UPVC - made by a local company (we had ALL our windows replaced by them after garage conversion). H

Hi We had our garage converted into a habitable room (9 years ago). They installed a new side door. The door has 'warped' and won't open/close properly (can't simply re-align/hang) . 10 year warranty says conversion company is responsible except for third party items which are covered by manufacturers warranty. The door company also advertises a 10 year warranty BUT when we asked them they said they only covered items that they installed themselves. So we have emailed the garage conversion company and had no reply. We have phoned the company twice (over 3 weeks) but there is no-one to talk to except the phone operator - she promised they would phone back but they haven't. Any advice on what to do next and/or where we stand in this matter please ? Thanks in advance, H

Ta - I don't seem to be able to edit original subject heading to include RESOLVED (or whatever you prefer) - can someone else do that please ?

Hi We emailed the company using one of the templates from the site suggested above. -------------------------------------- Dear Customer Care at Shedstore On 19 July 2014 I placed an order for a Cabinet with divider 3x2 Garden Storage unit and received it on 24 July 2014. I have discovered that the unit has the following problem: it is NOT suitable for outdoor use as it lets in water when it rains. I notified you of this problem on 25th July 2014. The Sale of Goods Act 1979 makes it an implied term of the contract that goods be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. I attach a photograph of the label which states the unit is “Weather proof for outdoor use”. Since it allows rain in, it is not Weather proof for outdoor use and so not fit for purpose. As you are in breach of contract I am entitled to reject the shed and request a refund and I would request that you confirm that you will do this within the next seven days. I also require you to confirm whether you will arrange for the storage unit to be collected or will reimburse me for the cost of returning it. I look forward to receiving your satisfactory proposals for settlement of my claim within seven days of the date of this email. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ They telephoned within a few days to arrange collection of the shed. The shed was collected within a week. They took a while to refund the money (we had to email them again) but we now have a full refund. So thanks for the advice. I am about to make a small donation so that you can carry on your good work. Thanks again for speedy and excellent advice, H

Thanks for replies - I will draft some emails today. (My husband has just been diagnosed with cancer, so we have had frequent hospital visits - hence delay in replying to your helpful messages - so the shed problem is something we could do without!) Thanks all, H

Hi WOW - that was a quick reply - thanks. We purchased it via their web site. We paid using Paypal (which,in turn, is paid for by a credit card). - £114.99 We bought it on 19 July and it was delivered on 24th July. We assembled it and emailed them about the problem on 25 July (ie immediately) We had to wait for replies as a few emails went back and forth (but they are now not replying). The cabinet 'clicked' together and would be very difficult to disassemble to get back into box. Thanks, H

Hi We recently bought a plastic garden storage unit from shedstore. (can't post link as too few posts) They desribed it as " suitable for both indoor or outdoor use, garage or patio." The box it came it stated "Weather proof for outdoor use" However, the doors only touch at the top and bottom and there is a 4mm gap in the middle that lets rain in (the doors would need to overlap to be rainproof) We contacted shedstore (by email) who then contacted their supplier. They suggested that we add some additional door seals and they stated that the product is not waterproof! We do not think that we should have to make adjustments and that the cabinet should be fit-for-purpose as supplied. Also, the box clearly states "Weather proof for outdoor use". Shedstore are now ignoring our emails. Can anyone suggest how we should proceed please ? Many thanks in advance, H

PS Wanted to edit title to include "RESULT" but I can't see an edit button ?? (is it because I am a new user??). If someone else can edit it appropriately, please do so. H

Hi cancelled DD. Sent letter Recorded 1st class - checked after 2 weeks if it had been delivered and signed for - post office have no record of trying to delivery it and don't consider it to be lost until 15 working days after the expected delivery date! So printed duplicate and got friend to hand in to gym. Later that day, they phoned to say they'd cancelled the contract !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I asked for written confirmation which they sent. So am very pleased - when arm more better and I'm more 'with-it' I shall be making a small donation to this site as a thank you so that you can continue to help people caught out unfairly. THANKS so much for your help, H

Hi Letter sent last friday (recorded delivery) - simply cut&pasted your suggested text (thanks) Am having Operation on elbow tomorrow so will be 'off-line' for a few days but I will let you know if/when I hear anything. Haven't cancelled DD yet but can do instantly. Thanks for all your help, H

Hi, More info as promised. The T&Cs state "8. At home membership. The at home membership allows you to suspend full membership provided that this is due to illness, injury or pregnancy and is at the managers discretion. A payment of £5 per member per month is payable when activated. The at home option can only be considered if you give us at least 1 months notice in writing before it is required." No mention of the 3 months referred to in the email. I can't see anything about cancelling on ground of illness - the only things about termination are a. within the first 10 days b. "You may terminate your monthly membership on giving 1 months notice of termination in writing to the Harpers facility at which you joined as a member such notice to begin from the end of the month in which the written notice is given" - not sure how this works with the "In signing below I accept that I have read, understood, and agree that I am entering a 18 month contract as detailed on the reverse of this form." ?? - I can't see anything about 18 months on the reverse of the form On front of form it does say "Active 18 M Min Cont P R £24.99" I assume none of this alters the advice given above ? Many thanks, H

Thanks for reply. Its my birthday today so doing more fun stuff than dealing with them! Will sort it tomorrow and reply more fully to you. Many thanks, H

Thanks for swift reply. When I left work in March 2011, I started playing badminton 2 or 3 times a week at Parklands Leisure Centre, in Oadby, Leicester. I was paying as I played (at group sessions ) The centre is run for the council by Harpersfitness (can't post url]) On Thursday 23 February 2012 I was cold-called by the membership ‘officer’ saying it would be cheaper for me to join and pay monthly. She said she couldn’t explain the deal over the telephone and that I would have to meet with her on Saturday 25th Feb if I wanted to get the deal as it was the last day of the deal (I found out later that it wasn’t). It is an 18 month contract. At the meeting I specifically asked if it was possible to suspend membership if there was a medical reason. She said yes – with a medical ‘certificate’. She didn’t mention a. that it was at the manager discretion b. I had to give a full months notice (how is this possible with illness/ injury?) My bank (First Direct) said they can suspend DD in 24 hours (instantly if I requested it over the phone) c. there would still be a monthly fee (OK – its only £5 a month BUT I get absolutely nothing for this). Had I been told these facts (when I asked) I wouldn’t have joined. I last played badminton on 6th June as I have developed Tennis Elbow in my playing arm. Physiotherapy didn’t help and after an MRI scan an Orthopaedic surgeon injected it (with steroid) on 24th August. The injection did not cure it and I have another appointment on 12 October. He may give another injection (with 6 weeks to see if it works) or recommend an operation with a recovery time of 3 months. Neither is guaranteed to fix the problem an allow me to play badminton. My consultant sent me an email to print and take to Parklands “I can confirm that X is under my care with a tennis elbow. At present she is unable to play badminton and this will be the case for the foreseeable future.” I was hoping for a fix that would allow me to return to badminton so I didn’t phone Parklands until 19th Sept. I was told to take in the medical certificate and they would suspend membership. No mention of any constraints. I took in the certificate on 20th Sept – again no mention of any constraints and plenty of time (I thought) to suspend the DD (starting with the Oct DD) On 27th Sept (ie a whole week later) I received an email “I have received a request for freezing of your membership. Please can you confirm for what length of time this is required for? I can freeze for up to three months with this doctors note. Please note that to freeze your membership your direct debit reverts to £5.00 per month instead of your usual £24.99.” I emailed to complain that this was not what I’d been told when I joined (at a prearranged meeting with the membership officer – not ‘any old’ member of staff who mightn’t be expected to know all the rules). They avoid commenting on this verbal ‘agreement’ (neither denying or accepting it) and simply emailed back that I’d signed accepting the terms and conditions. I accept that I did sign the agreement (I NEVER will again) but I think it is unfair. The small print is so small it’s hardly readable (much smaller than any other writing on the other side of the form). I did ask and wasn’t told information that was crucial to my decision to join. Why does it take so long to suspend/amend the DD (they took the full Octobers amount) ? (10 days should be plenty) Why do I have to pay a monthly fee when use of facilities is suspended? I’d be grateful for any advice - I would happily cancel the contract if I could, as I believe it was mis-sold to me. Thanks in advance, H

Hi Question 1. I've just been looking at the sticky above (Sticky: Ashbourne Management Services Ltd - Contracts longer than 12 months(1 Viewing) ) which seems to say that all gym contacts over 12 months are unfair - is this the case ? I ask because I was 'pressured' into signing an 18 month contract with my local gym (not AMSL). Question 2. I KNOW I should have read ALL the small print but there was so much of it!............. I had to sign-up 'there and then' as it was (supposedly) the last day of the membership deal. I specifically asked about suspending membership. I was told it was possible with a doctors note (a condition I have met) - but no other conditions were mentioned.. Now that I need to do this, I discover that I have to pay an 'at-home' fee every month I was not told about crucial points in the small print when I asked - if I had been I would not have signed up. Since I did ask, do I have a complaint - or is it simply 'buyer-beware' ? Thanks, H