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Willowbrook Recliner Chairs
Paul_Varjak
Posts: 4,627 Forumite
Willowbrook sell rise/recline chairs to disabled/elderly people in their own home. When I enquired about their products they sent an 'adviser' to see me. Of course, this 'adviser' was just a salesman who wanted £3903 from me that day for something I could have bought for half the price elsewhere.
During his sales pitch, the salesman showed me a letter of endorsement from a Harley Street surgeon. I made a mental note of the surgeon's name and made contact with that surgeon a few days later. The surgeon said he has NEVER endorsed Willowbrook chairs so I complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA upheld my complaint and the company must now cease to make such claims in advertising material.
Here is the ASA ruling...
http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_46765.htm
But Willowbrook continues to make false claims (even on its own website) that its recliners chairs are recommended by the medical profession...
http://www.willowbrook.co.uk/recliners_home.php
I have also been told by a Principal Trading Standards officer that they are taking the company (and its directors) to court. Here is an extract from what the Principal Trading Standards Officer has told me...
We have received a number of complaints in relation to Willowbrook’s sales tactics and pricing, amongst other issues. We have concerns about the manner in which they are trading, particularly as it often affects elderly and vulnerable members of the public in their home. We intend to pursue a civil [deleted] case against the company and its Directors to prevent further harm to consumers. The civil case will provide us with a court order to prevent such behaviour in the future...
Trading Standards are looking for 'victims' of this company who are prepared to answer a questionnaire that could be used in civil proceedings, and possibly be a witness in court too.
If you have a complaint against Willowbrook you should contact Consumer Direct on 0845 04 05 06 and ask them to forward your complaint to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames who are dealing with this case.
Anyone requiring further infomation can contact me via PM.
During his sales pitch, the salesman showed me a letter of endorsement from a Harley Street surgeon. I made a mental note of the surgeon's name and made contact with that surgeon a few days later. The surgeon said he has NEVER endorsed Willowbrook chairs so I complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA upheld my complaint and the company must now cease to make such claims in advertising material.
Here is the ASA ruling...
http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_46765.htm
But Willowbrook continues to make false claims (even on its own website) that its recliners chairs are recommended by the medical profession...
http://www.willowbrook.co.uk/recliners_home.php
I have also been told by a Principal Trading Standards officer that they are taking the company (and its directors) to court. Here is an extract from what the Principal Trading Standards Officer has told me...
We have received a number of complaints in relation to Willowbrook’s sales tactics and pricing, amongst other issues. We have concerns about the manner in which they are trading, particularly as it often affects elderly and vulnerable members of the public in their home. We intend to pursue a civil [deleted] case against the company and its Directors to prevent further harm to consumers. The civil case will provide us with a court order to prevent such behaviour in the future...
Trading Standards are looking for 'victims' of this company who are prepared to answer a questionnaire that could be used in civil proceedings, and possibly be a witness in court too.
If you have a complaint against Willowbrook you should contact Consumer Direct on 0845 04 05 06 and ask them to forward your complaint to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames who are dealing with this case.
Anyone requiring further infomation can contact me via PM.
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Comments
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If you are an aggrieved customer of Willowbrook (Recliner Chairs) then please PM and I will put you in touch with a newspaper reporter who is doing a story on this company.
Also PM if you have problems with one of the Willowbrook sister companies. These are:
1. Electro Motion Scooters
2. Aqualift
3. British Stairways
4. Willowbrook (Beds)
5. Willowbrook Equity Release)0 -
The 'adviser' ploy sounds very similar to the bed scam that was rife a while back.
LOL at them being caught out advertising lies. Hopefully that will make them think twice before printing off another dodgy brochure."Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" (Douglas Adams)0 -
Cue the Willowbrook rep by the end of the day, in disguise as a happy Willowbrook customer........3.78 kWp PV SolarEdge with iBoost South facing.
30° pitch roof 4% shading. Installed 6th June 18.
Gloucester0 -
PinkLipgloss wrote: »The 'adviser' ploy sounds very similar to the bed scam that was rife a while back.
Willowbrook sell beds too! In fact, they are members of the National Bed Federation and the Furniture Ombudsman. Anyone with an appropriate complaint could also contect these bodies too.PinkLipgloss wrote: »LOL at them being caught out advertising lies. Hopefully that will make them think twice before printing off another dodgy brochure.
The Principal Trading Standards officer also told me that he smiled when he read the ASA adudication that I won!0 -
hawkwinddotcom wrote: »Cue the Willowbrook rep by the end of the day, in disguise as a happy Willowbrook customer........
Yes, I have seen that happen a few times on these forums. Mainly with this unmentionable (but now defunct) company...
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=822520 -
hawkwinddotcom wrote: »Cue the Willowbrook rep by the end of the day, in disguise as a happy Willowbrook customer........
I hope they do - it always makes for great entertainment!
PMSL at the fact they sell beds too, these guys are unreal! No doubt we'll get some disgruntled bed buyers on soon!"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" (Douglas Adams)0 -
Paul_Varjak wrote: »If you are an aggrieved customer of Willowbrook (Recliner Chairs) then please PM and I will put you in touch with a newspaper reporter who is doing a story on this company.
Also PM if you have problems with one of the Willowbrook sister companies. These are:
1. Electro Motion Scooters
2. Aqualift
3. British Stairways
4. Willowbrook (Beds)
5. Willowbrook Equity Release)
All these companies seem aimed at potentially vulnerable older people. There's a surprise! They only have to start up an over-priced alarm company and they'll have a full house.What part of "A whop bop-a-lu a whop bam boo" don't you understand?0 -
trisontana wrote: »All these companies seem aimed at potentially vulnerable older people. There's a surprise! They only have to start up an over-priced alarm company and they'll have a full house.
don't forgot those dodgy looking magazines selling "the most comfortable fitted shoes", elasticated waist tan coloured trousers and pleated skirts. :rotfl:
EDIT - almost forgot -there are also those magazines that sell "must have home essentials" such as a little plastic thingie to put around the bottom of your toothpaste (tube rolls around it thus ensuring every drop of toothpaste gets squeezed out)."Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" (Douglas Adams)0 -
PinkLipgloss wrote: »don't forgot those dodgy looking magazines selling "the most comfortable fitted shoes", elasticated waist tan coloured trousers and pleated skirts. :rotfl:
EDIT - almost forgot -there are also those magazines that sell "must have home essentials" such as a little plastic thingie to put around the bottom of your toothpaste (tube rolls around it thus ensuring every drop of toothpaste gets squeezed out).
Funny you should say that, one of those magazines (Easylife) has just been censured by the ASA for selling a magnetic thingy that is supposed to "improve your posture". Easylife admitted that "they did not however have documentary evidence to support the advertised claims."What part of "A whop bop-a-lu a whop bam boo" don't you understand?0 -
trisontana wrote: »Funny you should say that, one of those magazines (Easylife) has just been censured by the ASA for selling a magnetic thingy that is supposed to "improve your posture". Easylife admitted that "they did not however have documentary evidence to support the advertised claims."
:rotfl:
No wonder a lot of the older generation I've met are so cynical!"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" (Douglas Adams)0
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