Advice needed ....what are my rights

[janice mac]

Hopefully someone can help me on this one or offer a friendly bit of advice!!

My mil ordered a flat packed sideboard from a catalogue.

I went round there (last Friday) to help assemble it and my fil leant on the bottom panel. He went straight through it, it was basically a chipboard frame covered in a cardboard type oak veneer. We know it wasnt solid oak but at least expected it to be solid something!!

I spoke to the catalogue company and explained what had happened - was completely honest with them etc and they said that they could arrange for the top and bottom panel to be sent out and the "damaged" bit to be collected today (11/2). MIL had a call last night to say that they would collect the return on thursday. When she asked about the delivery he knew nothing about it. Have managed to speak to "supervisor" who says that they cant just send out the top and bottom as previously told and if my mil can get a bit of wood they will give her a discount!! Dont really see this as an option.

This item is "non returnable" if it has started to be assembled - which it has coz the acident happened when we were putting it together - now I feel that the materials used are basically c!!p / non existent.

I think that the whole lot needs to go back as the quality is really poor - what would you do, do we have any right to return it as we damaged it. the quality is non existent imho.

Any suggestions would be grateful.........

[holliemon]

sorry cant help but as the wood is poor quality there should be some comeback. Have you got a Citizens Advice Bearue (sp) that you could ring for advice. What does the description say about it in the catalogue.

Sometimes it is not worth telling the truth - a little white lie would be better
;):behindsofa: but hey ho that would be called hindsight

[missmeggie1]

Either : phone them again, pointing out the original info you were given about replacement, stating you are not happy to 'get a piece of wood' for a discount, and after giving the matter some thought, if this cannot be resolved to your satisfaction, you will have no alternative but to contact your local Trading Standards Office as the sideboard was 'not fit for purpose'.

OR perhaps give Trading Standards a ring first, explain the situation, and ask for their guidance.

As a consumer you do have rights but unfortunately I can't remember the exact official sections of the Consumer Rights Act, however, Trading Standards certain can and are most helpful and the service is free.




Hopefully someone can help me on this one or offer a friendly bit of advice!!

My mil ordered a flat packed sideboard from a catalogue.

I went round there (last Friday) to help assemble it and my fil leant on the bottom panel. He went straight through it, it was basically a chipboard frame covered in a cardboard type oak veneer. We know it wasnt solid oak but at least expected it to be solid something!!

I spoke to the catalogue company and explained what had happened - was completely honest with them etc and they said that they could arrange for the top and bottom panel to be sent out and the "damaged" bit to be collected today (11/2). MIL had a call last night to say that they would collect the return on thursday. When she asked about the delivery he knew nothing about it. Have managed to speak to "supervisor" who says that they cant just send out the top and bottom as previously told and if my mil can get a bit of wood they will give her a discount!! Dont really see this as an option.

This item is "non returnable" if it has started to be assembled - which it has coz the acident happened when we were putting it together - now I feel that the materials used are basically c!!p / non existent.

I think that the whole lot needs to go back as the quality is really poor - what would you do, do we have any right to return it as we damaged it. the quality is non existent imho.

Any suggestions would be grateful.........

[Twinks]

I would definately contact trading standards as they would be very interested in this.

[Grace & Favour]

It would appear that the product is 'not fit for the purpose for which it is intended', which under UK (& European law) entitles you to a return and full fund reimbursal.

Trading Standards should do the trick

[jamsandwhich]

Ring trading standards - write down what they tell you and quote it to the catalogue company word for word, I have only had to do this twice (once with a damaged worktop from mfi which I charged them storage for as they kept not turning up for the return after me staying in from 8-6 for three days!) and it is amazing how quickly it has then been sorted out.:)

[heatherks]

id try phoning company again tell them the quality / standard of the wood wasn't what you expect for price paid & ...shouldnt have broken just by leaning in it ............... failing that trading standards ...

i had bought bunkbeds out of argos and my daughter jumped on the base whist i was assembling it onto headboards breaking a main part

...but there was a part on the assembly sheet that you could order replacement / missing parts and it came from sweden withing a week