Viper

As well as the 'motorists are cash cows' aspect it's all part of a far wider scheme for U.K. maximum spyware on citizens. The police also use other types of camera for spying on the public. In all cases the medicine bottle being labelled 'it's for your own safety.' (Yawn). Whilst most people are aware of police and Google spyware they are not remotely aware of other agencies with outrageous powers who routinely operate abusive spyware notwithstanding hollow parallel citizen protection such as the Data Protection Act. (For each abuse category there is illusory citizen protective legislation in place, never meant to be utilised). As an example let me choose an abusive body (I'm spoilt for choice) which most of us use - your local authority. Did you know that your local authority can tap into both your bank account and other financial records, Royal Mail's delivery system, and your telephone records? What could spark such intrusion? Based on my own personal past experience, and by the way I don't refer to my present local council: - (a) Accepting mail on behalf of a pal who visiting from overseas and bumming around the U.K. for over six months. That is using your property simply as a mailing address. (b) Claiming 25% council tax discount based on being a single occupier. After being called to a two hour local authority interrogation under oath it produced a substantial dossier of my private records and those of my pal. Surprise, surprise. Several months later I was invited back for another spin. I politely declined and nothing more was ever heard. At least one can usually see the 'motorists are cash cows' spyware. Plans have been afoot for several years to microchip all or most U.K. citizens under various pretexts, but agreement has to date not been reached as to how to sell such to the public as being to its advantage. I joke not. Over twelve years ago such technology was trialled in the U.S.A. using seventy mentally ill patients. A 'free' society?! My ex Russian wife was apparently far more free in the olden days whilst living under communism. There's not much which I'm proud about, but never voting for ANY politician is an exception. If you voted YOU installed the spyware.

An interesting and complex subject. (a) If you are U.K. based then obviously if you purchase from Europe no additional charges become due. (b) Buy from elsewhere and the following charges potentially kick in (i) V.A.T., (ii) Import duty, (iii) Duties collection fee. © China has been mentioned. The Chinese tend to under-declare the value of goods which is illegal. Thus avoiding such charges. But beware as customs officers have the right to allocate their own goods valuation and thus usurp the declared invoice amount. (d) If you buy from outside Europe expect as a rule of thumb to need to add 40% to the basic price for the above levies plus p. & p. But it could be more or less than such percentage. My 40% is no more than a guideline. (e) If you buy from overseas using eBay it is usually to your advantage (i.e. cheaper) if your seller has registered for the eBay's own overseas postage scheme. If it has then the sum total of all charges will be displayed to you to chew upon before you commit to buy. This appears within the top half of page 1 of the eBay sale ad. If it has not registered then expect a much higher bill. (f) Here's where it gets really interesting, and this is now happening a lot: An eBay seller with a U.K. business address states in the sale ad. (or elsewhere in its particulars) that all goods are shipped from his U.K. address. Your new leather coat is then delivered to your door from Pakistan and the courier demands the three add ons set out above. Assuming that you are (quite rightly) unwilling to pay such and run with the scam then here is how to proceed. ..............(i) DO NOT PAY the levy and accept the goods as eBay have no system in place for refunding the levy to you. .............(ii) Ask the courier to remove the invoice from its plastic cover and take a couple of close up photos. of it. Refuse to accept / sign for the package and send the courier on his way with the parcel ...........(iii) Lodge an eBay claim but DO NOT use their returned goods procedure. If you do then this will throw their system into disarray. Such is likely to result in pandemonium! Telephone eBay and ask which complaint procedure to use and note down the name of your adviser. eBay's number (which it does not like to be made readily available) is 0800- 358 6551.

Smee, Here is some very basic info. about helmets which I hope may be of assistance. Twenty five years ago if you bought say a helmet labelled '57cm' or '59cm' it would be exactly that, and if your head measurement was 59cm. you would be extremely unlucky not to fit a 59cm. helmet. However in recent times two MASSIVE problems have arisen due to modern helmet engineering: (a) All manufacturers tend to offer six helmet sizes but instead of utilising several 'shell' (outer shell) sizes the cheap helmet manufacturers save money by only using one or two shell sizes and consequently nearly all of their helmets' true sizes remains the same. They essentially lie by saying that full size changes are made vis a vis adjustments to internal padding sizes. I recently took a tape measure into a dealership offering helmets for sale and measured one manufacturer's 'M' 'L' and 'XL' helmets all at 58cm! (b) Our modern world is made over technical in most walks of life, and motorcycle helmets are no exception. Nowadays unnecessary constrictions are routinely made around the ears and cheeks. The extra thick padding around the ears is supposed to be to reduce noise. Who doesn't want to hear the roar of their new £600. pipes? I don't know what the excuse is for cheek constriction. To ensue a friendly lip pout to any police officer? So what is the answer? (a) Never buy through the post unless you have previously tried on that model / size of helmet. (b) Buy from a dealer after trying on numerous helmets until you find one which feels at least 95% comfortable. Never, never, never buy a helmet which hurts your ears on taking the helmet off. © If you wish to secure the best chance of buying best materials then purchase a helmet bearing a gold 'British Motorcycle Sport' label if you buy in the U.K. What about buying a used vintage helmet? As a rule of thumb manufacturers recommend changing a helmet ever five years even if its history is known and is damage free. They say that things which come out of your skin degrade the material. I don't have the expertise to confirm or deny, but personally hold grave suspicions over the truth of that statement. Sadly you just missed my recent eBay sale of a 1998 Shoe in almost pristine condition. It went for £11.50 and was extremely comfortable.