Land Of Leather - Advice Needed

fruitbat · 14th October 2006, 14:34

I have read various threads about Land of Leather but cannot find anything that is similar to my friend's problem.

He purchased a sofa in store on 25th September 2005 at a cost of £1199 (£999 + 200 extended warranty). The deal was pay nothing for a year and, at the end of that year (i.e. 24th September 2006) either pay full amount in cash or pay monthly on credit. A direct debit was also completed at the point of sale - apparently this is standard procedure in case you choose the credit option.

My friend had the £1199 in his bank account ready to pay but, unfortunately didn't etch the due payment date on his brain. Neither Land of Leather nor the finance company which they use issue letters reminding customers that the due payment date is approaching. Two weeks later my friend received a letter from the finance company requesting £88.00 arrears, and informing him that a £25.00 charge had been added to his account for this letter. If the account was not paid within 28 days it would be put in the hands of a debt recovery company.

My friend contacted the finance company and told them that non-payment by 24th September 2006 was an understandable oversight, especially as no reminder had been issed, and now wants to pay the original price of £1199. He was informed that the total amount now due (as long as it is paid within 28 days) is £1600. After 28 days have elapsed the account balance will rise to £2400 (this being the total amount payable, including interest, if he had taken the credit option). There appears to be no talking to or reasoning with this company and they remain adamant that the so-called arrears and admin fee must be paid. My friend is equally adamant that it will not be.

He also informed them that they could come and take the sofa away unless the original price stands and was informed that this was not an option as the sofa now belonged to him (very strange considering he has, so far, not paid a penny for it).

Can anyone offer advice on how to proceed please?

barracad · 14th October 2006, 19:59

He needs to check the terms and conditions but I would think that he would have to pay the amount in full - the deal is that you pay by the date they say or you have to pay back interest - even if it's just a day late.

He should be able to claim back the £25 as it is a penalty charge, but he'll have to pay the rest in full.

LondonPam · 16th October 2006, 09:23

Unfortunately this is the reason they sell it to you on these terms. They hope, as a lot of people do, that people will forget the date they have to pay the full amount on and as the previous poster says, you then have to pay the interest. They don't actually have to remind you at all, it is up to you to pay it exactly one year later.

pugsley · 17th October 2006, 23:10

land of leather have been criticised for not reminding customers and are supposed to now, look at my thread in this section, my friend paid on time and they tried to say she didn't, there was a postal strike apparently and they never got her cheque until after the date had passed, yeh right, they are rather sneaky like that.

pugsley · 17th October 2006, 23:13

Watchdog has also heard from a number of customers who purchased sofas from Land of Leather on a 'buy-now, pay-later' agreement, where payment isn't due until 12 months after purchase. It seems that some customers aren't sent reminders advising that payment is due, while others received their reminders almost eight months prior to the payment date. In all of these cases, once the customer has failed to make the payment by the specified date, interest for the previous 12 months is accrued. In one example, a customer who purchased a sofa for £1,188 missed the payment date by 20 days and now has to pay a total bill of £2,333.
Land of Leather is disappointed to hear we've had so many complaints about the company because it shifts 400,000 items of furniture a year and has high customer satisfaction. It's had a problem with one supplier which affected the Hlabanganas. White will get a full refund and costs paid. Land of Leather says it has made several changes in its procedures since the OFT statement last year. As to the interest reminders, these are the responsibility of its finance company. __________________

bergebabe · 12th January 2007, 12:48

i have come across this post and had to register and tell you my story as i sit here with red rimmed eyes.

I bought a sofa from land of leather for £1400 and saved the full amount in the interest free year. I also missed the deadline to pay them due to lack of warning and when i called them to pay was told i would have to pay £2300.

As they wouldnt take the £1400 part payment i started paying them £123 a month for the sofas but have had some credit problems - i now pay all of my debts on a debt management plan through cccs. Open and direct would not accept the £40 a month that i am paying them and have now taken me to cuort on a number of occasions, the result of which is that the debt is now secured against my house (and has risen to over £4000) and at present they are taking me to court to repossess me to get the money i owe them. They are effectively going to make me homeless for £1400.

I am disgusted with the way i have been treated by them and cant believe i am going to lose my house for a leather sofa (second rate at that!!!)

rosiecotton · 12th January 2007, 14:40

I'm afraid they're not legally bound to send out reminders so the full amount would indeed be due.

It does seem sneaky that they do this but sadly it's not illegal.

pugsley · 13th January 2007, 02:19

bergebabe ask for a copy of the credit agreement and enclose the £1 fee, the letter is on here in the templates section, I did this and they stopped chasing me straight away. I think you need to start your own thread on this and get advice

jjenn · 26th January 2007, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by pugsley

land of leather have been criticised for not reminding customers and are supposed to now, look at my thread in this section, my friend paid on time and they tried to say she didn't, there was a postal strike apparently and they never got her cheque until after the date had passed, yeh right, they are rather sneaky like that.

Pugsley: this exact thing has happened to me, I just posted a new thread on it. How did it turn out for your friend, did she get it sorted or is their decision final? I am sooooo mad at them, they are nothing more than thiefs!!!

cougar25 · 31st January 2007, 16:16

Might be running theme here,.. but guess what SAME HERE:

My Story:
Brought sofa 1 year deffered payment, £1818
Also missed the deadline thinking they would remind me,.. How stupid do i feel??

They are now trying to claim over £5000 including court fees!

Anyway the solicitor for open and direct, is an A*SE

Now going thru wigan county court, put my side forward and the solicitor is trying to make out that i had no intentions of paying ,..!!

Now have to wait till 19th feb for a decision,.. i too am having financial difficulties and really need to remortgage to rectify the problem,..theres no way i can because of open and direct (finance company for Land of Leather Heads).
The salesman specifically told me that i would be reminded,.. surely this is illegal in itself??

janice514 · 13th March 2008, 00:44

hope you can help me, a friend of mine has been really upset today regarding land of leather.

she is a student nurse, on her own with three children and her 1400 sofa has now turned into 5000.

they have put a mark on the land registry regarding this, hope you can help in where to turn and what to do next.

will they start court proceedings?

EspenSkogen · 14th March 2008, 12:56

I am currently in a similar situation with Land of Leather and Creation Consumer finance. My situation was that the sales assistant at Land of Leather explained that we would be notified when the payment was due.

Because of this, I am suing Land of Leather and Creation Consumer Finance for Fraudulent Misrepresentation and breaches of the Consumer Credit Act.

I would be very interested to hear from anybody who has had a similar experience with Land of Leather. In particular, if anybody were told they would receive a statement before the 0% interest sum was due and didn't, or if you did not receive a copy of the credit agreement at the point of purchase, your statement would be invaluable to us.

(If you are in a similar position, you should also be able to sue, and if there are a number of cases over the same issue, it would make it much easier to win.)

Please feel free to contact me at landofleathercourtcase@sk ogen.org or call me on 07901956782

Mr Rhodes · 20th March 2008, 13:58

I am no legal brain but would this be a class action against Land of Leather Limited?

If so would Watchdog and the media in general be interested in this?

EspenSkogen · 20th March 2008, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Rhodes

I am no legal brain but would this be a class action against Land of Leather Limited?

If so would Watchdog and the media in general be interested in this?

Not in this instance - Not even sure the british legal system has the concept of class action. What it would do though, is prove a pattern of fraudulent practice, which would make it very easy to recover your losses in the future.

Maybe watchdog would be interested. I might shoot off an email to them regarding this.

E

Mr Rhodes · 20th March 2008, 16:56

I have read about legal action being taken as a 'class action' in the medical sector and if I recall correctly you need 25 people to bring the same action against the defendant. Not sure if this still applies or if it would be applicable to a retail defendant.

If it is the case you would easily get 25 claimants against this shower of thugs.

They hung Dick Turpin for his crimes.

EspenSkogen · 20th March 2008, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Rhodes

I have read about legal action being taken as a 'class action' in the medical sector and if I recall correctly you need 25 people to bring the same action against the defendant. Not sure if this still applies or if it would be applicable to a retail defendant.

If it is the case you would easily get 25 claimants against this shower of thugs.

They hung Dick Turpin for his crimes.

In that case, I would be open for that possiblity. Should anybody else have a simmilar experience as I, please let me know, and I'll will consult with my legal counsel to make my lawsuit a class action suit against Land of Leather and Creation Consumer Finance.

Kind regards,

Espen Skogen

Mr Rhodes · 20th March 2008, 18:27

Hi There,

I would suggest you look into this and the angle would be as you stated previously. My claim against Land of Leather was under the sale of goods and services act, so not relevant. In any case my claim is concluded.

If you can get enough people to bring a class action (assuming that is possible) you could create a bit of a stir and the bad publicity alone will hit them where it hurts - on the bottom line.

Good Luck with it.

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