Dry Cleaner damaged my clothes and won't help.

Sponge

This post is on behalf of my wife:

I don't know what to do next. A dry cleaner has damaged a garment and when I put it to him, he simply denied all responsibility and I had to leave the shop due to his abuse.

I picked up the evening dress, but didn't check it until I got home. I took the item straight back after I'd discovered the damage. It's covered in what looks like ironing marks on the outside and bobbling on the inside. The item is less than 6 months old and has been worn only once. The owner/manager wasn't in at the time, so the assistant held the item until the next day, asking me to return to discuss the matter.

As soon as I walked in he started to bawl at me in front of the staff and other customers.

From the very outset the owner/manager was aggressive, rude, dismissive and unhelpful. He had already made his mind up that he was not at fault and launched into an uninterruptible tirade. He wouldn’t allow me to even finish a sentence. I was unable to express any opinion or make any suggestions to remedy the situation.

I found him incredibly intimidating (I'm a very slight, 5' woman, he was a very large, well-built 6'er) as he spent the whole conversation exclaiming and pointing at me. As soon as I tried to assert myself and get a word in, calmly and politely I might add, he accused me of yelling and having a bad attitude. He was always on the offensive, turning everything against me. I couldn’t believe my ears.

I could do no more than escape the situation as soon as possible and leave the premises.

When confronted with a such a person, someone totally unwilling to even discuss an issue, how can we get redress?

Bowling_4_Gold

Perhaps the only way forward is to contact your local Trading Standards... They are usually very useful - I mean, I got them out on an inspection after only one email once.

4743hudsonj

Bowling_4_Gold wrote: »

Perhaps the only way forward is to contact your local Trading Standards... They are usually very useful - I mean, I got them out on an inspection after only one email once.

print out out or request an n1 claim form and write a letter before action (trading standards will help with all this) take them in with support so with another person as whitness and show him the forms, say that if he does not calm down and resolve this issue politely then you will issue the forms as he is allowing no room for compromise or even any form of decent conversation on the issue.

and if he shouts hand him the letter before action and then also post another by recorded signed for mail and if no response enter into small claims.

i should think he would buckle and give in by the time you hand him a letter before action.

Sponge

That reminds me, he actually said, 'Take me court, if you want to!'

He blamed the dress and said I'd need to take the matter up with Principles, or let him send it away to be independantly assessed at an upfront cost, to me, of £150. If it was found to be a fault due to his care, then he'd refund me the £150 and cover the cost of a replacement. As confident as I am that it was damaged whilst in his care, I do not have £150 to be sending it away to a so called independant company of his chosing.

esuhl

Sponge wrote: »

...how can we get redress?

I love the pun! :rotfl:

Seriously, though, there's no way I'd let him near the dress again! I would have suggested to him that he pay the £150 to let you take the dress to be inspected and you will refund him if it's decided that his staff didn't damage it. Cheeky git!

Hopefully 4743hudsonj's advice will help, but it might be worth a look at http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/ or maybe http://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/.

I hope you get it sorted...

Sponge

esuhl wrote: »

I love the pun! :rotfl:

I couldn't think of a better word. :cheesy: