Comet's "specially trained" fitters

tomstickland

Big store, crap service. Sad but that's the way it is with most big retailers.

Badgergal

I've learnt that the hard way

He emphasised what a "big company" they were when I suggested the small claims court...and what a good barrister they would get to make sure I didn't get a penny out of them (not even the £150). Nice. And to think I thought it was better than getting a DW off ebay!!

Stonk

Up to you really, and it depends how much the £150 means to you. If it doesn't mean a lot, you could call their bluff and take it to court. Personally, I doubt that they would contest a relatively small claim, but maybe they will.

If you can demonstrate with reasonable proof that it cost more than £150 to fix any damage (assuming you employed professionals to do the work), then you would win in court. You would not be able to claim anything for "emotional distress" or anything like that though - only physical damage and consequential loss. So if it doesn't come to much more than £150, then it would not be worth it. One thing the court certainly will not do it suddenly decide to award you millions of pounds, like they do in the USA ...

I don't see how you can get zero. They have admitted causing the damage. Maybe the court would award you less than £150, but it couldn't really be zero.

Badgergal

Well, my insurance company are paying for the damage, so I doubt I can claim for that (though it has run to well over £1000). Really I think I do deserve some compensation for the hassle (not millions, but possibly more than £150)- all I did was pay for them to install one of their products, and it has caused me loads of grief when I really didn't need it - I've had to spend loads of time sorting it out just because one of their so called experts couldn't be bothered to screw on a fitting properly.

I'll take the £150 as I just want an end to this really. But really, I would warn anyone reading this that it is NOT worth the bother - yes I've managed to get the money to repair my home so I'm not too out of pocket, but the feeling of having your home flooded and your belongings destroyed, is not worth it - not when human error is to blame.

Justicia

The experiences in this thread are terrible... :eek:

Thank you for the warnings although it is shocking what you have had to endure before sharing them :rolleyes:

Peter-Pan_5

That mob are a JOKE,ordered a table top freezer online 2-5days delivery,debited my account,waited 7 days rang them 0870 no other number 10minutes of tosh music your call is important to us, said it`s out of stock,waited another 7 days for a refund they asked me to pick something else,aye right told them to stick their freezers up their "Kyber Pass"

Myosin

I went to Comet and their 'sales' people know jack s*** about anything. What on earth those tv adverts are on about I'll never know. Talk about silly orange people riding motorbikes through plasma row, I always see Comet vans being driven recklessly. I'll never buy from Comet, ever.

About the 0870 number, go to https://www.saynoto0870.com and search for your local store. Or email them through their site and ask them for a call back.

It's also helpful if ordering over £100 worth of goods, to use a credit card as you can also ask your credit card company to withdraw the payment (known as 'Chargeback' I think). I'm currently involved in a dispute with Dell (see Warnings Board ) and Barclaycard have said that they will withdraw the full payment for my laptop from Dell. Sorted!!

Hope you get your compensation from comet. Get as much out of them as you can. Good Luck!

Bernie

Stonk wrote:

....(d) refused to wire in the machine because it was a "spur" (if that means anything) and would have taken them 10 minutes longer (I know, because I did it myself).

The tedious and simple reason the installers refused to wire in the electrical spur is because of the law - Electricity at Work Act 1989 and, since January this year, compliance with BS 7671 IEE Regulations that require "a competent person" to meddle with your wiring. The delivery/installers can basically only work from your socket outwards to the appliance. Messing about with your wiring installation must be carried out by a qualified electrical engineer.

If you do not have an "Electrical Installation Certificate", a numbered and registered form, for the work carried out, you could face difficulties with future insurance and liability claims because the work, whether you like it or not, will be seen as just another "cowboy" job - like "pave your drive, fix your roof Guv'nor"?

Mind you, the same regs do not require them to be rude or surly though...

Stonk

Yep, I wired it myself. I'm not a qualified electrical engineer, but it was comparable to wiring a plug.

Flippin' nanny state, treating us all like morons as usual. I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't even supposed to wire plugs, actually.

Bernie

There's nothing going to physically stop you re-wiring your own house either - no more than there's anything to stop you driving without insurance, fitting your own gas fire or doing brain surgery on your family members.

You can legally wire your own plug or any other fixed equipment. The electrical installation to the accessories, (sockets, fixed connection points, light roses and junction boxes), since Jan 05, should be the bailiwick of a skilled and competent electrician.

The daughter of an MP was killed by some-one who was not skilled in fitting electrical equipment (I do not recall the exact details). The end result of this was to highlight the lack of protection for the general public from ramifications of self-nominated electrical engineers. The legislation brings electrical work into line with gas and water fitting.

I believe the idea was to protect the majority of people who have to rely on the integrity and skill of those doing the electrical work. While it may seem nannying to you, some of the examples of poor fitting that abound would make your hair stand on end - literally!

As I indicated - it's only when something goes horribly wrong that the finger poking begins... and it's now the law that does the biggest bit of poking!

Merry Christmas...