Rip-off artists, Domestic & General trying to short change me

Armengar

People have tried to help you but you still seem to be missing the fundamentals. Write everything down. Do not engage in telephone conversations. These conversations have a habit of being lost when it comes to complaining to the ombudsman later on (when it looks like you never contacted them at all).

Write your case. Give them a decent time frame. If they refuse then go to the ombudsman.

FLY_GUY_2

Hi there, I appreciate all the advice and I take all constructive feedback on board.

I have been contacting them via email so as to make things more efficient, knowing how long the post takes.

Are emails not something which can be submitted to the ombudsman is needs be?

Eydon

FLY_GUY wrote: »

When trying to get through to their customer liaisons team, they cannot locate anyone dealing with my query and they do not have a telephone communications facility according to customer services.

Utter rubbish. I've dealt with the customer liaison team twice now (two different appliances broke down at the same time and I dealt with two different people), and on both occasions they phoned me and the first thing they did was give me a direct dial number in case I wanted to speak to them.

I do have to say though that the service received from the customer liaison team depends on the person you speak to. The one dealing with my dishwasher was nice as pie and arranged to write off my appliance because they couldn't get the part and arrange a replacement (although the suggested replacement wasn't suitable - it wasn't a built-in appliance).

The sob dealing with my washing machine couldn't have been more different. Over eight weeks we had four visits and three failed repairs and all he could offer was for the engineer to take it away for an indefinite period of time because it would be more convenient for the engineer! I asked if we could have a courtesy machine in the meantime and his replay was "no - use a launderette". In the end I was forced to scrap the washing machine and buy a new one out of my own pocket.

Will never deal with them again. I've decided that the self-insurance route is the way to go. If an appliance breaks down now I'll just buy another one. Life is just too short to mess about with these morons.

FLY_GUY_2

Well said Eydon,

Time is too precious to be faffing around trying to get a fair deal from these extortionists.

I think I will not be insuring any more appliance with these morons and the ones I have covered shall be cancelled.

However, this one case has become a case of principle and I must get my fair resolution from Domgen no matter where it go's.

Still not heard from anybody at customer liaisons team :mad:

FLY_GUY_2

Well thank you all for your constructive feedback and messages to keep me motivated.

I have finally recieved a fair outcome to my settlement with Domestic & General.

They should have just been first from the begining rather than giving me the run around and wasting so much time where I could have been concentrating on more important things.

However they did apologise for the inconveniances.

Another victory for consumers and their rights :beer:

Annahoo

I have read this thread with interest. I am in a similar situation - Domestic and General have offered me a replacement for my TV - they have also said i could upgrade but would need to pay the difference. i don't have a problem with this but i was wondering do i need to buy my tv from 'their' supplier or can i buy from anywhere i want?

I found a similar tv for a similar price but its free delivery ( i won't need to pay the 30 or so Domgen are asking for delivery) and i also can get 4 years of warranty too (which from Domgen's supplier's i don't get.)

elrick

Annahoo wrote: »

I have read this thread with interest. I am in a similar situation - Domestic and General have offered me a replacement for my TV - they have also said i could upgrade but would need to pay the difference. i don't have a problem with this but i was wondering do i need to buy my tv from 'their' supplier or can i buy from anywhere i want?

I found a similar tv for a similar price but its free delivery ( i won't need to pay the 30 or so Domgen are asking for delivery) and i also can get 4 years of warranty too (which from Domgen's supplier's i don't get.)

I too have read this with interest - and congrats to the original poster for his perseverance and successful outcome:) My appliance is a Hotpoint hob which they will "replace". The suggestion is an inferior model (no halogen - I had 2 halogen + 2 ceramic) and although there was a vague offer to let me upgrade if I paid the difference, I would have to choose from the Hotpoint/Indesit group. Not possible: I want to upgrade to an induction hob as I need the speed of heating up/cooling down, they don't make one with the level of control (15 levels) I want - I had 14 levels on the broken hob, the newer Hotpoint ones only have 9 levels. Have found one on-line from

My other point is that they now "only take incoming calls" and "don't use email" so I have to phone in every day to check whether the team has made a decision what to do as they can't contact me direct. Grrrrr :mad:

Fish supper anyone? I'm growing gills...

Sponge

They can't/won't call you? You have to call them? Shocking!

elrick

Sponge wrote: »

They can't/won't call you? You have to call them? Shocking!

But after the third day they did agree to call me back - and from the Friday to this Wednesday there was no word. However on the Tues I emailed (and many thanks to other posters for giving me a form of words), tried to keep it light but factual and used the "time is of the essence" phrase, also pointing out that Hotpoint/Indesit did NOT, according to my searches, make a model which would give me the same level of hob, although another maker did and that I would be willing to pay the difference.

Well on the Wed they did phone back, apologising profusely, and after a bit of discussion about cooking techniques the young lady went off to speak to someone, took the details of the model I wanted from de Dietrich and came back and said they would agree to order that model if I paid the delivery charge. What I was told about it having to be from Hotpoint/Indesit was apparently rubbish - their supplier is Comet (!) and if they could get that model they would. So ... Comet then phoned and said yes they could get it from the manufacturer BUT delivery time was 21 days. I did protest a bit but, hey - to get a replacement which is in fact an upgrade as well seems very generous on their part so I'm OK to wait.

Now after the initial euphoria I'm fretting. Should I have asked for something in writing? She made no mention of my email but HAD received it as she called my mobile and I only gave them that number in the email. I paid the delivery charge by Visa there and then so I'm now going to spend 3 weeks with my fingers crossed cooking by camping gaz waiting for delivery. :cool: Will let you know if it all works out.