Please help - list of common failures

[Annoying Twit]

Boring one from me. Buying a suit. There was an OK looking one for a cheap price in the window. Asked to try it on. Was shown essentially similar looking suits for a higher price. Asked for the one in the window, they say they don't have any. I say goodbye then. Shocked salesman voice "but this is a much better suit." I still leave, and he sells me the suit at the window price.

Oh, and I had dodgy energy company salespeople around several times. One came, asked us if we were a British Gas customer, and said that they "just want[ed] to make sure that we're signed up for our discounts." Got quite rude when I asked him to leave.

[Annoying Twit]

Oh, and some companies use "City Link" as a courier. I ordered something, and after ordering noticed that it was coming by a company called "City Link". Googled them. OH NO!!!!!! Seeing that they had a MO of saying you weren't at home when you were, I left a big sign for the courier on the front door and left it actually open, stayed in the front room and watched the door like a hawk. At 1pm, suddenly the status of my order changed to "delivery attempted (carded)". Phoned up to complain, and they tried the reputedly common trick of asking me what colour my front door was. They then say that's the colour the driver reported it as. (I wish now I had said it was bright pink). I contacted the original merchant, and cancelled the order. Then made another order with them based on an agreement that they would send the item out by Royal Mail.

Since then I won't order anything if it's coming to my home by citylink. They do seem to deliver to my (fairly large) workplace. But I won't waste my time ordering anything if City Link are going to be delivering it to my home.

[avinalaf]

I bought my daughter a coat from Dorothy Perkins. Buttons fell off, they said no refund as the buttons are not part of the coat. They're avin a laf

[louis wu]

Sky...where to start, the whole concept of customer service is missing.

Disconeected after being 1 week later then invoice date. Upon complaint, told no-one available to take call etc, and they can do whatever they want with their service (told them exactly what to do with their service).

Bill payment by internet. The system is always down or failed or some other excuse. The alternative offered, an 0870 National rate number.

£4.00 charge for non direct debot payment, already discussed at length here.

you get the idea.

louis

[avinalaf]

United utilities making me pay an estimated bill I disagree with. You can't speak to a person with any common sense or authority on the phone.

[loan_ranger]

Originally Posted by avinalaf

United utilities making me pay an estimated bill I disagree with. You can't speak to a person with any common sense or authority on the phone.

The Landlord of my digs has the same problem with Scottish Power but claims that (according to S.P. when he changed his supply to them) if we regularly email them the meter readings, then S.P. won't need to keep overcharging him. I replied that (IMHO) I think they're bull$###ting because they use the interest earned from the cash surplus as a source of profit, and, nothing short of taking legal action would have any effect.

[suzieblooz]

Re: earlier post BANK OF SCOTLAND - took 2 branch visits, 3 phonecalls, a letter of complaint and filling out closure form twice before they closed my 2nd account - this took 15 weeks in total instead of the 21 days it should.

[revolting peasant]

Bought new PC through the "IT through work" scheme.

After about 6 months it started overheating and shutting itself down so I rang the helpline. I was advised that this is an "environmental problem" and that I should open the casing and hoover out the fans.

I did this and everything was hunky dory for a few weeks until the graphics card failed. Engineer calls to replace it and tells me it isn't covered under the warranty and will cost me £160.

Why? Becase I had to remove the warranty seal to hoover the fans out, just like their advisor told me to

[Nabuko]

BT wireless package received and installed following instructions. Over two months later, something fails (we think following weather conditions) and therefore we are unable to get any signal for almost a week. Call to BT to find out...

Indian bloke says 'unable to help because there is no wireless signal', therefore not BT's fault (). Priceless

[Raspberry Beret]

Ordered a phone from 3. On using the phone for the first time I realised two of the buttons didn't work. I rang through to their call centre in Bombay to explain the fault. I was told in no uncertain terms that because I had used the phone it was not 3's policy to issue me with a refund/replacement for the phone - it had to be repaired. The fact that I could not possibly know the phone was faulty until I used it was of no consequence. It seems UK law was of no consequence either! Arrgggggh!

Had to waste my time writing to their head office in Glasgow to get the matter sorted. Got a refund but no apology. I was told that the call centre staff must have gotten confused.

[kennythecelt]

Legal and General continued continued to debit house insurance premiums for 15 months despite the policy being cancelled in writing when I sold my house.


OK I should have noticed sooner but we have life assurance policies with them. I assumed the debit was for one of the policies.

I had major difficulties getting the money back. I could have used Direct Debit Guarentee process which Halifax were quite happy with, but opted to use complaints process, in hope I can claim interest on each payment. There would have been 15 seperate reclaimed DDs but the bank would have done it- credit to them for that (hurts me to say it). There would then have followed an arbitration process if L&G had wanted to reclaim the money, meaning it would have been taken out of my account at any time. I did not want to do that as I would potentially have faced bank charges for going overdrawn had that happened.

Effectively L&G said they had no trace of the cancellation. They wanted proof of sale, proof of other insurance, efore they would consider repaying. They claimed that they would have entertained a claim from me despite me not owning any property and most of our property being in storeage. I have proof of the tenancy agreement, meaning landlord has responsibility for current property and proof of soreage insurance. There is fat chance they would ever have paid out if I had tried to make a claim as T&C make it clear they must have been notified of material changes to my circumstances.

They have now acknowledged their "mistake" and I now have a substantial cheque on the way- £1022. It has alerted me to the fact that I was paying far to much for the premium (arranged by GMAC) and that i should not accept policies sold as part of a mortgage deal. Others please note.

The cheque will pay for the next chapter in my route out of debt. I am wondering about interest etc.

[JOSH_IOU]

I was given a £10,000 loan by Advantage Loans.

The company tried to enforce repayments by using a non signed aplication form.

Want a loan? Go to them lol.

[alanalana]

Hello Dave,

one from the PPI forum.

RBS response to my S.A.R - (Subject Access Request) which was sent 7 Jan 2008 (the important bit):

"Finally with regard to the Direct Line personal loans that you previously held please contact Direct Line directly to obtain the information that you require.

Then I find out from the Direct Line website the following:

Legal: Transfer of Business (Transfer took place on 1 March 2006)
TRANSFER OF THE BANKING BUSINESS OF DIRECT LINE FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED TO THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC.
etc. etc.
Then from the Financial Services Authority Register

Basic details for:
204458 - Direct Line Financial Service Limited

Current status: No longer Authorised
Effective Date: 04/07/2006

hope you can use this.
regards
aa