Garden Buildings Direct / BillyOh / Kybotech – small claims mediation pending. Any experiences?

GeoffsShed

How I wish I had checked this Forum before buying a shed from Garden Buildings Direct (instead of only looking at the quick and places to check). It is clear from comments here over many years what sort of company they are. Their profits seem to be invested in marketing and clever legal drafting/protection but not in sourcing good-quality sheds, delivery services or support staff (ie what one might be thought of as a shed business). IMHO.

Inevitably I am now in a small-claims dispute with Garden Buildings Direct (Kybotech Ltd) over delayed delivery and related costs. Delivery windows were set out in writing on the day of order and acknowledged by the company, but they ultimately dropped off parts outside those windows and with further issues.

The company relies on its T&Cs (of course) but has made a without-prejudice settlement offer. I have a telephone mediation scheduled.

I’d be grateful to hear from anyone who has:

• dealt with Garden Buildings Direct / BillyOh / Kybotech in a dispute, or

• been through small-claims mediation with this company.

Interested particularly in whether these suppliers tend to improve their position during mediation.

Thanks in advance.

TimeLord1

Focus on the Consumer Rights Act 2015: Instead of just arguing about their T&Cs, lean on the law. Goods must be "as described" and delivered within a "reasonable time." If they missed a contractually agreed window, they may be in breach of contract regardless of what their small print says about "estimates. Never accept a first offer; it's their lowest amount.

GreatUncleBulgariaC

How are you getting on with this / what stage are you at? I took them on robustly and got a full Section 75 refund. Was that not an option?

vikingaero

One of my friends wanted advice on buying a Shed and I told him to avoid GBD & Kybo.

GeoffsShed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81896337#Comment_81896337

Thanks. My understanding is that to raise a Section 75 dispute with PayPal, one needs to do this within 180 days of purchase. My problem started with a delivery that fell outside 180 days.

GeoffsShed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81837233#Comment_81837233

V good advice.

GeoffsShed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81907365#Comment_81907365

I second that!

GreatUncleBulgariaC

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81940721#Comment_81940721

The 180 days starts from delivery not order. You are today (02/05/2026) still within 180 days. Get your claim in ASAP.

Okell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81940721#Comment_81940721

No.

You need to distinguish between a s75 claim against your credit provider under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, a chargeback claim against your bank, and whatever protection PayPal gives you

s75 has no time limit apart from 6 years for breach of contract under the Limitation Act 1980.

The question is whether s75 applies in your case.

Was the purchase in excess of £100 and was the transaction with PayPal a consumer credit agreement regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974? (Clue - I have no idea if it was regulated or not as I don't know how PayPal works - I only ever pay direct by credit card to ensure s75 cover).

A chargeback claim is different from s75 and is time limited by your bank, but has no minimum spend limit.

I have no idea what protection PayPal offers as I've never paid by PayPal.

DorsetMum7677

We bought a £2144 summerhouse/shed from this company in 2020 and the same conversation comes up every summer when sat in our locally purchased, good quality summerhouse that we purchased the following year, from a long standing reputable firm - how is this company still trading? Countless complaints on various review platforms (GBD appear to have deleted their details from Google, so that Google Reviews no longer link to the company) from people experiencing the same issues we did. Poor delivery, missing, broken and sodden parts, rusting door handles, nails and screws and parts that simply don't fit together. We made the enormous mistake not to return it all immediately and instead and rather naively, built the summerhouse in the hope that it would turn out alright. But it just got worse. During the first rainfall the poor quality tongue and groove leaked and by the winter, white mould was developing on the inside. By this time we had been in contact with GBD customer service for many months arguing with them that the building was not fit for purpose. Amongst many ridiculous suggestions this company made, the final recommendation they gave us, before we took this to the Small Claims Court, was to leave the doors of the shed open during the winter, to allow the wood to breath! It took 9 months of constant emails and letters, a mediation telephone call that they did not attend and an 11th hour offer to return most of our money (minus £300) before a Small Claims hearing the following day, for the matter to be drawn to a close. We should have held out for the full amount. However having spent more money painting and fixing issues to eventually hiring a skip to remove it, it was time to move on and count our losses. I did report this to our local Trading Standards but it seems to go nowhere. Anyone would think I'm obsessed by the matter, but I hate to hear that so many other people are still falling foul of GBDs shocking Standards, 6 years on from our experience.