Palladium B&Q conservatories

medion

We also bought a conservatory at Wickes to be supplied by BVC and have never come across such poor service. Short story (now 4mths long)- Complete mess with delivery dates, broken panels, incorrect roof, missing parts. Both taken loads of time off to wait in for promised deliveries that never arrive. After hours on the phone we were promised another delivery - wrong roof panels arrived (on three seperare occasions!). Courier firm know now us well and it seems a standing joke with the drivers as to what we will receive next. Another occasion we were promised our roof panels and sure enough the courier arrived with ONE roof panel. We were weeks without a roof. This company are unbelievable. We have written to them and formally complained and also asked for our money back - all ignored even when sent by recorded delivery. We have revisited the store - waste of time - apologetic but they say it is in BVC hands. Argued that we purchased this porduct from Wickes but they say there is nothing that they can do. I would never buy anything from Wickes again. Their customer service is non existent. BVC staff lie, do not return calls, and sound like they dread picking up the phone. Wickes staff are just the same. How can a company continue to exist with this service.

Hilda_Ogden_2

I'am affraid to say I also have had a complete nightmare with BVC.Ordered our lean to conservatory in early May from Wickes and was given a delivery date of the last week in June.Three days before delivery was due I received a phone call from BVC informing us the conservatory wouldn't be coming until late August.After a weekend of disappointment,hey presto it arrives on the original delivery day,(well,part of it).Numerous deliveries of wrong parts later my hubby decided to make the two and a half hour journey himself to collect the parts.Fortunately he managed to get what we were missing but said the place is enormous with very few staff and major problems with the haulage company going into receivership with most of the conservatory parts on their lorries.My advice, great looking conservatory,good quality but with these guys I would order well in advance.

markdi

Hi,

I have a Wickes conservatory brought a few years ago, went through all the usual problems, missing parts (took about 6 months to get all the parts), damaged parts (warped panels), incorrect parts (e.g. white guttering for a brown conservatory).

Before buying the conservatory I had a site visit by a Wickes conservatory expert, and I stated it was on a south facing wall, exposed and open to the elements and I was assured that a brown uPVC would have no problems.

Every year since I built the conservatory the roof has failed, the rafter caps have failed in the sun, the uPVC distorting badly allowing the roof panel to slide down. To date the roof has been replaced (once) and refitted (twice), the rafter caps replaced (three times) , the eves filter replaced (three times), and again this year the roof has failed again.

So I am waiting for Wickes / Laird (now BVC) to fix the problems.

The basic problems in that the brown uPVC melts in the heat of the sun, also I have had doors and wall panels replaced that have buckled in the heat.

So the options are:

1) Wickes to refund the cost as “not fit for purpose”

2) Cover the conservatory on sunny days to prevent the uPVC melting.

3) Allows Wickes to repair again, so they can hope the warranty runs out

p.s. I was originally told the failure was due to a manufacturing defect, obviously a standard excuse

amaund

I waited for four months for the missing parts to arrive.

I would not touch BVC (Wickes) with the biggest barge pole in the universe.

They are an utter disgrace, i just hope my conservatroy does not melt.

albundie

My sympathy goes out to all those who have had problems, we can concur. Having just finished installing our conservatory which we purchased from Wickes in April 2008 I have just sent my first complaint letter which I have included below.

I have lost faith with both BVC and Wickes especially when Wickes send out a so called Design Consultant who has specialist knowledge of the conservatories they sell, can't even recognise from the angles of the window cills I have completely the wrong conservatory model!!! The cills were for some other poor customer who had ordered a Victorian. I ordered a simple lean to.

My first letter to Wickes...
---
As you are aware, the delivery of my order has been farcical with late initial delivery, missing parts, incorrect parts and additional parts. To compound issues, I am appalled at the level of customer services I have received or, more accurately, have not received. I have been passed from contact to contact, had to speak with Wickes branch, Wickes customer services and your supplier (BVC), not had calls returned when promised, not had issues escalated as agreed, to mention but a few of your failings.

Four months on and the following are still outstanding:

1) Shoot bolts - not yet received
2) Compression hinges - not yet received
3) Glazing tape - not fitted correctly
4) Additional panel – not yet collected from my address

Not only are you in breach of our contract and the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended), you have put myself and my wife through undue stress during the last weeks of pregnancy and this is absolutely unacceptable.

In the first instance, please action the following:

a) Resolve the outstanding items detailed above
b) Provide your written response to the issues experienced
c) Provide written details of your full complaints procedure

To assist in your investigation I have attached a copy of my notes detailing conversations and timelines. These are not comprehensive.

I look forward to your reply within 14 calendar days.

Cazzkins

I too have experienced problems with BVC - not for a full conservatory (thankfully!) but just a replacement part for our existing conservatory. After searching in B&Q/Homebase etc. with no luck, I decided to research on the internet finally finding BVC who, when I rang their sales number to enquire, were very helpful. I placed the order then, on 30th April and paid by credit card, receiving an invoice dated 7th May and that's it! No part, not then, not now, not ever! Numerous telephone calls to their Customer Services - never answered, a letter - no response, more telephone calls - still no replies! I finally gave up yesterday and contacted my credit card company (Abbey) about a refund but sadly as I am on the deadline of 120 days, they couldn't assist & referred me to Trading Standards - Consumer Direct. They suggested I contact Companies House first to see if BVC are still trading and, surprise, surprise, BVC Ltd are apparently in liquidation! I will still write to them, as Trading Standards suggested but have accepted that I have lost my money as to take them to court would cost more than I have lost and I doubt the receivers will put me top of their list! What galls me most is that I REALLY need the part (known as a rose bowl I believe) and I cannot find another company anywhere who seem to supply such parts!

Cazzkins

Further to my post above I have now checked the internet & there is a Best Value Conservatories Ltd website which seems active - I have even tried an email! (Wishful thinking?!?!) I then checked the Companies House website myself and have to add that the lady I spoke to on the telephone did not check both the full title (Best Value Conservatories Ltd) but just BVC Ltd which only threw up company no. 02366709, which she correctly stated is in liquidation. Best Value Conservatories Ltd has a different company no. 5332643 and it would indeed appear to be trading! Sorry if I worried anyone unnecessarily!

nightingale_08

I've just purchased a BVC conservatory and have same problems as you all.
They messed me about with delivery and then I found that one of the roof panels was the wrong size and the blinds were not delivered with the rest of the order. I ordered the conservatory online through a company called DIY2GO and thought I was getting one of their conservatories- no mention of BVC-it seems they are just an agent? Had lots of arguments on phone both to DIY2GO and BVC- promises of delivering the goods but no action.
I suppose it's DIY2GO whom I need to take to small claims court as that's whom I have the contract with. Anyone else doing this?

Bluerch

AlexUK wrote: »

I am back and the Palladium conservatory has £500 off it currently. So anyone ever bought a DIY consevatory? What are they like. As very tempted to extend house with one, but don't want to throw away £2500!!

Thanks

Erected one for sister inlaw easy to erect good and sturdy when erected you would not be wasting your money.

MONK-ON

Yet another ongoing tale of woe about this supplier,bought a conservatory last Nov 07....arrived Jan 29th 08!! incomplete.Did'nt find out parts were missing till the build was well in progress.Do you remember what the weather was like in Feb this year!!!:mad: my conservatory was half built when the high winds struck!!! I found that the door frame was missing, i thought it came in sections but not the case.When I eventually found a packing list it wasn't ticked off,so BVC knew it wasn't delivered but failed to tell me.
Have had ongoing problems with B&Q and BVC with the conservatory,but at the moment it is with the prefab base I bought to accompany the conservatory,all in I paid £4399.:eek:..think its worth £399!!! Would be interested to hear from anyone who has had one of these bases and what was supplied with it ie damp proof membrane .Have got a real big argument on with this issue, i have been told its just a landscape fabric that they have supplied not a dpm which the instructions states is fitted which is basically polythene sheet.
Help if you can.............don't buy this dodgy gear