Homebase Problems, Help!

nessaette

Hi, i've just registered so if i have posted in the wrong place the i do apologise. I've been having a problem with Homebase and i've now very upset and stressed if you could take the time and read and share your view i would be most grateful. Well here it is;

on the 10/5/08 i ordered a bed, a mattress, a wardrobe, a bedside cabinet and a chest of drawers from my local homebase store and it came to a cost of 539.91p including the delivery. i was told at the time of ordering that ALL the items were in stock so delivery would be 5 weeks (14th june) on the 11th june 3 days before i was supposed to have everything delivered i received a letter telling me that there was a shortage of stock (even though i was told when ordering everything was in stock) and it would be in stock on the 25th june so i'd received a call to arrange a delivery date. i e-mailed this address [EMAIL="hdcc@argos.co.uk"]hdcc@argos.co.uk[/EMAIL] with a complaint on this day asking to atleast reply to me by the next day (12 june) which they didn't reply until the 18th june and when they did they stated that my order was due on the 24th june. i also called them the next day on the 12th june and was told by the person on the phone that i would received all the items on or before the 25 - i actually read out the letter to her on the phone as it states something completly different but she still said that i would get it on or before the 25th of june, so i thought to my self thats fine i'll wait and see what happens i phoned again on the 24th to see what was happening and was told on the phone that everything was on track and i would received a call either today or tomorrow (25th) today is the 25th of june and by 1pm no one had called me so i decided to call again to see what was happening when i got through i was told that there had been a second delay and stock wasn't due in until the 8th july - i only found out about this delay because i had called to see what was happening and the day before was told that everything was okay! as you can see i'm not very happy i've taken time of work to receive delivery and i paid for these items on a credit card to i'm paying intrest on items i don't even have.

i don't know what your thoughts on this matter are, i have no idea if i have any legal rights or anything i'm so very angry at the way i've been treated and i just don't know what to do next. i feel cheated. further more on all the items that i've ordered on the homebase website ALL of them are in stock to be delivered - would this be false advertising i just don't know

i'm sorry that this has been an epic tale, but i just had to vent somewhere.

thanks for listening.

olly300

The only thing you can legally do is demand a refund as you haven't received the goods within 28 days or the time stated. Argos, who incidentally provide all Homebase furnishings, are not liable for you taking time off work or the interest on your credit card. Argos have a history of doing this I am definitely sure there were complaints on Watchdog about their service. I suggest you contact Consumer Direct - http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/ - for more advice.

BTW the way to deal with Argos is send them a letter by Special Delivery with the detailed consequences of what will happen if they don't reply giving them 14 days to reply. Otherwise they will not bother responding to your letter.

PaulLuke

As far as I am aware you don't have a legal right to demand a refund for late delivery unless and until you have made 'time of the essence' which has the effect of laying down a time limit within which the goods must be delivered or you would expect a refund. Delivery times at the time of order are generally viewed as being an indication/estimate only.

What you do depends upon whether or not you want the furniture. If you still want the furniture then I would write to them (or email) stating that you are very unhappy with the service you have received and you feel that a compensatory payment or some other form of recompense would go some way to improving your view of them. Also ask for a confirmed delivery date, stating that you are making time of the essence and that you reserve your right to cancel the order if it is not delivered by the new date.

If you no longer want the furniture then I would (again in writing) contact them saying that you no longer want the furniture and given the delays you have experienced want the order cancelled. It is possible, although I suspect unlikely, that they may say the order cannot be cancelled. If they do this then tell them that you are making time of the essence and that if it is not delivered within say 28 days you will cancel the order.

Freshface

I Have had this kind of service from Homebase, i ordered a sink and base unit on the 31st Dec, i was told the sale ends, strange as it seems, by the following day, so in i went to make my purchase, FRANKE Sink and base.
the call came 3 days before the date, i paid extra for the quick delivery.
on the day nothing arrived, made some calls, told it was cancelled, phone the shop where the purchase was made, told no it is not cancelled, back on the despatch people, confusion set in, stating all kinds of weird and wonderful stories, like i ordered a transit van, for the delivery etc, eventually i got the items ordered, not until i started to put everything together, it was discovered the centre section was missing, i had no idea about this centre section, all items on list looked correct.

made some calls it was agreed it would be dispatched the following day, then nothing more calls, they had no idea about the missing item, stating they have no idea about this item, off to the shop, explained to the person who sold me the item, first the Sale i noticed had not finished, he ignored me when i challenged him about this, as i had to make a special visit on New Years day based on his statement, not sure if you know this but the FRANKE sinks are very expensive.
He said we supply the section it wanted, i challenged him again stating you sold me, and i showed him the setup i thought i was purchasing, and was agreed at point of sale, i get what i see, he said at the time yet, you get all this, he came up with the idea, i would have to build it myself, well not quite as simple i said, what about the front section, for the centre bit, oh, heres a door, if you break it down, remove one of the sides that will do it.

well i have never had to deal with homebase before, i actually thought they were a good company, i complained and to head office , asking them to pass my complaint to the chief Executive, well first they just ignore you for months on end, its now July 2008, and no one can give me any answers.
Home base i will never shop at any of their stores ever again. ignorant Company. wish you luck with your delema.