Pet Shop Problem (Small claims court)

malcassy

Yes I think so. I feel we have been treated badly, We went to a pet shop to get a professional service from a store who we thought could give us advice. They are a large chain and not a small shop

We have lost a huge sum of money because of their mistakes and too be fair it was a very stressful time

Im just a little lost now as not sure how this process actually works.
I have already suggested mediation but they refused to go with that and now they want to go for the mediation.
if i agree to that do i have to pay for the fees for the court again?

DoaM

No, mediation is a (voluntary, not obligatory) stage between filing the claim and the hearing.

waamo

The next fee you pay is a hearing fee. You only pay this is mediation fails and you wish to proceed to a court hearing.

DoaM

For info, mediation involves both you and them on the phone with a mediator. The mediator acts as a go-between and relays the proposals and answers between each party - you don't talk directly with the other party.

The intent is to reach an agreeable compromise position in order to avoid a hearing and using up court time. But as said, there's no obligation to use mediation, and if you do there's no obligation to reach a compromise either. The judge will be aware as to whether mediation was undertaken, but it shouldn't cloud his/her judgment - he/she should base this on the evidence presented at the hearing.

malcassy

DoaM wrote: »

For info, mediation involves both you and them on the phone with a mediator. The mediator acts as a go-between and relays the proposals and answers between each party - you don't talk directly with the other party.

The intent is to reach an agreeable compromise position in order to avoid a hearing and using up court time. But as said, there's no obligation to use mediation, and if you do there's no obligation to reach a compromise either. The judge will be aware as to whether mediation was undertaken, but it shouldn't cloud his/her judgment - he/she should base this on the evidence presented at the hearing.

Thanks for taking the time and explaining that too me. I was willing to do the mediation before it got this far.
[FONT=&quot]Will give it a try and see what happens[/FONT]
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pulliptears

Malcassy, can I point you in the direction of The Guinea Pig Room on facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheGuineaPigRoom/

Wont help you with this, but if you decide to get another piggy you'll get all the help and advice you need there. That said, might be worth asking if any of the members have come across the pet shop you used?

malcassy

pulliptears wrote: »

Malcassy, can I point you in the direction of The Guinea Pig Room on facebook.

Wont help you with this, but if you decide to get another piggy you'll get all the help and advice you need there. That said, might be worth asking if any of the members have come across the pet shop you used?

Thanks for the info will take a look.

We have already got him a new companion now, We decided to go to a rescue center and got him a friend, its a shame we didnt go there in the first place..

malcassy

Ok the pet shop agreed to the mediation process and i was given a date for it to take place was told to put an hour aside, so i thought was finally going to have my say.
Just received an email from the small claims (moneyclaims)

Which reads i have to now file form N180 and the pet shop have sent this email


Good Morning,

We have decided that mediation is not a route that we would like to take, please can you stop the mediation process.

Kindest regards

Jollyes Customer Services




So what are my options now?

waamo

Return the DQ, pay the hearing fee and prepare to go to court.

LadyDee

malcassy wrote: »

Yes we did research guinea pigs, When we bought Boris the first guinea pig, we went prepared to buy two that day but was told by the store assistant that wasn't necessary as it could live happily on its own, this isn't true as they prefer to be in groups!
He also gave us wrong info about their food and the size of cage it needed, but thats not what this is about.
If they are not sure of the sex of the animals they should tell you they cant be sure.

Sorry, you obviously did not do your research - you relied on information given to you by a salesman. A simple Google search would have given you better guidance before you even went to a pet shop.