Bed company ruined my carpet

Darkangel

Hello, need advice.

I recently moved into my new flat (I'm a first time buyer) and ordered a bed from Warren Evans.

They delivered last friday and put the bed together for me in my bedroom, but after I had signed and they had left I noticed a dark V shape in my carpet. On closer inspection I saw that the carpet had melted, presumably from the electric drill they were using to put the bed together.

I know it wasn't me as I had not been sleeping in my new flat due to the lack of a bed, plus I had the carpet cleaned the week before, on moving day.

I took photos and sent them to the Warren Evans bed company straight away, and all they offered was a refund on the delivery, £28.

I said this wasn't good enough as it's my new home that I haven't even slept in yet, and it has now been slightly ruined by the fact I now have to get a new carpet.

The CS woman said they would have to speak to the delivery guys to ask what had happened and then she would revert back to head office for a response.

She just called me back and, surprise, surprise, the delivery guys denied any wrong-doing. They were willing to still offer me the £28 refund as a good will gesture, but I am so angry with them now I don't know what to do.

Where do I stand with this? Is there anyway I can take this further?

Voyager2002

Contact consumer direct (aka Trading Standards). Or you could use the courts (small claims track).

I have to say, your heading is very funny: I read it as being about "company in bed", and my mind was racing!

unholyangel

How old is the carpet?

Small claims goes on balance of probabilities. If (for example) you only got the carpet 2 days previously and haven't been living in the house (at least I think that's what you said!), it could help strengthen your case if you have to go down that route.

I wouldn't have thought a drill could get so hot it would melt a carpet though. As surely it would burn the operators hand before it would melt a carpet?

Has there been anyone in your home who uses straighteners at all? Just one of my friends once had a melted v in her carpet for that very reason. Or is there anyone other than yourself who has access to the property?

Darkangel

unholyangel wrote: »

How old is the carpet?

Small claims goes on balance of probabilities. If (for example) you only got the carpet 2 days previously and haven't been living in the house (at least I think that's what you said!), it could help strengthen your case if you have to go down that route.

I wouldn't have thought a drill could get so hot it would melt a carpet though. As surely it would burn the operators hand before it would melt a carpet?

Has there been anyone in your home who uses straighteners at all? Just one of my friends once had a melted v in her carpet for that very reason. Or is there anyone other than yourself who has access to the property?

The carpet is 3 years old. It a relatively new build and I am the 2nd person to live in that flat.

The mark was definitely not there when I moved in, and noone else has had access to the property without me being there (I live there on my own).

I only got the keys a couple of weeks ago, only slept over once and that was the night before the bed delivery on an inflatable mattress. Even the day I moved my stuff in I didn't spend the night because I didn't have a bed, and nothing was put in the bedroom on moving day as I had carpet cleaners around.

I think the head of the drill where the drill bit is melted the carpet.

maninthestreet

Is it possible to hide the mark under a rug?

unholyangel

Darkangel wrote: »

The carpet is 3 years old. It a relatively new build and I am the 2nd person to live in that flat.

The mark was definitely not there when I moved in, and noone else has had access to the property without me being there (I live there on my own).

I only got the keys a couple of weeks ago, only slept over once and that was the night before the bed delivery on an inflatable mattress. Even the day I moved my stuff in I didn't spend the night because I didn't have a bed, and nothing was put in the bedroom on moving day as I had carpet cleaners around.

I think the head of the drill where the drill bit is melted the carpet.

What size of burn are we talking here? The drill bit itself couldn't have melted the carpet as then it would just be a straight line. Or do you mean its 2 burns intersecting each other (sorry trying to get a clearer image)? Do you own the home or is it rented?

As for the carpet being 3 years old and installed previously....it does muddy things slightly. You didn't pay out for the original carpet. Okay you are having to replace the carpet earlier but as you paid nothing for the original carpet.....you're not actually losing any money from having to replace it early (where if you had paid for it, you'd be losing a few years off its lifespan perhaps). And that's worst case scenario (where carpet is totally ruined and not repairable.

Someone may have a differing opinion but in my own, the £28 may not be such a bad offer after all.

Darkangel

I was hoping to hide it under furniture, but can't because it's too far away from the surrounding walls.

Here are a couple of photos I took, and the marks are 2 straight lines. I am more angry that Warren Evans refuse to take any responsibility for the damage.

Poppie68

Would anyone putting a bed together need to use a drill bit that size? If you look at the marks in relation to the drawers in the pic they look too wide and long for a simple drill bit...but maybe i'm wrong.

earthstorm

Ive assembled many beds and have yet to use a drill as all the holes are already pre drilled and its just a case of gluing dowel or using nuts/bolts/screws.

Darkangel

Well then, I must have imagined the loud drilling-like noise I heard as they assembled my bed, along with the tools they carried in with them.

The bed was made to order and assembly was part of the service they offered. It may not have been a drill bit, it may have been a screwdriver bit. Fact is those marks were not there prior to the workmen coming.

neilmcl

Darkangel wrote: »

I was hoping to hide it under furniture, but can't because it's too far away from the surrounding walls.

Here are a couple of photos I took, and the marks are 2 straight lines. I am more angry that Warren Evans refuse to take any responsibility for the damage.

It would be difficult to say that this was caused by a drill. I'm not convinced.