advice - conned by aerial firm

fluffymonster

Hi MSErs

I am wondering if anyone can help me. I feel a total idiot and can’t believe I have been so stupid as to fall for this con. We moved into our house last Friday and could not get a tv picture so called out an aerial firm. I checked the price to start with £65 (competitive, I did check before) and called a company in Yell.com with a local number (not freephone / mobile etc). They came yesterday earlier than planned. I had just got back from my 20 week pregnancy scan and was all stressed as I had been worried that something was wrong with the babies. I normally would have thought more straight than this otherwise I swear. I had literally just got back in the door from being at the hospital all morning.

The people came, said it was slightly more complex and finished up. I can’t believe I did not ask for a price again (I always do) but was in a total panic about stuff. They were here for one hour and presented me with a bill for £304. I almost died on the spot! I did query it and pointed out the original £65 but it was all itemised, with the one part (six way digital amplifier) costing £185. I just shockingly paid it with my credit card and did not consider that I had a choice. I so wish I had not signed that invoice. 5 minutes later, I received a phone call to say that the company shared a card payment system with the pub next door and that they were having problems with the line (the pub). It was possible that my payment would show up as the pub. I thought this was odd and would have queried it had they told me before paying but they did not. I can see this is all part of it now sadly.

I had a feeling something odd had gone on so called two other companies who agreed that the max fee should have been £180 all in (£140-180 max). I called the company who were incredibly rude to me and basically said that being pregnant had affected my reading ability as the invoice quite clearly said any work not paid for would be recouped (equipment returned). I was just handed the invoice so signed and now feel very dim. At no point was this pointed out to me verbally. I didn’t actually mention disputing this but the person I spoke to told me there was no point as it is a long drawn out process and I would get nowhere. He told me I should have been told that the payment would go elsewhere (I never mentioned this either) and therefore they would just challenge any dispute.


Later on, I found very dangerous cable pins with sharp nail ends on my carpet. Thankfully I stepped on the blunt side but that could have been very nasty. I feel so dim and upset, I really don’t need stress like this now, it is not good for me or the babies. I called the bank who my credit card is with and they can’t help at all under the visa regs. I asked about misrepresentation due to the change in company name (I never agreed to pay the pub, this was told to me after) but they have said that any dispute will just mean the company will send in the signed invoice and money will be returned. They also said that action could be brought against me and I can’t afford this in terms of money or stress at all. I am up now because I am in such a tizz about it all. I tried the 24 legal helpline with our home insurance who are not answering despite leaving three messages last night. I have already moaned to the insurance people as this is advertised as a 24 hour helpline and this is not what has been offered, particularly as no one has called me back either.

I will complain to Consumer Direct, Office of Fair Trading tomorrow morning first thing. I don’t hold any hope as it seems this man / company are already being investigated and have various injunctions against them. I will also complain to the Register of Digital Installers as he is advertising in Yell as having this yet when you search the body for the area, he does not show up. Apparently they regard this rather harshly. I don’t believe any of the above will get my money back but I at least want to do something, if only to stop others suffering the same fate.

Does anyone have any advice? I am happy to share the company but I was not sure if I was allowed to do so. Sorry for the rather long and hormonal ramble, I thought it was best people had all he details.

Thanks from a very stupid and angry MSEr who really should know better.

Halloway

What's the name of the company?

maninthestreet

So exactly what did you get for your money other than a '6 way digital aimplifier' - did you pay for any other parts, like a new aerial??
TV signal amplifiers can be bought for a whole lot less than that from places such as Argos and Comet.

Halloway

SueSueSue wrote: »

Was the work necessary?

Getting other people to say it shouldnt have cost more is irrelevent as they didnt come out and do the work or investigate the site and they are simply estimating.

The company told you it would be more complicated and you didnt ask for a price and agreed they should do the work

In all honesty I don't think anything wrong occurred at all. If you wanted it done on the cheap you should have done it yourself. As for disputing it again you have no grounds as you agreed to let them do the work.

Charging £185 for an aerial amplifier is wrong. They cost nowhere near that. Clearly the OP thought that some work was necessary as they could not get a picture and did not know how to rectify that. Putting through a credit card payment via the local is extremely dodgy. This particular company is clearly not to be trusted.

The OP has, in my opinion, been ripped off. Not massively but nevertheless ripped off. I don't think there's much she can do about it other than learn the lesson but you have no grounds for claiming that this transaction was fair and above board because it was not.

Tozer

SueSueSue wrote: »

Was the work necessary?

Getting other people to say it shouldnt have cost more is irrelevent as they didnt come out and do the work or investigate the site and they are simply estimating.

The company told you it would be more complicated and you didnt ask for a price and agreed they should do the work

In all honesty I don't think anything wrong occurred at all. If you wanted it done on the cheap you should have done it yourself. As for disputing it again you have no grounds as you agreed to let them do the work.

Which bit of "I checked the price to start with £65 "did you not understand?

Clearly anything which exceeds the quoted price by over 450% should have been expressly agreed.

OP - I think you have grounds for saying that you felt under pressure to pay this and that it was not a reasonable price.

Was it credit card that you paid by?

espresso

Six way digital amplifiers do not cost £185 e.g. see here £20

Contact trading standards.

Tozer

SueSueSue wrote: »

The OP was then told on the day that the work was more complicated and would cost more and agreed to this without checking the new cost.

As for complaining to TS next poster. Why? If OP wanted a £20 amp they should have bought it themselves. The trader is in their right to sell it for what they want and the OP should have enquired about the price in more detail and objected rather than telling them to get on with it.

Yeah but the OP didn't agree to be ripped off. If no price agreed, then the price should be reasonable. If not, then it is a breach of contract.

fluffymonster

Thanks people. I am pregnant and stressed, I do not want this to turn into a bun fight, I was simply hoping for some helpful advice. I really appreciate all those people who have provided this. I have indeed learnt my lesson. I am normally great with money, but hormones and other stresses got in the way yesterday, none of us are perfect I'm afraid.

I didn't want work 'done on the cheap' either, other companies since provided realistic costs, that is not the same IMO. I will leave it here as I feel that a few individuals have actually been rather unhelpful to be honest. There is no need for that IMO.

I have contacted Consumer Direct and drafted a letter sent recorded today with their guidance. Trading Standards goes straight through to CD. I did pay by credit card to those who asked but the bank are saying it is not against visa regs. Thanks again to those who have provided helpful and constructive comments, they are much appreciated.

espresso

So why not name and shame these rip off merchants?

andyrules

fluffymonster wrote: »

Thanks people. I am pregnant and stressed, I do not want this to turn into a bun fight, I was simply hoping for some helpful advice. I really appreciate all those people who have provided this. I have indeed learnt my lesson. I am normally great with money, but hormones and other stresses got in the way yesterday, none of us are perfect I'm afraid.

I didn't want work 'done on the cheap' either, other companies since provided realistic costs, that is not the same IMO. I will leave it here as I feel that a few individuals have actually been rather unhelpful to be honest. There is no need for that IMO.

I have contacted Consumer Direct and drafted a letter sent recorded today with their guidance. Trading Standards goes straight through to CD. I did pay by credit card to those who asked but the bank are saying it is not against visa regs. Thanks again to those who have provided helpful and constructive comments, they are much appreciated.

You have had some good advice from the more helpful forum members.

Just ignore the negative comments - I've a suspicion that suesuesue is not the newcomer they appear to be:rolleyes:

I hope you get it sorted, I've made some on-the-spot and regrettable decisions with tradesmen when I've not been pregnant! Easy done.

And yes, as espresso suggests, name and shame so we can all avoid.

Enjoy the rest of your 'free' time

handful

I moved house about 3 years ago and looked in my local yellow pages for an aerial fitting company who quoted a similar price to the OP.

I said ok and when they came to fit they said that I needed a signal booster and pole extension (bungalow) that had to be fitted at the other end of the property etc etc and the new price was around £290. I told them to take a running jump and sent them on their way, much to their annoyance. I discovered that my mistake was that a lot of the companies advertising in the yellow pages appear to be local but are actually national companies who get work for their fitters who make next to nothing unless they can get 'extra work' to do.

I looked for a proper local company with a local std code and got the job done for £70 with no problem whatsoever.

Sorry, not much help to you OP but my advice to anyone getting an aerial is make sure you get an onsite inspection from a couple of proper local companies, these national boys are IMO scammers and crooks. If the advertised number is an 0800 0845 etc be very very careful. Good luck with the trading standards and you were v unlucky to get caught out like you did with a local number :mad: