American Dry Cleaners - please help

Bougainvillea

This is my first post and I hope I have put it in the correct place

Can anyone help on a problem with American Dry Cleaners? I also find it hard to believe that an expensive dry cleaners can damage my coat and yet I am supposed to risk a further £98 to sort it out.

American Dry Cleaners damaged my coat when they cleaned it and refused to respond to my phone calls or do anything about it. After advice from trading standards and dry cleaning organisations, I sent a recorded delivery letter requesting compensation. The cleaners replied saying that I should pay them £98 for an independent test. If the test went in my favour, they would then pay (what works out to be) approx 20% of the cost of the coat and refund the cost of the test. (I had requested a refund of 50% of the original cost of the coat)

I don't want to risk £98 and I would like to go to the Small claims court. Has anyone else had experience of going to court without an independent test or knows of somewhere cheap to get an independent dry cleaning test? My dispute with American Dry Cleaners has gone on for many months and I would really like to sort it out as soon as possible. Any advice please?

hollydays

What are trading standards saying you should do?

Bougainvillea

Trading standards say I will need an independent report for the small claims court, as the damage is not that obvious. A report might not be needed if the damage was very visible, such a large tear in the coat. My coat is not torn but the fabric has been damaged, which is more difficult to prove.

hollydays

think id be inclined to drop it.if you lose could cost you a lot.

nej

Have you considered getting a report from a different dry cleaner, on the premis that you will become their customer from now on?

Bougainvillea

Thanks for all the advice. I'll see if my local dry cleaners will help