Concord digital camera £19.99 [CLOSED]

cressylock

This is the first and maybe the last time I buy from a catalogue. I got confirmation of a 3 megapixel, but like everyone got an e-mail and the 2mp.

I've exchanged an e-mail or two. They are offering/suggesting that I send them back if I am unhappy. I am unhappy, but as far as I can see, they should honour the order of 3mp.

I could not see anyway of paying while ordering and still have not paid.

Any ideas or suggestions of how I should proceed?

KittyKate

My boyfriend has just got off the phone to Empire Stores 'Customer Service' (via saynoto 0870) and they are so useless it's laughable.

The camera, first of all, is like everyone else says, terrible quality, it feels plasticky and cheap and no way would I put a decent memory card into it. I took a few test shots; my phone camera takes way better pictures and that's a 1mpx camera. Even for a 'party camera' this would never do.

So my boyfriend called and discussed the matter with a very unhelpful and rather rude woman who refused to give us any compensation for the fact we literally cannot get to a post office and will incur costs to do so; or for our calls (from a mobile as we have no landline) or just for our trouble and time. My boyfriend asked why they didn't send out an option to cancel the order or even notification of the mistake BEFORE customer's accounts were charged and she said it would be 'nearly impossible' to do so - impossible? They have all our names, phone numbers, email and postal adresses! They've managed to send me 4 junk emails in the time I've waited for the order even though I ticked the box not to recieve them. We were told it would take 12 weeks to be removed from their 'targeted email' group. HOW!?

My partner stated that trading standards and consumer direct had advised us that we are entitled to recieve the item as invoiced and charged. Empire said they were 'not willing to do this'. He then stated that what do customers get for their error - 'there is no compensation other than the offer to return the item'. Every time my bf quoted distance selling regulations or consumer law the rep repeated 'my team leader says we can't..' so he asked where her team leader got her information. 'Oh, she was told'. Nice to know.

This is so wrong. My bf discussed my account for about 20 mins THEN the rep asked for me to be DPA'd! Safe..not. The questions were laughable too - email adress, mobile number, DOB! Like you can't find these things off my CV alone! He asked is the call recorded and she said yes - this again is not legal unless a prerecorded message prior to the phone conversation informs you.

She tried to trip him up repeatedly with 'are you going to send that back now then' and 'I'll put the refund on once you send it back' etc - he stated that he'd be continuing discussion with trading standards and that he was emailing them the screenshots and order confirmation of the 3mpx.

Regardless of how much the item cost it is not legal nor fair to practise trading in this way. Both me and my partner work in consumer relations and have agreed this is the worst customer service line we have ever experienced.

Flabbergasted at what to do next. Boyfriend now speaking to Trading Standards who sound suitably shocked!

stluke023

kitekate


try 01924818181

or even look at http://www.saynoto0870.com/

Minerva69

codetown wrote:

Hi, can you (or anyoneelse) pass an email contact for consumerdirect?

I have already everything written and would like to avoid to spend 20 minutes on the phone explaining it when it is ready to go in written digital form.

The web address for Consumer Direct is http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

I don't think you can email them directly about complaints, however they do have a secure online consumer complaints form: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/complaints.shtml

It asks which area of the country you live in, once you have selected this there is a form to fill in, perhaps you could copy and paste what you have already written into the form.

Let us know how you get on! I ordered the camera on 15th March and also received the confirmation email saying I was getting the 3 megapixel one. I didn't receive a camera at all but did receive the lovely yellow plastic plates :rolleyes:

stluke023

any one having positive sucess in forcing empire to deliver please list method

browney_2

Has anyone opened an account for this offer ? I emailed them to ask the to remove the search on my reports and close the accounts as I only opened it for the offer. They emailed me back to refuse ?

Nobjocki

I've just received a letter saying the offer was over-subscribed - like the camera on offer I suspect this company has a shoddy approach to everything they do.

bubbles2007

rowantoad wrote:

Check this out: Concord 3.1 megapix with optical zoom £21 delivered after discount

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=175231

I got mine today. it's fabulous! small screen but with optical zoom its pretty good as a party camera that you dont have to worry about!

codetown

I have received a letter from Epire stating once again their 'claims' of a mistake etc.
I will continue to send requests for an equivalent model from their catalog and have also contacted 'Consumer Direct' to see if they can help.

Once again it is the principle of fair treatment of customers that is at stake. Otherwise I would simply send back the plastic toy they sent and ask a chargeback to the cc company if Empire does not givemy money back promptly.

t_i_g_e_rr

I have received no communication at all from empire; no email or letter. Feel free to say something along the lines of many people having a case against them who are waiting for a hopefully good response.