Contaminated Catfood

MisterSpoon_2

Just after a feel for the above really.

I bought a multipack of catfood from a well known retail and a well known brand and one of the pouches had several bits of rubber in it. Fortunately we found it and Mogchops didn't eat it and choke to death. Hurrah!

I wrote to the company in question and they investigated and have all the bits and I got a letter this morning confirming that we were right, what the part was and admitting liability.

And £15 of pet food vouchers.

Now I'm not a big one on the compensation culture, but this £15 strikes me as a bit of "here's some vouchers, go away" to me. I've fired it back at said company and they are now in panic stations as I included comments such as "just fortunate we found it", "are there others out there?", "someone elderly or short sighted might have not spotted it", "negligence" and of course "my cat could have died" - not out of wanting to tot the compensation up, but out of wanting them to take a bit more responsibility than bunging a couple of vouchers at me.

Just wanted a view on where I stand here. Could/should I take it to a solicitor (I've got photos although they've got the bits and I've got all of the correspondence) or should I pass it to someone like trading standards (probably not them, but of that ilk) etc.

I'm just sort of feeling a bit fobbed off at the moment.

Granted I could have a van turn up on Monday with a pallet of catfood, but right now I'm just a bit miffed.

Any thoughts/suggestions/advice? Thanks.

Fosterdog

Your cat didn't get hurt, you didn't get hurt, it was noticed before it was eaten. I don't see what your problem is.

They have apologised and given you vouchers that they didn't have to offer. Take it or leave it but that should be the end of it.

ILW

Animals such as cats are actually very good at not swallowing bad stuff mixed in with the good stuff. Comes from basically being hunter scavengers.

Chances are would just have spat out the bits of rubber.

I would settle for the vouchers.

meer53

You "fired" back in an overly dramatic way. Big mistake.

You're £15 better off then you were before your cat "nearly" died, time to move on really.

JimmyTheWig

Compensation is designed to put you back in the position you were in if the mistake hadn't have happened.
No harm was caused to your cat.
So all that compensation can give you is a replacement tin of food and maybe a little extra for your inconvenience.

£15 is pretty good, in that case.
If you've lost all faith in the company then I would like to think that if you return the vouchers they will refund the purchase price instead so you can buy another brand. But I'm guessing the vouchers are worth a fair bit more than that.

You can take it further if you want to punish the company. I'm guessing Trading Standards may well be the right people in this case. But there's nothing to gain for you personally in doing this.

scottishblondie

Your cat didn't eat the food, so the £15 compensation is more than enough IMO.

What I would be more concerned about is conveying to them that they need to improve their quality control to prevent contamination in the future. Trading standards might be the bods for this, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

MisterSpoon_2

Thanks for your responses. The vouchers don't concern me in the grand scheme of things, it was more the lack of quality control and that it could have happened elsewhere with much worse results that was my real bug bear.

I'll see what they come back with on that front. Thank you.

verityboo

MisterSpoon wrote: »

Now I'm not a big one on the compensation culture, but this £15 strikes me as a bit of "here's some vouchers, go away" to me. I've fired it back at said company and they are now in panic stations as I included comments such as...............................
.

Just wondered how you new that the well known brand is now 'in panic stations'?

I always find it best when complaining to make it very clear what I want or expect, I just wondered if you had clearly said when you 'fired it back' what it is you want them to do? All I can see is that you want them to pay you more money when (as others have said) you are not out of pocket.

Someone nearly ran me over on a road crossing yesterday, perhaps I should try for compo for what might have happened?

MisterSpoon_2

Okay. I explained to them that it wasn't about me wanting money, but was about me feeling comfortable that they have taken reasonable steps to try and avoid it happening in the future. My concerns are that they try to minimise the chances of a part ending up in their product, and if something does end up in the product that their processes are stringent enough to be able to prevent these things being shipped out to the customer. We're not talking about microscopic granules of rubber in this instance but two or three inch lengths.

My comment about panic stations was based on the person at the end of the phone putting me on hold to speak to her colleague, coming back to me, going off to speak to her manager and then coming back to me to advise they are looking into it. And then ringing me back 15 minutes later to advise that discussions are ongoing and to expect communication either today or early next week.

Bad luck on the road crossing. Better luck next time eh?

shocky_2

I would report it to Trading Standards. This is the best way to do your bit to try and stop it from happening again - they are responsible for public safety issues.

somethingcorporate

So how does them giving you more money mean they are taking steps to make sure it does not happen again?

You just sound greedy.

If we got compensated every time something "could" happen I am due millions for all those times I "could" have been run over waiting patiently at the side of the road to cross it.