Willowbrook Recliner Chairs

Triesmebest

My mum bought a recliner from Willowbrook £3100. It isn't comfortable for her but Willowbrook are not interested. I have contacted Ombudsman and Trading Standards both are working on it. But these odd home sale trading regulations loose all consumer rights I think

Paul_Varjak

I would urge you to stay on the case. These dodgy sell-at-home companies must be brought to task.

I suggest you make sure that the Trading Standards department dealing with yout case is made aware of the Principal Trading Standards Officer, Richmond upon Thames, who is dealing with these matters.

Paul_Varjak

I can now tell you that, in addition to the civil case, Willowbrook and its directors are to be prosecuted in the criminal courts. If you have had dodgy dealings with this company then read the entire thread on how to pursue a complaint.

Paul_Varjak

Trading Standards are still intending action in this case; they recently asked me to complete a formal witness statement. Not sure when the case is likely to come to court though.

I think it will mean taking two days off work, but if it brings one of these dodgy companies to task, it will have been worth it.

Paul_Varjak

I still have no court date, but there still seems to be an intention to procced this case by Trading Standards.

trumpton

These things can take ages. Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Triesmebest

Using the Furniture Ombudsman for an independent inspection proved to be excellent. The £3100 uncomfortable Willowbrook Recliner was collected yesterday and a full refund promised. Shows it's worth a fight if you think you're right. £50 well spent for inspection tho it took ages to happen and a result declared but hey mum's happy

Paul_Varjak

Triesmebest wrote: »

Using the Furniture Ombudsman for an independent inspection proved to be excellent. The £3100 uncomfortable Willowbrook Recliner was collected yesterday and a full refund promised. Shows it's worth a fight if you think you're right. £50 well spent for inspection tho it took ages to happen and a result declared but hey mum's happy

Glad to hear you got matters resolved! I assume you get back your £50 as well?

I believe any member of the Furniture Obudsman has to declare their membership of the scheme. Willowbrook's website was now changed to indicate their membership but their magazine adverts still do not indicate membership of the scheme.

Paul_Varjak

I found out today that Willowbrook chairs are not made by Willowbrook (as Willowbrook claim) but by an associated company called Ashley Anderson.

Willowbrook claimed that the retail price of the recliner offered to me was over £6,000 but they offered it to me for just over £3,900 because I had 'won' a 35% discount. Willowbrook would never give me a price over the phone and only gave me a price after sitting through a one-hours sales talk!

Today, I contacted a retailer selling the equivalent Ashley Anderson chair and was given a ballpark price of just £1,700 on the phone!

When Willowbrook demonstrated their chair, it was not the model I was interested in and Willowbrook only offer home demonstrations. The retailer of the Ashley Anderson chair would demonstrate the exact model I was interested in at my home or at their retail outlet!

NEVER NEVER buy from a company that will not give you any indication of prices upfront and certainly never deal with any company that only sells in your own home!!!!

Paul_Varjak

Marie Gallen -v- Willowbrook Ltd.
Disability discrimination proceedings in the County Court which settled on 8 July 2005. This case raises awareness of the need for reasonable adjustments for disabled people by the sales and finance sectors.

Summary
The Plaintiff is profoundly deaf. In August 2003 the Plaintiff was visited in her home by a salesperson who was a representative of Willowbrook Ltd in order to demonstrate an adjustable bed.

At the end of the demonstration the Plaintiff agreed to buy the bed which was to be funded by way of a finance agreement. The representative of the company relied on the Plaintiff’s 12 year old child to provide sign language interpretation of both the details of the bed and the finance agreement.

Subsequent to the delivery of the bed the Plaintiff attempted to cancel the finance agreement. The Plaintiff complained that both Willowbrook Ltd and the finance company refused to release her from the agreement.

On settlement of the case the Defendant agreed to pay back to Plaintiff the £1450.44 which she had already paid under the finance agreement plus £200 injury to feelings. The Defendant also entered into an agreement with the finance company to ensure that the Plaintiff was absolved from any future liability under the terms of the finance agreement. The Defendant apologised to the Plaintiff.