British Gas ruined my dress

Elvisia

British Gas came to fix the radiators in my parents' house, I am their carer so I live with them and I live on carer's allowance so money for me is very tight. A few years ago I bought a designer dress which was dramatically reduced in the sale which is white, which I adored. I had left it in the dining room as I had done my parents' ironing, and I left the dress on the ironing table ready to put away. The British Gas man came and bleed the radiators, but the one in the dining room suddenly shot brown liquid on the floor. He grabbed my dress to mop up the mess, and left it on the floor.

I just came downstairs to find my dress in a pile, mum was furious with him because he'd made such a mess everywhere else and she said "oh and you'll have to buy another dress because he used that". I really am on the verge of tears, it's covered in massive brown stains and although I have it in soak it's just ruined. It was so expensive and I was so pleased I got it so cheaply, it was such a bargain. At the moment I can't even afford to buy a new dress, let alone a designer one to replace it.

If I write to British Gas do you think I will get anywhere? Or will they just say "oh well". I just can't believe of all the things he grabs he grabs a white dress, mum said she was only round the corner and he could have asked her for a towel.

PZH

Elvisia wrote: »

..I just came downstairs to find my dress in a pile, mum was furious with him because he'd made such a mess everywhere else and she said "oh and you'll have to buy another dress because he used that"...

If I write to British Gas do you think I will get anywhere? Or will they just say "oh well". I just can't believe of all the things he grabs he grabs a white dress, mum said she was only round the corner and he could have asked her for a towel.

British Gas Customer service may provide a positive outcome to this, BUT just playing the Devil's Advocate for a while...

You weren't in the room, neither was your mother - so how do you know what happened ??

Did you see him use the dress, or is it purely on the word of your mother?

Was the Engineer still in the room when your mother stated "oh and you'll have to buy another dress because he used that" - if so, what did he say ?

mattyprice4004

If anything you'll get back what you paid for the dress, you won't get the price it should have been.

Elvisia

No my mum came in while he was wiping up the mess with the dress. He then just left it and walked off. He then told her what he'd done, but didn't say sorry, just said "it bleed faster than I expected".

McKneff

If its in to soak you really can't say that it's ruinied yet, see what its like when it has been properly washed and keep to the washing instructions.

Write to british gas by all means, but dont expect to get the full designer price for it. Do you still have the receipt.
They will prbably suggest you take it to the dry cleaners to see if they can do anything with it.

How much was the original price and how much did you pay for it.

Elvisia

It's in soak at the moment, I've tried 2 stain removers but the material is so delicate it's going to be really obvious where the stain is.

I bought the dress a couple of years ago and so I don't have a receipt. I think I will write to them anyway and say can they compensate and see if they offer anything at all.

It's just one of those things that is infuriating, and just makes you want to cry, there was a massive pile of old laundry there including OLD TOWELS and he picks up my dress. I've also had to wash down the dining room including the walls and the kitchen, he's made such a mess of the place.

spadoosh

Put a complaint in of bad practice 'it bled faster than i expected' isnt really a good excuse, your supposed to bleed radiators till water comes out and if there is pressure in there (which there always is otherwise it wouldnt bleed) you'd expect it to splutter out of the top, this is why its best to have a tea towel tohand and bleed it with that all ready wrapped around.

As for the dress ask for reimbirsement but im guessing youll need proof of purchase and like has been said they will only pay out the amount paid, not its value. Also will be a lot of agro so if you only paid a couple of quid, wouldnt be worth the added stress.

spadoosh

McKneff wrote: »

If its in to soak you really can't say that it's ruinied yet, see what its like when it has been properly washed and keep to the washing instructions.
.

Sorry op its definately ruined, you aint getting the black gunge (the one that stains your hands for days) from a radiator off a white dress unless you use bleach and fancy an ivory dress.

Elvisia

I just sat my mother down and interviewed her, police-stylee, and she said he had said to her "I'll just open the radiator to start the bleeding off, then I'll get a pipe and attach it to the radiator so the water can flow through that" and proceeded to open the radiator without a bucket or anything under it. I have written to British Gas, I will be interested to hear what they say!

McKneff

Let us know how you get on then.

DVardysShadow

McKneff wrote: »

If its in to soak you really can't say that it's ruinied yet, see what its like when it has been properly washed and keep to the washing instructions.

If it has had water out of a radiator on it, and it was white, trust me, it is ruined. It will have black iron oxide, which will turn to brown iron oxide on exposure to air. This will not shift. Think iron mould.