Hi, hoping for some good advice.

I bought a prom dress for my daughter from an independent dress shop it cost £400 and had a value of £450. The agreement with the shop is that it would be ordered, I would collect it and take it to a seamstress to be shortened (they are made to standard length so this is common practice) I would then return to the shop with the dress to have it steamed by them ready for the prom.

The dress was perfect on collection and it was agreed it was perfect when I dropped it back to the shop for steaming. However when I collected the dress it had water marks on the chiffon. The owner contacted the manufacturer who gave instructions for resteaming. I was asked to collect the dress the next day with promises it would 'be perfect'.

When I returned the next day the dress was actually worse. I left the dress for a further day and the next day which was the day of the prom returned to collect it but it still had marks. The marks were not so bad that the dress couldn't be worn - I had no other option of outfit for my daughter. But it did have marks that could be seen when closely inspected and I have photo evidence of this.

I reluctantly took the dress and my daughter wore it agreeing with the retailer that we would speak after prom. She requested I return the dress to her which I did. She has now sent it back to me with a letter saying neither she or the manufacturer take responsibility because the dress was independtly altered and I accepted the dress. I had been required to pay the full balance on original collection of the dress.

Do I have a claim???? Hope someone can help. The fault definitely occurred as a result of the steaming.

Hello and welcome to CAG. I've popped a few paragraphs into your post to make it easier for people to read.

I expect people will be along to advise later.

Best, HB

thanks

now this is 2 different contracts so dont be confused between them The purchase and altetration is one contract and they are ight, you have no right to a trefund should you complain it doesnt fit for example but the second contract was for the pressing of the dress, now your property. They damaged your goods so you are entitled to relief for that damage, basically the value of the dress plus any alteration costs.

Same would apply if you took it to a dry cleaners; they coulnd say that any damag thery did was tough luck, they have a duty of care towards you and your property so if there was a chance the dress would stain this should have been explained at the outset.

This is about a service, not a sale.

Thank you, your response is really helpful. Is there any policy/rights that I can refer to directly. I need to be assertive and clear in my reponse as the retailer is being very negative with me.

you need to get your head around the fact that you are not pursuing them as a retailer but a business that damaged your goods whist pressing it so they are not acting in a capacity of retailer and you would best avoideven mentioning them in this capacity other than for show the correct history. This is about a service, not faulty goods, Consumer Rights Act covers it all.

thank you!