Dry Cleaning Dispute - Independent Testing

stuartm

Hi

After a coat worth £200 was ruined by a dry cleaner (colour faded drastically), I took the garment to be checked by the retailer. The retailer examined the coat at their HQ and found that there were no manufacturing faults and put this in writing.

The dry cleaning company had already 'examined' the coat and declared it be the vendor's problem.

I wrote to the dry cleaner again, requesting compensation, enclosing all the evidence also saying that I'd take the matter to the small claims court if no compensation was offered (they'd been very reluctant to help in the first weeks of the issue).

Now they've offered a test at something called the 'Dry Cleaning Technology Centre' which supposedly provides an independent testing facility. If this 'proves' that the dry cleaning process is at fault, they say they will pay the cost of the test and provide compensation.

I'm reluctant to pay them in advance for the test, which is what they've asked for, as this is £120 + VAT. Also, in my view, I don't care what the test reveals.
As far as I'm concerned, the manufacturer and retailer have said there's no fault with other garments and the first time the garment was cleaned it was ruined.

Surely the consumer shouldn't have to put more money into this to get a basic right satisfied?

I'm considering pressing ahead with the small claims court action anyway, but I'm wondering whether the court will then tell me to pay for the test.
I'm not sure which way the test will do, but I'm really unhappy about the way these people have handled the complaint.

Anyone had any similar experience?

Many thanks for any advice.

Anihilator

If you take the dry cleaner to court then you will be expected to prove to a reasonable level that they are too blame. At the moment you don't have anything that does this.

I personally would be citing SOGA to the retailer, it could quite easily be a faulty coat, just because there isnt a fault in the batch doesnt mean something else hasnt caused it. As long as you have dry cleaned in line with the label then It would be for them to prove it was your fault it died.

Caroline73_2

HAve you taken the coat back to where you bought it? If it said it was dry cleanable and then got damaged in the process then the coat is faulty?