might let the cars think they can do something?? It would be interesting to know because I have had very few problems. Perhaps you should get a little bike and look huge on it :devil2:

Seems to be (mostly) working for me...

But I think I have seen you, and that would be a hard job finding a bike that small...

[placidfemme]

I do have bad luck don't I?

Well not really, I've been riding legally now for over 8 months or more and I've never come off my bike, nor been hit or anything. Rather a near miss then a complete accident where I'm hurt.

Some of the things I've posted on here, in hindsight (sp) are small things that just seemed huge because of my lack of experience... but I'm getting better slowly. By no means do I think I'm a good rider, nor do I think I'm a bad rider either... I just like to share my experiences and get other peoples opinions on them... also by writting them out and discussing them helps me to see what I should or shouldn't be doing...

:)

Thanks everyone :)

[James Deuce]

I do have bad luck don't I?

Well not really, I've been riding legally now for over 8 months or more and I've never come off my bike, nor been hit or anything. Rather a near miss then a complete accident where I'm hurt.

{snip}

One sincerely hopes you were holding onto something wooden when you said that.

You realise you'll need to self-harm to appease the biker gods now?

The near misses become unremarkable as the range of your biker's sixth sense extends.

[unhingedlizard]

Next time that happens, change down two gears and nail it. DO NOT STAY IN THE ZONE OF STUPIDITY.

Acceleration is just as valid as an avoidance technique as braking. Visualise that scenario in your head and practice avoiding it (mentally) by accelrating.

Totally agree. Sometimes its the only weapon we have.

[Gremlin]

Even though you may look at things with hindsight and say it was small, if a learner can read it and learn something that might help, then there is no problem at all.

The sad question is: Do we post these incidents less and less because they keep happening and we take it as the norm?? :oi-grr:

[crazylittleshit]

0900 HOW'S MY DRIVEN :rofl:
$5.00 per min

WOULD'NT that be great........ :clap:

[NhuanH]

The sad question is: Do we post these incidents less and less because they keep happening and we take it as the norm?? :oi-grr:
That is truly a sad question. Sad that you think these posts are reducing in number. Methinks they need their own forum/sub-forum:
"Cager/bus/Mack truck/submarine/spaceship/hovercraft/Ferret got me velly angwy today...."
(delete those not applicable - hey it could be a combo: A ferret in a submarine?)

Just like Kim Jong-Il sez: "rerax"

[Ixion]

Well done for ringing the company, and good on the owner/manager for being a decent guy.

Have to ask tho, why does all this crap keep happening to you?? Bad luck? Is there something you are doing that might let the cars think they can do something?? It would be interesting to know because I have had very few problems. Perhaps you should get a little bike and look huge on it :devil2:

Seems to be (mostly) working for me...

But I think I have seen you, and that would be a hard job finding a bike that small...

Nah. Happens to me all the time too. And my bike's large enough to be seen from the Moon. Happens to all bikers. Just after a while you get used to it and just take it in your stride. May depend a bit on where you ride, and the type and quality of idiots you regularly encounter, I guess.

[placidfemme]

One sincerely hopes you were holding onto something wooden when you said that.

You realise you'll need to self-harm to appease the biker gods now?

The near misses become unremarkable as the range of your biker's sixth sense extends.

I'm not supersticous (sp) lol. I proberly should be, but I'm not...

Everyone said to me "oh you'll come off... just you wait". And sure given the odd's I proberly will. But theres no point in riding and thinking "I havn't crashed yet... I might today *touch wood*".

I believe everyone has a time... and when my time comes... then it comes :)

Everyone that knows me, knows how much I LOVE bikes... I've wanted to ride since I was knee high to a grasshopper... My gran's brother was killed on a bike (a triumph hehe) and she hates bikes... but knows that I have a passion for them... (lol thats why the only magazines and loose pictures in the whole house are all bike related).

But yeah *forgetting my point.... must.... type....faster... oh dang it, I've lost it*

lol :ride:

I like looking at things in hidesight... seriously... some of the things I've bitched about on here, I've taken the advice, critisism (sp) and all and seriously thought about it... and once or twice (or more) the same situation has happened, and without realising it I take advantage of all the information I get off here... I'm like a leech... read... think... practise... or at least I try...

[eliot-ness]

Congrats PF you did everything right.Got yourself out of a sticky situation. Didn't lose your temper. Thought about it, and reported the guy. All good survival tactics. That's one more lousy driver who will think before he repeats the performance. Maybe you've saved another rider from an expensive prang. BTW. Eight months in Auckland traffic without some sort of accident is pretty good going. You seem to have it sussed out

[placidfemme]

Congrats PF you did everything right.Got yourself out of a sticky situation. Didn't lose your temper. Thought about it, and reported the guy. All good survival tactics. That's one more lousy driver who will think before he repeats the performance. Maybe you've saved another rider from an expensive prang. BTW. Eight months in Auckland traffic without some sort of accident is pretty good going. You seem to have it sussed out

I hit a car mirror once while splitting lanes... does that count?

*has my guardian angel watching over me*

[James Deuce]

I hit a car mirror once while splitting lanes... does that count?

*has my guardian angel watching over me*

Thought you weren't superstitious.

[WINJA]

GALBRAITHS PLUMBING IS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS I USE.
ILL GIVE YOU SOME GOOD ADVICE PF , I DROVE A SIGN WRITTEN VAN FOR AGES
AND GOT A FEW COMPLAINTS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS , AND NONE OF MY BOSSES GIVES A FUCK , THERES A SHORTAGE OF TRADESMEN AND THERE IS NO ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST HIM, HE CAN CUT YOU OFF , GIVE YOU THE FINGERS AND CALL YOU A WHORE AND HIS BOSS WILL DO NOTHING , YOU CAN CALL AND COMPLAIN AND THE BOSS WILL BE ALL SYMPATHETIC BUT ITS JUST AN ACT, WHAT ID DO IS CALL ASK FOR THE MANAGER , GIVE THE VAN REGO
CALL THE MANAGER A MOTHER FUCKER, BE ABUSIVE AND RUDE AND GET SOME SATISFACTION.
DO NOT GIVE YOUR DETAILS , MY BOSS WAS GIVING THE WANKER SIGNAL TO THE GUY ON THE PHONE COMPLAINING ABOUT ME THEN GAVE ME THE COMPLAINERS NAME AND ADDRESS .

[placidfemme]

Thought you weren't superstitious.

I'm not, I'm religious (sort of).

My guardian angel is my mom :) and she thinks I'm cool.

she hated the idea of me wanting a bike, and said "over her dead body" and unfortunatley thats the way it worked... and if I die biking... well then at least I'm with her... win win situation

[placidfemme]

GALBRAITHS PLUMBING IS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS I USE.
ILL GIVE YOU SOME GOOD ADVICE PF , I DROVE A SIGN WRITTEN VAN FOR AGES
AND GOT A FEW COMPLAINTS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS , AND NONE OF MY BOSSES GIVES A FUCK , THERES A SHORTAGE OF TRADESMEN AND THERE IS NO ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST HIM, HE CAN CUT YOU OFF , GIVE YOU THE FINGERS AND CALL YOU A WHORE AND HIS BOSS WILL DO NOTHING , YOU CAN CALL AND COMPLAIN AND THE BOSS WILL BE ALL SYMPATHETIC BUT ITS JUST AN ACT, WHAT ID DO IS CALL ASK FOR THE MANAGER , GIVE THE VAN REGO
CALL THE MANAGER A MOTHER FUCKER, BE ABUSIVE AND RUDE AND GET SOME SATISFACTION.
DO NOT GIVE YOUR DETAILS , MY BOSS WAS GIVING THE WANKER SIGNAL TO THE GUY ON THE PHONE COMPLAINING ABOUT ME THEN GAVE ME THE COMPLAINERS NAME AND ADDRESS .

Yeah I kind of figured as much (just not in such detail). I could give you the guys name (the director [apparantly] that I spoke with). But it made me feel better to complain...

But given the info you've given me... from now on I'll try my best to get the Rego number and report it to the cops as well as complain to the company (if it has a logo that I can remember) and in future if it happens I'll let the manager know that I have reported it to the police as well.

[raster]

I had a NZ Couriers van nearly hit me in the Co. Cage today, happens about once every 2 days, I've had less nears on the bike, only once in the last 3 weeks.

[WINJA]

Yeah I kind of figured as much (just not in such detail). I could give you the guys name (the director [apparantly] that I spoke with). But it made me feel better to complain...

But given the info you've given me... from now on I'll try my best to get the Rego number and report it to the cops as well as complain to the company (if it has a logo that I can remember) and in future if it happens I'll let the manager know that I have reported it to the police as well.
I WORKED WITH A GUY WHO GOT CAUGHT MASTURBATING IN AN ENGINE ROOM AND THE BOSS LAUGHED , THE CUSTOMER WASNT IMPRESSED ,THE BOSS JUST DIDNT SEND HIM BACK TO THAT SITE , THAT WANKER IS NOW A SERVICE MANAGER

[placidfemme]

I WORKED WITH A GUY WHO GOT CAUGHT MASTURBATING IN AN ENGINE ROOM AND THE BOSS LAUGHED , THE CUSTOMER WASNT IMPRESSED ,THE BOSS JUST DIDNT SEND HIM BACK TO THAT SITE , THAT WANKER IS NOW A SERVICE MANAGER

lol thats not something you wanna get caught doing

But like you said in your earlier post, most times when complaints are made nothing is done about them, easier to bullshit the customer then to punish (or sack) the employee that did something wrong... They do that all the time here where I work...

*can't put details as I'm using a work comp now* But one of our staff (high level) is known to be a "P" user, and used one of the other staff members to buy it for him... and her job was threatened if she didn't get it... so she did... and after a while she reported it... and guess who got fired? she did