Avoid: Dilock Ltd trading online as www.directlocks.co.uk

Gazpablo

Avoid the company Dilock Ltd (security, window handles, locks, safes, CCTV) which trades online as https://www.directlocks.co.uk
The various online complaints forums are full of postings by customers who ordered goods, credit card immediately debited and no goods delivered. Some people have been waiting weeks and a few unlucky people have been waiting several months. Calls and emails never get answered by the company. It looks like this company will go into administration - it is clearly using online orders to maintain cash flows.

LilyDaisy

I wish I read this thread before I placed an order with Direct Locks. It's over a month since I placed an order and my credit card was debited, still no sign of my order and I haven't received any replies to emails or phone calls. I will be contacting my credit card company tomorrow in the hopes they can get my money back.....

Gazpablo

Take heart LilyDaisy - I contacted my credit card company and they credited my card within four days, which suggests that Dilock is on a list of problem traders. Ask your card company to issue a "charge back" on Dilock Ltd and point out that there are many complaints about this company (do a Google search on "Dilock Ltd complaints" and you will see there is a persistent problem). I have done a bit of digging around on Dilock Ltd and it looks as if the company may have been sold around about 2007/2008; prior to this time it appears it was a reasonable company under the previous ownership but since mid-2008 there has been nothing but trouble for a lot of customers. The taking of money and not delivering goods ordered seems to have started around the summer of 2008 and appears to have got particularly bad last month (July) which suggests to me (and I have professional experience of failed businesses and insolvency) that the company may be in some financial difficulties and is attempting to use customer monies to bolster up cash flow. On the other hand it could just be a rogue company run by crooks. Either way, I would contact your credit company without delay, then contact Consumer Direct, the government consumer advice service (https://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk); if you really want to put the boot in, contact the local trading standards department which is the London Borough of Islington. On one forum there were several complaints and suddenly a posting praising the company - one eagle-eyed forum user spotted it was a director of Dilock who had posted the favourable comment! Good luck in getting your refund.