SCS - Carpet Fitters and GDPR

barrowvian

Hi all,

I bought a carpet from SCS and arranged a fitting date. I took a days vacation from work. The fitter never turned up, not even a phone call. I called SCS who said I needed to contact the fitter directly, despite them never giving me any details for him. They provided his first name and contact number. I called him and he just said he was busy and that I'd need to book a new date with SCS. I called SCS, who subsequently told me to contact the fitter directly.

After much back and forth, the fitter provided a new date. To accommodate this date I needed to take an unpaid day off work. However, the fitter never turned up again. I should have really seen that one coming. I called the fitter who again said he was busy and that I'd need to book it in again. SCS have been just as useless trying to get them to organise anything too. SCS basically say that they're only responsible for the carpet and not the fitter as they're self employed.

I called the fitter again, who said I'd now have to wait til next year. Closer to the end of January 2019. Rather than have to go through that mess again I decided to find an independent fitter who wouldn't mess us around. I booked in an alternative fitter, he turned up and fitted the carpet. All good. The new fitter was more expensive than the fitter that was agreed through SCS.

I'd thinking of making a claim against SCS / the fitter for consequential losses due to having to take an unpaid day off work due to them not turning up, as well as the difference in carpet fitting.

My question is about where I stand, who I hold responsible and how to take action against them. SCS are saying it's the fitters responsibility as I would have had to pay him directly, and that no money for the fitting would have passed to SCS. The fitter is now just ignoring me and my calls don't go through so I'm assuming he's blocked me. I called Citizens Advise and explained all this to them and they said it appears to be the fitter I would need to chase. As the fitter is ignoring me, it's impossible to get any further details from him. I called SCS and stating my intent but they said they cannot give me any further details for the fitter due to GDPR.

Is there any legal way I can obtain the fitters details via SCS? Or can they just hide behind GDPR meaning I can't take any further action?

Any advise would be appreciated, thank you.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Tricky one, it does say in their T&Cs SCS do not fit carpets and they are really passing the buck to the fitter.

You could email the Chief Executive office at SCS (email available on ceo email website) or pester than on Facebook or Twitter for some kind of good will gesture.

Sadly I don't think you have any legal remedy against SCS.

Have you tried putting the unreliable fitters phone number in Google, Facebook, Twitter to see if you can find a full name, with that you might be able to find an address on 192.

This is why it's best to avoid these big companies, carpet prices aren't too bad but the discounts are not what they seem, the extras are often expensive and their service often poor.

Too late now I know but you are better off with a local carpet shop or buying online and using your own fitter next time you need carpet.

barrowvian

I've pinged off messages to their Exec Office and the Complaints email they supplied. I'm not going to hold my breath getting anywhere with them.

CAB also advised following up with the Ombudsman to see if they can be leveraged. Not sure how likely that'll be but it's always worth a try.

peter_the_piper

Are you allowed to organise your own fitter, considering how much of a runaround you have been given?

Hermione_Granger

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Are you allowed to organise your own fitter, considering how much of a runaround you have been given?

The did organise their own fitter and the carpet has now been fitted by them.

powerful_Rogue

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Are you allowed to organise your own fitter, considering how much of a runaround you have been given?

Already has.

I booked in an alternative fitter, he turned up and fitted the carpet. All good. The new fitter was more expensive than the fitter that was agreed through SCS.

barrowvian

I've just had a phone call from SCS and they have refunded the additional costs we incurred for the fitting.

I guess time and process will tell if I can get the fitters details now he's hidden behind GDPR rules. I guess time will tell.