Bike hire bikes were dangerous- who to report to

yelf

Hello. I hired some bikes today from the 3rd party company at Tatton Hall today.  My bikes brakes did not work (the back one not at all and the front one only just). My daughters bikes brake levels kept moving to the point one of them was facing backwards and completely unusable. And the gear knobs was broken.
My partners tyre became totally flat during the ride.
I paid £35 instead of £40 (as my partner could only rode her bike fkr half the time)-and this was after receiving a barrage of abuse and threats from the shop keeper.

She basically admitted the bikes weren't safe and "you shouldn't expect brakes for £5 an hour" said it all.

I will notify the National Trust.  But which authority should I inform as someone could easily come to harm on these dodgy ill kept bikes

Okell

I don't think there is one.

You could try going to CAB and ask them to refer your complaint to Trading Standards.  Make it clear to CAB that you aren't asking for advice on a refund etc but you are reporting a health and safety risk to consumers

You could also try Health and safety executive.

Vectis

Yes, but as soon as you get on the bike, surely you test the brakes?

And, if not straight away, you're presumably using them within a short distance of the hire shop? Why didn't you take them back immediately, why keep on using them if you didn't think they were safe?

TELLIT01

A flat tyre can happen at any time and doesn't mean a bike was dangerous.  The brakes are another matter and I would agree with previous suggestion to contact CAB for advise.