The Consumer Forums

Dining Furniture ordered 06/-05-2007, delivered 16 weeks later (was told 10 weeks @ time of order). Furniture was faulty (various faults in almost all pieces - chairs, table & sideboards) promised replacement 5 times and every time replacement furniture too was faulty. Suggested a discount or full refund, no response! Final letter sent to Harveys & Black Horse early August 2008 asking for a conclusion - however, I said if no discount will be given then I'll counter sue for lost holidays, inconvinience etc - again no response from either party! Yesterday, when I called Black Horse I was told that Harveys will collect the furniture immediately and refund me. I stated that I needed time to get replacement furniture and was told if I don't agree I will be charged rental!

I purchased the furniture on their interest free option - I have not missed a single payment and am still paying, as I don't want my credit rating altered. I'm not sure what to do next. Any advise will be gratefully accepted.

Please Note the above is just a synopsis - I will provide full details when required. I just didn't want to put readers off with a lengthy article!

Christmas is dawning on us and I would just like to share my experience with you.
As much as I like the selcetion of designers and high street concessions in the Oxford Street store beware that they don't have the same policy as their neighbouring rivals.; House of Fraser, John Lewis etc.

I was unable to return a handbag I had bought in the sale last christmas because it was on sale half price - store policy. The handbag was in the same condition it was bought in but really was just too small for me. The supervisor lady would not reason - I think it is common practice now for many department stores but this is riduculous.

The bag is still unused with tags etc but I think if like me you buy loads and decide what you want to keep later then that is a bad move...especially in these credit crunch times..

Btw M&S have an amazing returns policy and I think the others stores hsould follow suit - unless that is, they are flogging rubbish, in which case they will not want that returned

I am disabled so rely on home delivery for my shopping as I am unable to carry my monthly shop home, and I do not drive. I had been using Sainsburys for quite a while when on one occasion after shopping online I paid using my credit card and arranged for delivery four days later. The delivery day came and one hour prior to my delivery Sainsbury's rang to inform me that there was a problem with my card and as such they wouldn't be delivering that day. I said I had the money for them in the house if their is a problem with the card, and "No, our drivers aren't insured to carry cash" So fuming I told them not to bother I would spend my money elsewhere, with that I logged onto Tesco's website and ordered my shopping with them using exactly the same credit card and it was delivered the following day! Absolutely no problems or any questions about my card at all as it appears that Sainsbury's system is flawed. I wrote to them complaining that I thought their was a problem with their system, they replied by offering me a measly £10 off my next delivery! Incensed at their blatant disregard for their customers I flatly refused such a punitive offer, to get home delivery costs £5 anyway! Will never use such a dickensian company again, their loss is Tesco's gain.

Bought a Hotpoint CTD80 condenser drier from Asda Electrical the price was the cheapest and I thought I had a good deal it proved to be the opposite. On the day the drier was delvered the driver dropped it there was a very tiny dent on the door I was persuaded to accept twenty pounds and was told by accepting it I was told I would not lose my statutory rights (that was the first lie) When I came to dry my clothes I found they were still wet it took four hours to dry four skirts my previous dryer would have dried them in 70minutes. I contacted Asda Electrical and said I wanted to return the drier as it not working properly and did not live up to their claims that it was economical and used less electricity (advertised on their web site). They said a engineer had to come out I said this was unnecssary and not compliant with the Sale of Goods Act. After several phone calls I had to eventually agree to an engneer calling. He came put it on for a few minutes then put his hand in and claimed it was working alright he refused to uplift the machine as he claimed it was okay. I rang Hotpoint and they refused to collect the machine as I had received the twenty pounds I said I was told it would not affect my rights they said that they could not collect the machine because of the twenty pounds.

I contacted ASDA again they said that their engineer was experienced I asked them if they think that putting your hand in and saying it was hot was a sophisticated technical visit. They then sent out another engineer who told me to use the machine on manual instead of the many progammes the drier had. I was furious and contacted Asda again and told them what he had said they did nothing. I made many phone calls and sent many emails they even tried to tell me that the machine used less electricity that is why it was taking hours to dry clothes I checked and found out this was a load of rubbish I did know this already but had to prove it to them.

I also sent the cheque back to Hotpoint in response to my letter they wrote back and asked me to return the cheque I contacted them and told them they had the cheque I was promised after a lot of argueing they would write to me after cancelling the cheque they never did.

I wrote to ASDA's Managing Director his office contacted me and I was told that I would have to have a engineer call agan to give me an upliift number I said this was unnecessary and ridiculous but had to agree in the end. He came and took out the condenser unit out of the machne and washed it in my bathroom he left it filthy he put the machine on and filled it half full with lght clothing and towel it took 80 minutes to dry. He told me to only dry half a load of clothes at a time this meant it would take 160mins to dry a load of clothes. I was totally disgusted and investigated on the web site about the machine on the Which site they advised Not to Buy. It was uneconomical, noisy, produced too much condensation did not dry clothes properly and took to long.

Agan I wrote to the Managing Director with all the information I had and also wrote to Hotpoint I contacted ASDA head Office and told them I was fed up wth how I was beng treated. Agan we went down the same path I had been with ASDA ELECTRICAL the same old excuses they would not agree that they had broken the Sale of Goods Act the machne was now not workng at all. Because the door which I had complained about to the first engineer had dropped and would not lock because of this it would not work. Also I could not afford the cost of using electricty and havi hours of electricity to dry one load of clothes. I was a C grade which was the same as my old machine.

I contacted ASDA head office and told them again what had been happening I was promised a phone call after the woman who was dealng with me had spoken to a manager but she never rang or left a message on my phone. She told me that ASDA Electrical were trying to get Hotpoint to agree to uplift the machine I told her my contract was with ASDA and it had nothing to do with Hotpoint they should be sorting this out not waiting for Hotpoint

I rang Consumer Advice and asked to be put through to Trading standards they would not do this I had done everythng you need to do and now the only option for me was to take them to court. Trading standards in Warwickshre no longer do anythng for Consumers.

Since all this started I hurt my back badly trying to put clothes out on the line I am disabled and chronically sick and a tumble dryer is desperately needed all had was the stressd of everythng and nothing to dry my clothes. The constant stress contributed to a declne In my health and was rushed into hosptal critically ill.

Eventually I receIved a phone call from HotpoInt they apologised and said they had receIved the cheque in May they would now like to replace it with another machine as this one was no longer being manufactured. They claimed it was an upgrade to a better model it was not when I went on line I found numerous complaints about the dryer and all of them mentioned the problems with clothes not drying after the cycle had finished.

I asked for the money back and they have agreed Hotpoint IS doing this not Asda which is disgraceful. I would not recommend them and would advise every one to be careful of the information they give on their web site. I aksed them to change the informaton given on this machine as it is ncorrect but they have DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I can only advise people to be very careful.
FROM A VERY DISGUSTED CUSTOMER

Such good customer service as the service that I received on Sunday does not happen often, and when it does, it needs to be recognised, and sung from the roof tops!
Argos Extra local store were amazing. I am shocked about just how helpful they were! And it wasnt as if I was even spending a whole load of money!
I hope that the manager acts upon my thank you letter by congratulating the staff involved.
Really really impressed!

The radiator on my car (Rover 12 years old) finally decided it was time to meet it's maker and leaked the coolant all over the road outside my house.

I rang this company for a quote and was given the price of replacing the core (which brings it back to as new). Having had a look around the internet at various radiator repair and replacement companies, the price I was quoted was very fair and matched anything I had seen on the net.

I was asked if I wanted to do the job myself or if I wanted them to do it. I said that I would do it myself and they said to bring it in. When I said there was a problem with that because the car could not be driven, they said "no problem, we will come and collect".

The radiator was picked up on Tuesday and delivered back to me on Wednesday.

There was no charge for collection or delivery and a full 12 months warranty was also given.

Very please to recommend and say what a pleasure it was to have done business with them.

If only all companies would realise that service is what people want and it will ensure return custom as it surely will with me.

I bought a cooker from Asda Electrical online last Sunday at £60 cheaper than it was available anywhere else. We had a couple of problems with the delivery being late, and there were a couple of minor blemishes in the enamel, mostly at the back and out of sight.
At 14.15 today I sent an enquiry to customer services regarding this and within 15 minutes had an acceptable offer of compensation. It's difficult to see how they could have done better.

This review is not to point to any particular incident or to any particular shop in the John Lewis chain but merely to ask how can it be that (in my experience) shopping at John Lewis department stores generally can be such a uniformly pleasant experience. How is it that John Lewis staff always seem to be thoroughly enjoying dealing with the customers and are so unstintingly helpful.

Coupled with very good value (never knowingly undersold) and the John Lewis reputation for no-quibble returns which I have had the opportunity to put to the test on 2 or 3 occasions, surely John Lewis stores practice a measure of service and customer relations which must set the standard worldwide.

Has anyone got anything bad to say about them? Let's hear it.

I recently saw some shoes in a magazine perfect for a forthcoming wedding, went to Metro Centre Gateshead, had shoes but not my size. Rang the Sunderland branch the next day and she not only put the shoes away until the weekend but a bag to match. The service was so pleasant and helpful that I wrote to the manager of the store to compliment them on their good customer service. Its so easy to complain but people rarely take the time to compliment. Its nice to restore the balance sometimes.

Hi Afew Months Ago I Saw 2 Leather Sofas I Liked On The Tesco Website But Could Not Afford Them. A Couple Of Weeks Later They Was In The Sale But Was Out Of Stock. When They Did Come Back Into Stock ,they Was Back Up To Ther Original Price. I Was Very Annyed About This And Several Occasions. I Was Told That Tere Was Nothing They Could Do About It And Tht Was The Price. So I Have Now Saved The Full Price Which Is £949 - £65 In Clubcard Points Leaves The Amount At £884. When I Rang The Order Through I Explained About The Vouchers And Every Thing Was Ok. When He Put The Vouchers Through He Was Having Problems. He Told Me I Would Have To Pay The Full Amount And The £65 Would Go Straight Back Into My Account.the Day After It Was Still Not In My Account And Is Still Not. I Have Contacted Them And Have Sent Me 2 E-mails Back With Completly Different Answers About When This Money Will Go Back Into My Account . One Has Said It Will Be Back In In 7 Working Days And One Has Said 14 Days . They I Have Admitted They Are Wrong And Will Train Ther Staff To Make The Rite Procedure In The Future. I Have Tokld Them, That The Money Is For Direct Debts And I Am Now Overdrawn. They Have Told Me To Send In My Bank Statements To Prove. I Have E-mailed Them Back And Told Them That They Have Got A Cheek And Will Not Be Sending Them My Statements. Really It Is My Shopping Money ,as I Have A Family And We Are On Low Income But I Am A Bit Embarrassed To Tell Them, But I Shouldnt Have To. Also They Have Told Me That The Voucher Are Now Cancelled So I Cant Use Them . Is This Fair. Every Little Helps!

This is really mum's pet peev at the moment. Gaviscon liquid for heartburn 150ml bottle.. How much do you pay? Average lately seems around the £3 mark. Too much but seems the norm right now.

3 days later in CostCutters Store, Brixham, Torbay.... £6.55p for the same bottle!! What a rip-off!
Mum was so annoyed about it she wrote to Costcutters on the 15 Nov 2008:

Dear Sir/Madam,
Will you please explain why you are charging £6.55p for a 150 ml bottle of Gaviscon at your Costcutter store at Pillar Ave, Brixham, South Devon when only four weeks ago a friend purchased the same item from a costcutters in Wiltshire for £2.98p.

Other local stores are charging £2.98p for the same product, so what is the justification for this exorbitant price?

This is an area of mainly elderly people on low fixed incomes who are probably more likely to need this kind of medicine but find it difficult to travel further afield, so why are you ripping people off by charging such extortionate prices?

Even a basic item, Summer Country Margarine was increased by 50p in 2 weeks.
Will you please tell me why you charge £2.98 for an item in one of your stores and £6.55p for this same product here in Brixham?

Who sets these retail prices? Are they set by you at head office or are they set by the local retail store managers?

I shall not be shopping at Costcutter again as, apart from not giving them the satisfaction of ripping me off left right and centre, it is, in my opinion, the scruffiest, most unhelpful and unfriendly store in Brixham. I will also encourage other people not to shop there.

Please do not try to justify these prices by blaming it on the cost of transportation, diesel, wages etc as that would be a lie. This is just plain greed and profiteering and nothing else.

Yours Faithfully,
'erindoors'

Suffice to say, we have had no reply.

I have noticed lately that when I order my groceries online with Asda that if there is a discrepency which would lead to a minor refund on the bill that they dont process it.

I ordered a shop two weeks ago that delivered defrosted frozen items and highligted it on the bill no big deal but would mean a refund of 1.50 back to my card. I was told by the driver that the freezer on the van was known to be playing up and she apologised fair enough and it was written on the slip I signed that I was due a refund.

I have had to call them on three occassions requesting my refund after a similar amount of time and stating should I have to chase this. I was told they would refund it and they were sorry. Fair enough but along with the broken eggs and bashed chicken the dodgy freezer onboard has finally put me off ordering online with them. Sorry Asda you are the cheapest but I dont pay 5.00 delivery for damaged goods. As a result cancelled my order for later this afternoon as it contained frozen goods and they didnt seem to be aware there was a supposed problem with one of their vans.

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