Jewellery Problem

rjh090384

hi

just a quick query, not sure if this is best section for it but please move it if needed.

needed my engagement ring downsized b4 i ordered my wedding ring so left it into a local jewellers last week (tuesday). the guy told me that he wasnt sure how much it was and he would ring me the next day to let me know and see if i wanted to go ahead. it is 18ct whtie gold and he didnt know whether the price included rhodium plating or not.

he didnt ring so i called on the wednesday and was told that it hadnt gone to wrokshop yet and they would let me know what price it woould be on monday.

they didnt call again, i called them and a different girl other than the guy i had benn dealing with told me it had been done!! and i cant rememeber the price she said and i asked if that included rhodium plating (which as far as i know is standard with all 18ct white gold resizing) she said she didnt know adn she would get back to me. she called back and said that it didnt include rhodium plating cause the workshop didnt think it needed done! she said if i wanted ti dont it would be £25. i siad i woudl look a tit first then decide. am going tomorrow.

i then got a phone call today (fro mthe orginial guy) telling me it was ready. so i gave off to him about not calling me and going ahead without permission etc. he said he had told me it was £18 and thats what he wrote on the docket and that he said he would call me if it was any change. he didnt write £18 or any price on the docket he gave me.

baisically i just want to know legally where i stand with this. if i had known it was that price i would have taken it somewhere else as i had a cheaper quote. do i have the right not to pay? also what if they have screwed it up? i wanted to warn them before they went ahead that one of the hallmarks is quite faded (its a 1930s ring) what if they have cut it out not relaising its there.

i am so worried please help.

hollydays

If the docket he gave you is carbonized I wouldnt think he has a leg to stand on,ifthe figure of £18 has suddenly appeared on his copy but not yours.Sorry,i cant be of more help.

rjh090384

no its not carbonised at all.
it says no price on mine at all.
just went to jewellers and found the hallmark whcih distinguishes the ring aas 1930s austrohungarian has gone.

kat1311

I would go back and complain, firstly for them performing work on the ring without your expressed permission and also for not clearly explaining the price. Show them the ring and mention the hallmark that's now disappeared -they have effectively devalued your goods.

You could try to make a claim against them or go to trading standards but I think many jewlery shops, like dry cleaners, have a clause or insurance that prevents them being responsible if they damage your goods.

hollydays

See if they are a member of a trade association-they may have a complaints handling procedure

gyzmo

In the absenceof any evidence (you have a verbal agreement, but that is difficult to prove), then it will come down to what is customary for work like this. Get a few quotes elsewhere and work out an average. Do not pay more than that, but be aware that they can hold your goods unless you agree to pay or you get a court order.

Voyager2002

gyzmo wrote:

In the absenceof any evidence (you have a verbal agreement, but that is difficult to prove), then it will come down to what is customary for work like this. Get a few quotes elsewhere and work out an average. Do not pay more than that, but be aware that they can hold your goods unless you agree to pay or you get a court order.

I think the docket that does not show a price would be sufficient evidence.

And since she did not authorise them to go ahead with the work, she has not entered into a contract with them and so the clause in their standard contract about not being responsible for damage presumably does not apply.

If the loss in value resulting from the destruction of the hallmark is a significant amount of money, then proper legal advice would be a very good idea, and might well pay for itself.

rjh090384

i ahve sought legal advice. i am to collec the ring today and get it revalued but tbh i am fighting a losign battle wtih th e shop. they say the hallmark was never there and its my fault for not pointing it ouo to them if it was there!!! the guy is an arrogan ***** and wont admit that he is wrong. i will see what happens after i get it revalued! the ring itself is only worth £800 so it would be small calims.

the price i dont mind i was jsut peeved they didnt tell me or call me back and did it without my permission but he is saying i told him to go ahead and call me if there was any cahnge!!

when resizing a ring (especially an atnique one) u cant jsut go in say resize my rign and walk out. the wrokshop ALWAYS has to take a look at it to see if they can do it first. so taht is what i thoguht was happening. it was goignt oworkshop , they would confirm if they could do it and what price it would be, next thing i know its done and my ring is *****

rjh090384

ps legal advice is free for me as my best friend and my uncle are both solicitors

hollydays

Good luck.Let us know how you get on.

rjh090384

going in today to pick it utake it to get valued. also giving them a photo of the hallmark and this strongly worded letter
As you are aware, I attended at your premises on the 9th January to obtain a quote as to how much it would cost to downsize my engagement ring. At no time did I authorise any member of your staff to have this carried out and indeed had insisted that no works be carried out until I was made aware of the price. It was only when I telephoned on 15th January 2007 that I was advised that the works had been carried out and I was advised that it would cost me £18.

As I have advised you on 17th January 2007, this ring was a 1930's Austro-Hungarian ring. This ring was highly sentimental and of considerable age and heritage. The hallmark that was clearly evident to the naked eye, as shown in the attached photo, is no longer visible as a result of the treatment that it sustained whilst in your premises or those of your servants or agents. I believe that this has devalued the ring and will have the ring revalued shortly.
p so i can
As already stated, at no time did I give my authorisation for any works to be carried out to my ring. I will therefore pay this fee of £18, under protest, in order to have my ring returned to me for further investigation. If the ring is found to be devalued, I will seek compensation for the damage that has been caused to my ring as well as recouping the additional valuation charge and the charge for resizing my ring.
yours faithfully