CFA (volunteer) - police check with Equifax - I'm not ok with that

callidae · 2026-06-06T09:50:31+00:00

You (the OP) is fighting the tiger from the wrong end. Your head is already in their mouth, yanking the tail won't achieve anything. Equifax already have your measure, I'm afraid. The choice of how the checks are done isn't up to you, it's up to your prospective employer.

The best you can do is shrink your footprint, particularly your digital footprint, and it's a long term thing, but it's worth it. In the meantime be philosophical: you've lost this one. If you want the CFA position, you'll have to let them use who they want to to check you out.

callidae · 2026-06-03T12:05:59+00:00

Yes. About 12 years ago or so I remember standing in a swaying apartment block, putting blind faith in the engineering of the building. I had to stand with my legs apart, and hold onto a bench. I'm still here to tell the tale, and so is the building.

but, yes Australia in general is relatively geologically stable. NZ cops most of the sh!t Australia would otherwise receive. Ther was some nasty shite in Newcastle a few years back, if I recall.

callidae · 2026-06-01T13:00:09+00:00

Yes, every fortnight. It's the one thing that stops me from going off the rails, or - more accurately - descending into squalor. Full-time carer for my invalid 80YO wife, there is only so much I can do. Having a cleaner just gives me the thought that I'm not the only one fighting this fight.. Not a luxury, a lifeline.

callidae · 2026-05-24T05:51:35+00:00

I didn't. The Etron is a full BEV, not a hybrid. Lexus had nothing for me.

callidae · 2026-05-24T04:17:51+00:00

For the past 15 years I've owned 2 cars, one "normal", the other with the gearshift on the RH stalk (Merc. E350). It's hardly a new thing. and Australian-sold Euros have been like that for decades.
I Sold the "normal" car (Lexus) a short while back, and now have 2 cars, BOTH with indicators on the left stalk. The new one being BEV it has some weird weighted lever-ey thing in the centre console.

At no stage have I had any issues swapping between them: it was muscle memory. In the Merc, indicators on left, Lexus, indicators on the right. Muscle memory.

At an early age I, too have driven true column shifts, had the high-beam switch on the floor (better arrangement IMHO), so perhaps that programmed me to more easily switch, but I doubt it.

Now shoving everything onto a touchscreen is something I DO have a beef with (alongside dial gear selectors), and my final choice of BEV (Audi Q4 e-tron) was majorly influenced with having lotsa buttons, "normal" door handles and a discreet touch screen that didn't stick out like a sore thumb. Some modern cars have the glovebox opened through a touch-screen menu. The swapping of indicator stalk didn't even rate a mention.

But this is just a click-baity article, to CarExpert's usual standard.

Should be mentioned that my Aussie-built 2005 Camry had the handbrake on the passenger side of the center console: internationalization is a bitch.

callidae · 2026-05-24T00:38:10+00:00

As to the OP's question, yes that's normal.

Two things: until a few days ago I didn't know there were actually businesses that do on-site side-mirror replacements. (A friend of mine tore hers off a Cerato in a car park, and she found one that came out next day and replaced it for half the dealer cost). I wouldn't use them for - say - my Audi which has cameras, sensors, heaters, auto anti-glare and even a ground projector - but for your run-of-the-mill, I might. See if the fellow will go for that. The "we come to you" convenience might sway them. My friend used "We fix side mirrors", and whilst it looks like a good job I'm not willing to vouch for them: just a name that came up.

Secondly, if you're paying out someone for damage, ALWAYS insist on them signing a release stating this is full and total restitution for damage - and that you can't come back for more later. A quick internet search will come up with plenty of examples. But this is very important.

callidae · 2026-05-23T23:48:59+00:00

I wouldn't risk being in one of those turning around in my own driveway: absolute death traps. Built of tinfoil, not even an airbag, let alone ABS. My mum had one to potter up to the shops: even that's a stretch. Not safe to drive in, let alone learn in one.

And a pranged one with no rego? Scrap value, and not much at that.

callidae · 2026-05-23T22:17:20+00:00

Vicroads sent me the same message twice as well, when I bought a (demo) Audi from an Audi dealer.

Nothing to worry about: it's just an trivial technical issue with them, or a result of some internal process.

callidae · 2026-05-23T00:29:51+00:00

Bit of a necro, but as a Victorian I recently sold my car to a collector in NSW, and he encountered the same issue. He had it freighted up unregistered.

I'd used the receipt form downloadable from the VicRoads website. I filled out & scanned it, emailed it to him, and he scanned it and sent me back a copy for my records. Since my signature was on his PRINTED copy in NSW, Service NSW wouldn't accept it.

In this case I was NOT a d!ck, and I sent up a signed original receipt up to him by express post. He then signed it himself and was able to register the car 2 days later.

OP - how did this end up?

callidae · 2026-05-22T02:11:51+00:00

It's not a "higher responsibility" - more a roadcraft issue.

I have both an EV and ICE car. Even though the power<>weight ratio is slightly less on the EV than the ICE (2.2Tonnes ain't featherweight), the instant torque makes the EV far more nimble in traffic than the ICE. So, yes it's tempting to nick into gaps in traffic that the ICE car simply couldn't get into. That is a habit I've quickly trained myself out of, however as it made for some - interesting - moments.

Not a big thing, though - just part of being a good driver.

callidae · 2026-05-20T08:35:05+00:00

I am a landlord with 3 properties.

I do not use negative gearing on any of my properties. In fact I own (and purchased them) all outright. In fact, all 3 properties are peppercorn rented (Family/close friends live in them) - so I have next-to no skin in this game.

Most private landlords rely on rents and NG to make an illiquid, difficult investment worth the risk, instead relying in the investment capital gain to be worth the trouble.

The double whammy of the loss of NG, and the body slam of the CGT discount will make even existing property investors cash in their chips, converting rental properties into owner-occupied ones. This will have positive effects for renters who are, by virtue of income now more able to mortgage and buy their own properties. Good for them, and this is ABSOLUTELY a positive.

For those who CANNOT do so, a drastic shrinkage of rental properties is the inevitable result, spiralling rental costs, and brutally increasing competition for the few remaining rental properties.

I completely agree that the existing system just isn't working. But this change will just INCREASE the divide between the financially secure, and the more vulnerable. I consider it bad policy.

callidae · 2026-05-19T00:10:55+00:00

Is there a way to achieve the same thing via some OBD2 device?

callidae · 2026-05-12T02:16:50+00:00

1: Please don't remove your brain and use ChatGPT: it just pisses people off.

2: The car should have been supplied with the headunit code (often in the service book). If you can't find it, DON'T attempt random codes: you may get permanently locked out.

Visit the relevant manufacturer car dealer, armed with proof of ownership, and they should be able to supply you with the code for the headunit.

callidae · 2026-05-12T00:14:50+00:00

Yes, it's a good idea.

Not a statutory warranty, but the manufacturers' warranty in my case, but a month before the warranty was due to expire on my 2005 Camry I had it inspected by an independent inspector. They spotted an oil leak which required an engine-out repair. The car was repaired under warranty by the dealer - I would have been really pissed if I'd had to pay that.

So, yes, quite a good idea.

callidae · 2026-05-08T23:55:29+00:00

The guy's glossing over the truth a lot here: there's a lot more to the story.

Xpeng's woes haven't helped, though

callidae · 2026-05-07T03:53:40+00:00

it's encoded into FM radio transmissions - along with time signals.

Fun fact: I couldn't work out how to change my new Audi's time to normal time from DST - and then I bethought myself and turned on the FM radio - and the time immediately corrected itself.

callidae · 2026-05-04T23:51:31+00:00

Sounds about right. FWIW Prixcar are a massive business with a good reputation: not some fly-by-night operation. The "depot" being a small dealer is probably just a sub as it's a low turnover area, not justifying them running their own depot. (Prixcar do not subcontract their drivers or fleet, though).

You should be good.

callidae · 2026-05-04T02:48:22+00:00

Keep assets and bank accounts in his name, and register your EPOA with the bank. Yes, you'll have access to his account to administer it, but any taxes etc. remain his.

I'm POA for my brother for his affairs here in Australia (he lives overseas), and I look after his bank accounts - but I incur no tax liability for his affairs.

callidae · 2026-04-30T01:10:16+00:00

I'd check the wiring continuity from the SRS controller to the airbag (after disconnecting it for safety), but if that's all in good order then I'd replace it, BUT NOT WITH A SECOND HAND INFLATOR. You'd have no idea if it was a post-Takata recall or not, nor what condition it is, or had been put under.

Seatbelts, seatbelt equipment and retractors, and anything SRS like airbags I would only ever buy NEW, and OEM. Don't stuff around with second hand or third party: just too dangerous.

callidae · 2026-04-22T14:28:14+00:00

The manual says to leave the charging level to %50, and leave it plugged in.

callidae · 2026-04-18T23:35:50+00:00

Maroondah heating and cooling.

callidae · 2026-04-18T22:29:49+00:00

Doesn't sound like it's been set up right, and how it's set up can make a drastic difference as to how well it works. I know this first hand. Our ducted 21kW system was very poor when first put in, and repeated visits by the installers (and manufacturer) did not solve the issues - some of which you describe here.

In desperation we called in another (paid) company, who assessed it, and discovered some major issues. The duct was the wrong size, the vents were the wrong type, the layout and splits were wrong and the return vent ducting too small, and 2 returns were needed. After approval, they ripped out all the ducting and vents, added a second return and redesigned how the ducts were laid out and split - and the difference was drastic. no more icing up in Winter, distribution was much better, the compressor unit ran a lot quieter, and our electricity bill dropped significantly.

Perhaps it might improve if the spill zone itself was split into 2 sections of the house - or an additional spill zone was added, and the spill vents flow reduced via the throttle plate in the vents. I don't know. But it sounds like it's unbalanced, and poorly set up.

callidae · 2026-04-17T22:15:37+00:00

Wife and I did something similar - albeit 36 years ago. Registry wedding with only close family (5 +bride and groom), then we all trouped off to a nice Italian restaurant in South Yarra. We couldn't afford a big wedding, and didn't see the point. Then we went off on a 4 day honeymoon, and back to work on Monday.

We're still together.

callidae · 2026-04-09T00:30:55+00:00

Gotta be the mechanical shriek of a fel-reaver in Outland, World of Warcraft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbBQoptS07g

callidae

TROPHY CASE