Additional thanks to you for this message, I wouldn't have considered offering the deposit as full and final payment - and it worked! Well done and thanks again.

Well only last weekend they sent out some joker with a saw and a piece of wood to 'put it right', I sent him packing as I thought there was no chance he was going to fix it to the standard I expected. We finally spoke to someone sensible at Hillarys and 10 mins ago they've just phoned accepting our offer of them keeping the 50% deposit as full and final payment for a shoddy job. As we got £120 via Quidco when we ordered it takes the amount paid to around £350 instead of £950. I'm a happy camper. Thanks for everyone's valuable advice.

Conniff - I agree, thinking about it I would never let them take the blinds without refunding the 50% deposit and I can't see them agreeing to that. The brochure doesn't show the blinds on bay windows, my argument is that they have been mis-sold as they can't seem to fit them to the windows in question. It's a hassle. We'll phone credit control tomorrow to try and put a hold on action and do another recorded delivery letter. This one will be strongly worded and give a response date. Thanks, this has really helped and made our position clearer.

Pedros - thanks for the advice. I'd be happy not to pay the outstanding amount and keep the blinds. We could tell them to take them away but knowing our luck they would. I suppose if we got our money back we could then get someone to do the job properly. I guess it has to be worth the hassle. Hightail - yes I sent the photos with the complaint letter - it's been totally ignored! Credit control have offered 5% discount which we obviously refused. They followed up with a letter threatening court action. Electron 99 - we initially had roller blinds fitted upstairs, the fitter tried to leave without me seeing them, they were so bad I started laughing, they didn't even begin to cover the window and we're very wonky. I said immediately they'd have to go and he rang head office who offered to fit the wooden venetians instead..... but we're still not happy. Toulose LeDebt - yes, I think my 6 yr old could've done work of a similar quality. But surely in an organisation that size they've had some staff with standard skills?! Clearly not. Coming up against a brick wall is really difficult. I may phone and see if they have a press office and see what they say. I'll definitely try Trading Standards and go from there. Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your opinions.

Thank-you. Sometimes I wonder if we should just put up with it but I notice it every day so it's good to hear it's not just us who thinks it's shoddy! I will try Trading Standards. I've done the same, looking in Hillary's brochure, online etc but can't find any bays fitted with venetians. There is plenty of written flannel though - eg “With years of experience and all the tools and equipment required for the job to run smoothly, rest assured this will be a quick process and the results will look great too!” And there's no professional organisation they belong to, I phoned them to check this and they got very very confused.... If they take me to court, what's the worst thing that can happen? I can't bear to pay them for the shoddy work but don't want this affecting my credit etc. Cheers!

Many thanks for that. Here's an idea of how it looks http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa147/withnail1969/luka0509043.jpg http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa147/withnail1969/luka0509041.jpg It's detail but the bill was for £950 for 2 bay blinds so we expected the best. Thanks again.

We had two sets of blinds fitted by Hillarys Blinds a few months ago. The blinds are fine but the finishing of the woodwork is messy and looks unprofessional. I said straight away I was unhappy with it but kept being told "that's how it comes from the factory", "i'm a blind fitter not a carpenter" etc. They didn't seem to be able to cope with fitting blinds to bay windows. We paid 50% at time of order and are withholding payment until they improve the finish. We have had another fitter out for a second opinion, who said "that's how it comes from the factory". We have written to the area manager and copied the letter to 2 other managers but have had no response (approx 6 wks have past.) If we phone, we are stonewalled. We have spoken to credit control to inform them we are awaiting a response but they aren't interested. Today we received a final demand threatening court proceedings. So - what are our rights? We have made it clear we will pay when the work is completed to our satisfaction but I don't think they will respond to our letter. What is the worse that can happen? Thanks in advance for any input.