Please Don't P1ss Me Off!!!

For those who know me on-line, you are well aware that I am fairly laid back, very polite, always fair and when needs be very diplomatic. So why is it in life, people think they can treat you like shit?

I have had an awful morning due to a UK company that can't get their heads out of their own arses. You can tell by now, that I am steaming and a tad upset.

When I am 'right', I argue to the death, some see it a bit of a blight, but if I don't stick up for myself then who will?

In November I bought a new computer with a flat screen to go with it, and it was to be my daughters christams present, however, my own conked out, and is very ill. So we decided instead, that we buy her a laptop and that I would have the new computer. (Two weeks had lapsed by now).
I took it out of the box and because it has areas that can easily scratch, I left the cling film covering on those areas. Then placed it into my solid wood computer desk.

Ok the easy bits done just got to install, make back up disk, install internet, security etc etc and off we go. Easy peesy.

Hmmmmm, seems a bit slower than my last one, but hey, I'm using a different security set up than before, sooooooooo..........

2 weeks down the line, Christams arrives and I start to notice the mouse doesnt seem to work right. Click, click, click, for just one action. Maybe because it an old style roller ball one. But I carry on using it.

Come last night, I've had enough, and the computer is now very slow. So I decide to put my old infer red mouse in the unit. Out comes the unit, in goes the new mouse, and then just as I'm about to put the unit back into the desk I noticed that on the top there is a red light flashing, something I had never seen before.

Being nosy and just about seeing through the cling film I can see an icon, something like a 'dustbin' next to the light, 'what that?'. Then, eek, 'WHAT THAT?'. There is a mark under the cling film, peelig it back carefully, it reveals that there is a crack about an inch long, along the top!

OK something is not right here.

Off to the shop I go, with the unit under my arm. Customer service department. The guy behind the counter is not impressed, and basically says there is nothing he can do, since 28 days have lapsed. And that it should have been bought back before now. That's crap as far as I'm concerned. I explain to him that you can't see the crack as the film in over it, and actually you can only see it in a certain light, he still wouldn't budge. OK fair enough I'll speak to the manager then. The Manager arrives and says the same, I tell him the policy stinks, and also that remember this a product that was bought for Christmas, as many parents do they don't leave it close to Christmas to buy big pressies like this, still nothing. I'm mad now. And get the distinct impression they are calling me a liar and that I must have cracked it myself. The Manager in the end says get in touch with the manufacturer, as they don't repair items at the shop, this makes me laugh, this outlet is one of the biggest in the country.

Steaming is how I feel walking out of there, followed by my mum, who is loudly saying that no more items would be bought from the shop:) (Got to love mums).

Back home, OK try the manufacturer. On the phone, explain the situation, and still nothing, except, and wait for this, an engineer would be out within the next 24hrs to fix it, but I would be charged for parts. I DON'T THINK SO!
And why would I be charged, 'Because I can't prove that I didn't do it'

Conversation over.

Really pissed now, so I get the phone number for the head office, of the company that I bought this computer off. I get through to a nice young lady who puts me through to the Investigation Office.
Explained again the situation, and yet again you get the distinct impression he is accusing me of cracking the unit. We go back and forth for about 10 minutes, neither one of us giving in.
He was convinced, that none of their products arrive to their shops damaged because they are packed in polystryne. Of course how silly of me, polystryne the indestructable material, ha ha don't make me laugh.
'Fine, so you prove to me that none of your products don't arrive damaged!'
'I don't have to the onus is on you' he replied.

That did it........... I'd had enough.........

I asked for a replacement and he flatly refused, 'So there fore your company sells shoddy goods then', he refused to comment on that. There was no customer care at all there.

My parting words were, 'I'll get in touch with Watchdog then' (TV comsumer programme)I received a nice curt and loud 'FINE' down the phone has I ended the phone call.

And thats what I have done, reported them to Watchdog. Somethign may happen, something may not. It'll be a case of wait and see.

And if the engineer tries to charge me for parts, he will find that I will refuse and tell them to send them to *****.. The company that thinks all customers are liars and that polystyrne can stop damage to their products.