Warning about Comet - open those sealed boxes

Fella

One of my friends always employs the same tactic when he gets terrible CS. He writes a letter to every member of the board's home address (get's them from Who's Who usually). He's achieved excellent results that way.

rissott

Im having a similar problem

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=616421&highlight=comet

Consumer Direct believe they are in the wrong on mine.

This could be a big issue around chrimbo.

JasonLVC

roddydogs wrote: »

How on earth does buying online help? you then have the problem that you have to return by Post/courier:rolleyes:

Because if the product is faulty then the store is liable, in law, for the return postage cost and on top of that, distance selling regulations will be harder for the to circumnavigate with BS like "we don't do returns" as per the OP.

Can't see the difference between having to drive/take the bus back to the town store and walking/driving to local post office?.

How does this help the OP?.

Blacksheep1979

JasonLVC wrote: »

Because if the product is faulty then the store is liable, in law, for the return postage cost

only if they don't mention anywhere in their t&c's that you are liable for return postage - something most stores now do.

JasonLVC

Loads of high street shops have signs (T&C's) saying no refunds, etc but they do not over-ride the various Consumer Protection Acts.

An online shop, if it sells you something (distance selling) and the item is broken/defective then they cannot charge you a restocking fee, admin fee or lump the postage onto you - they must refund it. It's in the law. If the item is unwanted, then of course, that is a different matter altogether.

It's different for retail shops, if you order a fridge in store, it's delivered and broken and you demand a full refund to go elsewhere then the delivery cost doesn;t need to be refunded as not a distance selling purchase

Of course, many websites such as unbeatable.co.uk spout such rubbish in their T&C's, but if challenged they have not a leg to stand on and they rely upon consumers to be lazy and not bothered with persuing the matter, which is why they have such T&C's and get away with it.

spinks

I have experienced similar problems with shops refusing to refund or exchange faulty or damaged goods.

The advice from Consumer Direct for me was that the onus is on the retailer to prove that there was no fault with the product at the time of purchase and therefore under The Sale of Goods Act you are entitled to a repair or replacement and at the stores discretion a refund.

I think that what you are asking for is a reasonable request so would advise you to go back to the store quoting the above and that you will take the matter to the Small Claims Court if need be and if you still get no joy then try writing a letter as suggested before to the Managing Director.

I have to say though so far I have never found a store to try to put up any further barriers once they are informed of that.

In the meantime, get in contact with your local radio station and papers newsrooms and see if you can get somebody on side who would be willing to take up your story. If they are any good then they may contact Comets press office on your behalf or else contact them yourself and inform them of what has happened and if they don't help you by putting you in contact with the best person in the company to resolve the matter then you will be using your contact within your local media to take up the story.

Email: [EMAIL="newsroom@comet.co.uk"]newsroom@comet.co.uk[/EMAIL]

Telephone: + 44 (0)7000 425 425

Fax: +44 (0)20 7413 3161

This advice may seem rather extreme but I can assure you that following this routine has in the past helped to resolve issues with an independent retailer, Argos, 3 Mobile and Abbey National very much to my advantage.

Good luck!

roddydogs

JasonLVC wrote: »

Because if the product is faulty then the store is liable, in law, for the return postage cost and on top of that, distance selling regulations will be harder for the to circumnavigate with BS like "we don't do returns" as per the OP.

Can't see the difference between having to drive/take the bus back to the town store and walking/driving to local post office?.

How does this help the OP?.

Thats all very well ,but have you tried it? youve got to arrange the courier, pay for it, then youve got to prove you didnt damage it,and some online sites dont have phone nos, or addresses, and just dont answer e-mails they dont like!

Optimist

JasonLVC wrote: »

Managing Director is :- Mr Hugh Harvey

Address is :-

Comet Group plc
Comet House
Three Rivers Court
Rickmansworth,
Hertfordshire,
WD3 1FX

Another cheeky tip is to somewhere in the letter to subtley mention that "as a shareholder, I am disappointed in the levels of service the company is offering to its customers".

If your going to say your a shareholder then say your a shareholder of Kesa Electricals plc as Comet it a wholly owned subsidiary of Kesa

ajaxgeezer

Optimist wrote: »

If your going to say your a shareholder then say your a shareholder of Kesa Electricals plc as Comet it a wholly owned subsidiary of Kesa

.....why lie about the shareholder thing at all? A very good case can be spoilt and discredited by a pointless lie.

smcaul

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

only if they don't mention anywhere in their t&c's that you are liable for return postage - something most stores now do.

Since when have a stores T&C's been able to overwrite consumer law? On those T&C's it will say "Does not affect your statutory rights", that takes precedence over anything they write. Which means they are liable for postage costs on faulty goods.