Carpet order gone awry

Legacy_user

I'm hoping this is relatively straightforward.

I purchased a carpet and materials from a carpet shop, and by coincidence they also recommend ''approved'' fitters. I decided to use one of their fitters rather than find my own and the nearest date the fitter could offer was two weeks away. So I agreed (continued work elsewhere in the house) and on the day the fitter was due I phoned him (as he had not arrived) and he took delight in telling me the carpet was not available the day prior when he went to collect it and so the carpet would not be fitted. The salesperson who was dealing with me on the shop floor admitted over the phone that is was a ''logistical error'' yet the management appear to be very stubborn and concetied by approach and are refusing to offer me any compensation for their mistake.

It is a rental property and the completion date has been affected by the delay of the carpet by another 2 weeks as that was the soonest available time that it could be finally fitted. Naturally I chose another fitter the second time. The price of the carpet and materials was between £700-800 not including the fitting fee.

Do I have grounds for legal action here? I was hoping for some valuable information before I spend any time investigating legal options and contacting the relevant authorities. I have had no luck from the store manager

wealdroam

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

I'm hoping this is relatively straightforward.

I purchased a carpet and materials from a carpet shop, and by coincidence they also recommend ''approved'' fitters. I decided to use one of their fitters rather than find my own and the nearest date the fitter could offer was two weeks away. So I agreed (continued work elsewhere in the house) and on the day the fitter was due I phoned him (as he had not arrived) and he took delight in telling me the carpet was not available the day prior when he went to collect it and so the carpet would not be fitted. The salesperson who was dealing with me on the shop floor admitted over the phone that is was a ''logistical error'' yet the management appear to be very stubborn and concetied by approach and are refusing to offer me any compensation for their mistake.

It is a rental property and the completion date has been affected by the delay of the carpet by another 2 weeks as that was the soonest available time that it could be finally fitted. Naturally I chose another fitter the second time. The price of the carpet and materials was between £700-800 not including the fitting fee.

Do I have grounds for legal action here? I was hoping for some valuable information before I spend any time investigating legal options and contacting the relevant authorities. I have had no luck from the store manager

Have a read of MSE's Failed Delivery article.

You will have to think a bit laterally, but in there you will find details of what sort of compensation you are entitled to and how to get it.

Things might be slightly different as you are a business customer rather than a consumer.

System

Thanks for posting that's very informative.

In my case the fitter picked up the carpet from the shop in the van (or should I say tried to pick it up but could not) I wonder if this still applies?

hollydays

Carpetright?

System

No this was an independent carpet shop. I'd rather not say as I'm not the slanderous type but it's definitely not somewhere I would ever shop again. It's full of 'not my problem' employees, very poor all round.

I'm going to ring around tomorrow starting with trading standards to see if I'm in with a chance

wealdroam

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

In my case the fitter picked up the carpet from the shop in the van (or should I say tried to pick it up but could not) I wonder if this still applies?

Yes of course it still applies.

The difficulty you have is who you should actually be pursuing for any loss... the carpet seller or the carpet fitter.

in my opinion, both have failed. The seller should've told you there was a problem, but even if they hadn't realised there was a problem, as soon as the fitter tried to collect the carpet, one of them should have let you know about the delay.

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

I'm going to ring around tomorrow starting with trading standards to see if I'm in with a chance

Start by ringing the Consumer Advice Helpline - 03454 04 05 06

They may be able to help you, but as this is a business to business transaction, they may consider it to be outside their remit.

Trading Standards departments tend not to get involved in individual complaints/advice these days.

Unless you made time of the essence, and advised the supplier of the potential rental income losses at the time of purchase, I do not believe the supplier has to cover what are effectively unknown, and unreasonably foreseeable, consequential losses.

If it went to court, the best you could hope for is the recovery of your direct losses.