Hi I see that Lowells feature frequently on here and would like some help with my response to the courts. I have received a CCJ claim form dated 27th January, it arrived yesterday, over an old ikea debt which is around £700. I had difficulty paying the instalments on time and then stopped altogether I know I am at fault and due to being a single mum on disability benefit with a mountain of debt at the time I just sort of buried my head in the sand. I understand that it leaves a bad record on my file but to be honest my credit record is probably screwed anyway since losing my job and so on... I was going to offer to pay something nominal like £2 a week since I am on benefits, or should I take alternative action/contest it, I had a text from Lowell today to say to get in touch but I don't understand why (and won't be calling them!) since they have already started the ball rolling with the courts in Northampton. Any advice would be much welcome, am useless at all this sort of thing and don't really know my rights, or ways forward. Thanks

Hi, I ordered two single beds/mattresses from Ikea which were delivered a week ago. After setting up a bed and mattress, we decided they would not be suitable for us and completed a cancellation form with Ikea within 7 days of delivery. They have advised me that they will refund the bed bases but only provide store credit for mattresses as they have been opened! They were opened to inspect and also to check that there were no undue smells, which can be associated with memory foam. The mattresses are unused, there is nothing in their terms and conditions to state that if opened they would not refund, nor in any of there pre sale advice. We would never purchase anything online without the opportunity to inspect and return for full refund if necessary, so we feel we have been misled here. The only reference I can find that may possible apply is an exception under the new consumer contracts regs with regard to items "received sealed for health protection or hygiene reasons once unsealed" I cannot think that would apply in our circumstances, we have the right to inspect as in a shop and they are unused, also they did not advise us anywhere that we would lose any rights should we open them! I have emailed twice so far and they have refused to budge in their stance so any advice on this matter would be very much appreciated, Thanks Derek

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/news/ikea-admits-to-charging-customers-twice-due-to-computer-glitch/ar-BBuX712?li=BBoPOOl If you have been affected, you can use the following number : 020 3645 0000 This was the company that were forced to hand out bottles of water , when they trapped motorists in one of their car parks for over 3 hours, on the hottest day of the year

Hi there I did a really stupid thing and shoplifted some items from IKEA. I was caught and the security guard, after checking my receipt, said that he would not call the police and proceeded to issue me with a lifetime ban from all UK IKEA stores. He told me that my picture (which was taken with the security camera in the questioning room) would be posted to all the IKEAs and I would be recognised if I entered any IKEA stores in the UK. This is my first offence and I was very lucky he did not call the police and I missed a criminal record (as this would have prevented me working), but I still felt the consequence was very harsh. I was made to sign the letter banning me and in it, it quotes that I am unable to access any UK IKEA governed space (including carparks and grounds for ever). I am so gutted and can not believe that I was so stupid as to try and steal such rubbish. The problem is that I like IKEA and it is really useful for work things etc.. ...I wondered if IKEA would recognise me if I entered another store? Surely they would not have face-recognition cameras and surely their security guards would not be checking facial images of every person that enters a store? Do you think it would be safe to enter a store? Or could I write to IKEA head office and ask if they could reconsider there ban as I have learnt my lesson? Am I being crazy even considering this or being worried that I can no longer visit an IKEA store. Should I just cut my losses and thank my lucky stars that it was not more serious consequence? Please help me or share your experience if this has happened to you Thanks

CAG in Todays Sun Newspaper. Article titled - Shopping Bill Shock at IKEA Here is the Article in PDF:

Ikea is sprucing up its offer by selling cheap six foot Christmas trees in a bid for more festive business as analysts claim as much as 62pc of the high street is already on sale Famed for its flat-pack beds and the meatballs in its restaurants, Ikea is branching out in the festive rush by selling real Christmas trees - for five pounds. The Swedish out of town giant yesterday revealed its tactics for trying to entice shoppers away from the high street - offering customers a £20 coupon if they forked out £25 for a real, 6 foot Nordmann fir. Ikea said rivals were selling trees for as much as £79.99 elsewhere in Britain, with the average price £48. Brigit Hartelius, deputy country manager for the UK, told the Daily Telegraph it was all part of giving customers an "affordable Christmas". But more cynical analysts said it was simply part of the cut and thrust at Christmas as competition for shoppers hots up. Last week, accountants PriceWaterhouseCoopers said 62 per cent of the high street was already on sale or running promotions amid fears hard-pressed families coping with rising energy bills will cut back this Christmas. More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/household-bills/10506222/Christmas-offers-best-gifts-cheap-presents-real-Christmas-trees-best-Christmas-trees-Ikea-Hawkes.html

hi all, beware of ikeas gloss kitchens. we brought one six months ago and all the door and draw fronts can be easily scratched with a lightly applied finger nail! it seems to effect all their gloss range sometimes the scratches can be difficult to see they can look like cobwebs across the surface. if you have one take a front off some where it wont matter and lightly move your finger nail across the surface and if its anything like ours it will easily scratch. our friends have a grey gloss kitchen that they brought from ikea 3 years ago and it is as hard as nails. the quality has certainly dropped since then, theirs has a finish that wraps around the surface and has an orange peel type effect to all the doors, draws, plinths and side panels and is brilliant quality. we only have this orange peel effect on the plinths and side panels which do not scratch and very much fit for purpose. we have complained and complained and we have been made to feel its our fault! we believe they know the qaulity has slipped and are trying to cover it up so it does not become a hugh issue for them!

A friend of mine purchased a bed frame from ikea at beginning of the year about a month ago the welding between the head board and base broke - they have been trying to sort it out with ikea with out success. Ikea say the model is no longer available and offering either discount on another or £31 when the frame cost £69 plus slats at £30 and delivery on top. - Can anyone advise me on this - it is less than a year old - not fit for purpose in such a short time - are they entitled to a refund in full or a replacement as opposed to discount