Carpet Right Hidden Charges

[Guest louis wu]

However, I fully agree with your sentiments. It's just that cut-price and good service very rarely go together...!

 

 

Sadly, that is no dispute over that one.

[Consumerised]

Sorry to hear about your misfortunes.

 

Right this is what you need to do....

 

Who chose the fitters? Did Carpetright supply them?

If they did then it is Carpetright that have to deal with it.

 

If they recommended them and you contacted the fitters, then you would chase the fitters yourself.

 

Now, when your mother told the salesman she is injured and cant move the furniture. The salesman agreed this would be fine, they will sort it.

 

That is in you favour. A verbal agreement is good as any other, however it was verbal. So you need to prove it. Family dont stand as good witnesses in court.

 

Also you need proof that your mother gave £40 to the fitters. These facts matter. Remember the fitters word is only as good as your mothers word. So they havent got the upper hand. Its a level playing field.

 

Also if the contract states a price then it is only that price you have to pay.

 

However I suggest this first :

 

Send a letter via recorded delivery. Put the following in your letter.

 

Dear XXXXXXXXX

 

Supply of goods and services act 1982

 

*State exactly what has happened. Emphasise the fact the salesman agreed that they could handle the furniture etc.

 

*Im sure your mother was intimidated, she was vunerable and the fitters took advantage. STRESS this point.

 

Im holding Carpetright in breach of contract under the Supply of goods and services act 1982 because you failed to excercise reasonable care and skill. Also failed to charge a reasonable price.

 

I expect a full refund of my £40 with a response to my letter in 14 days.

 

Etc, etc.

 

Keep a copy of this letter for your own reference.

 

If you dont get a response, or you get an unsatisfactory response then call your local trading standards office for further advice.

 

You must give 14 days.

 

Remember though this may come down to your word against the fitters, worse case scenario is small claims court. Then its down to the judge.

 

Hope it helps

 

Consumerised.

[Guest louis wu]

This sounds very similar to another members usual advice:rolleyes:

[Consumerised]

Never posted on this site until yesterday.

 

The fitters will act as if they havent got anything to do with Carpetrite and vice versa. They both need business.

 

I deal with these kind of cases(SOGA, SOGSA etc) day in day out. I always say get everything in writing first, that way you know where you stand.

 

Unfortunately even the bigger companies will find ways to swindle their customers out of money. Competition is rife and unfortunately we the consumers have to pay in the end.

[trueman]

Re : Carpetright fitting/hidden charges , the fitters that C/R use are sub-contractors and vary enormously in quality and attitude , the attitude CAN be affected by their treatment by the shop , examples are ;

1/ the company insists that fitters replace all faulty flooring FOR FREE , do interstore collections all over the county FOR FREE and pay the shop £8 per day for "Admin`" charges .

In addition to this , while a fitter may recieve £35 to fit a hall/stairs/landing ( around 3x hours work ), the shop will have charged the customer approx £25 for delivery and £25 for stair surcharge , both of which are done by the fitter for NO reward .

If the fitter does not agree to suffer these conditions he will get no work .

Re the company as a whole , I would say that ANY customer WILL save MASSIVE amounts of cash if they do these FEW things :

1/ DO NOT buy the underlay , doorbars or gripper (s/e ) from the shop but source it through a reliable fitter , B&Q or via the internet .

2/ ask this reliable fitter to collect your floorcovering from C/R , thereby negating the £25 delivery charge

3/ ask for a detailed breakdown of costs from your fitter before using him ( he should Not charge more than £2.50 per sq metre to fit carpet )

4/ ask the fitter if he can source the floorcovering you like at a better price , you will be AMAZED how often this will bear fruit .

 

Generally customers pay double the amount they should for underlay , FIVE times what they should for gripper and nearly three times what they should for doorbars , THAT IS A LOT OF YOUR MONEY to give to strangers who frankly have no right to have it .

 

PS , a word to the " wise " from someone who knows the retail trade backwards ... the ONLY price you should trust is what is on the bill !!!

70 % off ??? C`mon , really ? You know what they say , " If it sounds too good to be true , it probably is !! ".

[buzby]

Another wrinkle worth knowing, is the CR do not have the facility to deliver to customers. It is the fitters who arrange this as part of the installation. So, if you just want the carpet, CR will be unable to deliver it (as their fitters want to do the whole job). Unless you are prepared to uplift if from the store, you'll be on your own.

[rickyd]

legal position - Carpetright are not liable they don't employ the fitters and you pay them outside of any price for the carpet. The fitters are liable for the damage but it would be difficult to prove they caused it.

 

moral position - Carpetright should consider how these guys make them look as most people would connect them to the company. They should reflect on the age of the customer and her situation and think about how they'd look on Watchdog

 

Common sense position - have a friendly chat with the store manager seeking sympathy. Take the lady along and ask what they can do to help. If this fails, then take action along the bad PR route, local paper, radio, Watchdog, help the aged etc. Iithink the legal case is too flimsy and would struggle - can the extra payment of £40 be proved?

 

Regarding the colour issue - if the carpet has the same code as the order form its a done deal. We've bought carpet that looked different in the store (under flourescent lighting) but have learned to live with it.