Customer Services

[milly143]

When you have had a problem and needed to contact customer services, which companies have proved to be the best and the worst you have encountered?

[GucciGal]

Russel and Bromley and Oakley have been superb in the past. Personally All Saints and Reiss have been disapointing.

[JulieEve]

Thomas Pink - absolutely refused to exchange a pair of unopened gift-wrapped boxer shorts on the grounds that they were underwear.

I had bought two pairs and it was obvious on opening the first pair that othe others would be too large - and I just needed to exchange for a size smaller.  I thought this was very unreasonable.  (There's no way I would return worn underwear!!)

Am I wrong?

[boobesque]

not if it was clear that the box hadnt been opened, when i worked in argos you couldnt return earrings and we used to get some serious abuse!

worst place for me, burtons, no one knew what they were doing!

Best- asda, i took a non stick pan back once and got a nasty service lady, so i complained to head office in writing and got a �20 voucher! and letter of apology.

[gem_mother]

Gainsborough showers.  The other week we fitted a new shower which dripped constantly so I e-mailed them to ask for ideas about how to fix it.  They phoned me the  next day and arranged for someone to come and replace the unit a day or two later.

[mystress]

This is a very interesting question,and it has made my mind really think(something it hasn't done in ages!LOL) So thanks milly!

Best(Superb, without doubt):~ Dyson Vacuum Cleaners Customer Service.The staff are friendly INCREDIBLY knowledgeable about their products,and spares etc are despatched with lightning speed.

Worst.(Really Bad):~ Boots Opticians.I bought some spectacles from them, and over 2 years they developed 2 major faults.I had to threaten the branch,and then their Managing Director with the Small Claims Court,and the Sale of Goods Act before they did anything.

Should we suggest a category on AB called "Name and Shame" just for this specific purpose?

[chazza]

worst - topshop - www.tops.co.uk.

 

The clothes dont come in time, they ignore their emails and when you phone them you get cut off without being able to talk to anyone. Horrendous service!

[JulieEve]

A good one... Agent Provocateur online.  Rang me at home on a Sunday to say an item I ordered was out of stock and suggested a replacement.  Was very impressed!

[milly143]

In my opinion Powegen and BT are on par to be the worst. You have to go through a million options before you can actually speak to someone.

Argos are one of the best I have encountered, always seem to know what they are talking about and if they say they will call you back, they actually do.

[k8tkoo]

Worst - Hendy Ford. They've put me off getting another ford EVER. They always seem to get it sooo wrong! Not only did they dent my car on two separate occasions but also tried to blame me both times( I won't start a rant because they're so rubbish I could be banned from posting with the amount I'd need to write! )

Best ever are figleaves.com - even when they don't have stuff in stock they keep you constantly informed. Also everything I've ordered from there has fitted me perfectly and arrived within 2 days.

[mfewell]

HSBC, and Bordeaux Direct wines.

You get a real person.

[nicola_red]

Worst are British Gas.  I won't go into detail about my fight with them but suffice it to say that the local papers and TV station got involved and I still didn't get so much as an apology from them.

The best have been Orange - I lost my phone last week and they've been really helpful. 

[Becci_0927]

Worst is empire direct an online shop. Ordered a an mp3 player from them got a phone call from them saying that the product was out of order so they had cancelled my order but taken the money. After lots of phones calls I cancelled my order with them and they said they would delete all my records. Two years since that i am still getting letters from them saying that I jave had my product for two years now and stuff about insurance for my product even though i never got the product because i cancelled the order. would never use them again as they were very unhelpfull.

[mullein 3]

4 sight opticians without a doubt..i went to get my eyes tested i asked for glasses to watch telly in paid for them and they issued me with close work glasses..which are useless..i complained and they dont give a dam..the only reason i havnt taken it further is because they can be used by me to do close work..oh yes i nearly forgot i have only used them a few times and they fell apart..so i made them fix them..i shall go elsewhere to get glasses for what i wanted them for...i cant even see the telly through the ones they sold me..all they wanted was a sale and i have complained to kodak about them..as they make their lens...

[sparks_]

Best = Amazon
Worst = Argos

[Jan Moser]

Worst - Argos Additions.  A parcel did not arrive at my work address and was "apparently" signed for by a nearby resident.  This was not the case.  The items were eventually credited back to my account only to be taken off my account whilst the delivery company undertake their enquiries.  This went on for about 6 weeks and 3 monthly credits and debits later I received a letter saying I "returned more items than I purchased and obviously Argos Additions was not for me"!!!!  How rude - their mistake, their debits and credits and they tell me they dont want me to use them again - you dont have to tell me twice Argos!!   Beware everyone - stay away from Argos Additions.

[clairelb]

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I’ve been quite fortunate and not had to complain about much but my latest, bad experiences has been with Nectar card.  I know it may seem petty to quibble over points, but there’s been times when I’ve not been credited and their customer service is appalling.  It’s taken me almost a year to get it sorted!

Best – Next Directory/home service.  No matter what, the staff are friendly and helpful and get the problem sorted there and then.  They’ll contact you when they say and follow up to check things are OK.

[Lindy66]

Agree with Gem_mother, Gainsborough showers. I shower hose had a problem which when contacted them sent replacement which got the following day.

Marks and Spencer head office is a good. tho the stores themselves could brush up on their customer service.

[Mistopheles]

Worst has been most catalouge companies - Marshall Ward, Argos Additions, Choice. Once took 6 months a legal battle to return something that they'd sent out in error!

Best - Boots, Argos (recented changed returns policy I believe - now they are great), Tesco, Take a Break.