Dry cleaners have ruined dress and getting married on Tuesday.

Bumbles2

I am really upset and don't know what to do about it. Last week I took 3 shirts, 1 suit and 1 bridesmaid dress to my local dry cleaners. I am new to the area and I haven't used them before. I asked for the following

3 shirts washed and pressed

1 suit dry cleaned

1 bridesmaid dress hemmed

When I picked the items up I got back to my car and hung the items in the back. When I did this I noticed there was oil stains on the dress. I took this back and asked what it was. They had no idea but said they would dry clean the dress first thing in the morning (thurs) and call me by 9.30am to tell me if the stain had come out. 9.30am comes and goes and no phone call. I call them at 10.30am and the same lady says it hasn't even been started yet as waiting for her boss. I went to the cleaners at 12.00 to found out in person what was going on. The dress was in the machine. I also took the 3 shirts back as these had been washed but not pressed to which the lady agreed and offered to do it that afternoon. Finally in the afternoon I get a call saying the stain hasn't come out! I go to the Cleaners and the dress is a mess. The shirts still have creases as according to the lady they are too dry to iron properly and to get the best result they would need to be cleaned again.

The lady was really rude and when I asked for a refund of the costs and the dress she refused and ordered me out of the shop. I stood my ground and refused to move. She called her boss. Her boss offered me a refund on the alterations of the dress and the cost of the dress. MY WEDDING IS ON TUESDAY! I can't replace this dress. The only thing I can do is go to London and buy 3 completely different dresses this weekend so they all match.

Do I have any rights here? I really need some help

isme_2

I have no idea, but i couldnt read and not post.. What a nightmare..
I really really hope you manage to sort something out..

Good luck.

melancholly

oh no - nightmare
what dress is it? you never know the powers of MSEr's to find items online/locally and help!

don't let this ruin the build up to the big day. i would get something in writing to the dry cleaner describing their inability to do their job or to even keep their own promises about contacting you. then wait and see what happens. are they part of a chain or are they independent?

Bumbles2

I think they are independent. I don't recognise the name as a chain. I could possilbly get the dress but it needs to be altered as well. Wedding is on Tues.

melancholly

if you post your location you may find that someone can recommend somewhere local to do the alterations (do them well as well as quickly!).

if the bridesmaid dress is only 90% perfect rather than 100% you will still have an amazing wedding! that's not much help now, but i'd hate to think that this idiot dry cleaners makes you lose sleep in the next few days!

Bumbles2

I live in Fareham. Can anyone recommend a GOOD place?

melancholly

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=7241491#post7241491

i've posted on the local moneysaving board incase you get more replies there!

whitewing

I am hopeless at dresses etc. What you could try is taking a photo of the dress, stain etc, and posting it in the Old Style board for their advice. I am sure there are some geniuses on there who can help out with some creative ideas

Bumbles2

Thank you everyone. I appreciate all your help

lynzpower

My understanding is that there is no come back from dry cleaners who ruin stuff.

However, I would certainyl speak to your local trading standards team. If indeed you had a builder come to put new windows in and they damaged them so badlythey were unusable, then Im certian you would have some come back under the suppply of goods & services act. logiv tells me this cant be much different.

Do you have contents or wedding insurance that would cover these?

melancholly

just wanted to say that i hope the big day went really really well!!