Hi all, I bought a Calibre Sentry MTB from GoOutdoors in March 2020. Last weekend, 19 Aug 2023, the bike frame failed, on the chain stay at the point where the rear wheel bolts to the frame. The failure also resulted in damage to the rear wheel and chain, neither of which can be repaired. The bike is three years old, but has really only been used for 1.5 years due to covid restrictions and me getting bored of biking. While I was looking online for spare parts (of which there are none, see below) I found multiple incidents of the same thing happening to quite a few people, and I mean exactly the same failure on exactly the same bike. At least two people had been fully refunded the cost of the bike by GoOutdoors, although I think they were within the warranty period. This suggests to me that they have previously accepted liability for a fault. I've made a note of the websites where I found evidence of these failures. Another issue is that GoOutdoors no longer sells these bikes and there are no longer spares available anywhere due in part to sourcing issues during CoVid. The manufacturer, a company called Calibre Bikes, based in Sheffield (I think), still makes bikes although not my model. I haven't managed to find any contact details for them, otherwise I would be tempted to ask if they have any old frames lying around. I now have a bike I can't use, that can't be repaired (aluminium frame is notoriously difficult to repair even at the best of times) and I can't buy spare parts for. I can buy a frame from another manufacturer and with a bit of messing about I can swap the parts from my knackered bike onto that. This will cost me about £700 and a lot of my time. If you've got this far, thanks, and my question is this. Do I have any realistic chance of getting any sort of compensation from GoOutdoors? How should I go about it if there's any prospect of success? I should say that people who have made a complaint previously, as mentioned above, rave about the customer service. Thanks

I'm interested in this. If Monkquito has written to the DCA and informed them of his new address would that imply an acknoweledgement of the debt?

Thanks for the prompt response. Will sort it out directly with NPower. I assume I need to post it recorded so that I have a record, rather than pay it over the phone?

I have an outstanding bill with Power that I had honestly forgotten about when I switched my gas/elec supplier. The total amount due is about £500. Pastdue have been in contact about the amount and have added about £60 "Administration Fee". Can they do this? I don't mind paying the bill, but I would be a bit peeved if I have to pay another £60 in admin charges. I suppose I could just go directly to NPower and pay them, missing out the middle man?

Update - Lee from the Vodafone web team rang me this morning, apologised for the mix up, conceded that promises had not been kept regarding re-calculating my bill and did the honourable thing. My bill has been reduced by £200 to the correct amount and my faith in customer support has been somewhat restored. I say "somewhat" because up until the point that Lee phoned the service had been nothing less than shoddy. Thanks to all who helped.

There is some quite interesting reading in the attached link, on the BBC Watchdog site. Not sure if it helps but its worth a read. Seems to have been happening a lot. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2011/09/data_roaming.html

ah, now then, I didn't get an automated response code when I mailed the web team. I will do it again. OK, done properly this time and response code added to initial post. Thanks for your help chaps. A £350 phone bill at xmas is going to kill me. Bread and water for the festive season methinks !

Rebel11, my previous reply was badly worded. I have not yet heard back from the web team. I used info from somebody else's thread to contact them and am awaiting a response. I thought I would find out what my options were if they don't resolve the issue to my satisfaction, in advance of their reply as it were. Your links may yet prove useful. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks Rebel11. I already contacted cust services as described in a previous thread.

Vodafone Automated response code #7973685 I went on holiday to the USA 21st October 2011. About 3 days before I departed I checked the Vodafone website to see about data roaming charges. The "going abroad" section of the website says "ring customer services for enquiries about outside Europe". I rang Vodafone customer services and was told that there were no data packages available for the USA. Ive got an iPhone, so I made sure that when I landed in Miami Mobile data and data roaming were switched off. I was in the states for 8 days and did use the maps on my phone and checked my email a couple of times. When I arrived home I had problems using my phones internet and got a text from Vodafone to ring them, which I did. they had blocked my internet usage because I had a £400 bill. I wondered how this had happened and did some research. The BBC Watchdog website had some interesting information. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2011/09/data_roaming.html It turns out a cap of £100 which would normally be applied when travelling abroad was not put into place but more importantly, there is actually a data plan available which provides 25Mb of data for a daily fee of £5. Someone gave me duff info to. I got back to customer services and was told that they were sorry I hadn't been told about the data plan, and my bill would be re-calculated and someone would get back to me. Nobody did and i called 5 or 6 times for resolution, which I never got. So yesterday I got a text message saying that my bill for £349-50 was available for payment. Ive checked my bill online and they haven't retrospectively applied any data plan at all. On 23rd Oct I used 7.8Mb of data and got charged £45 for it !! If Vodafone won't sort this out am I best heading down the small claims route ? Thanks for reading.

Quick question ; If I get a CCJ against me, how soon does it appear on a public register. I thought I had 28 days to pay the full amount before the judement showed?

I filed a defence because what were my options ? Dont file a defence and get a CCJ anyway or file a defence and, worst case, add a bit more to a debt that I cant afford to pay anyway. It was worth filing a defence, I just got a little demoralised toward the end and failed to put in a good enough effort. I had every intention of putting up a big fight because MBNA have been utter swines. Ive been unemployed for ages, lost my home and my marriage broke up. I kind of lost the will to do anything much. Most of my other debtors have accepted token payments, but MBNA went for the throat. No one in particular advised me. I did have a thread running on this site that drew very little attention. I didnt respond to the SJ application. I owe 8k and I dont own a home. I dont claim benefits and am surviving on handouts, good will and occasional work. I have already made an offer to pay £2500 lump sum (which would be borrowed) by letter. Optima on behalf of MBNA) refused and said they would accept £7000. I would obviously preferr to avoid the CCJ, but if I get one they still cant have any money off me on account I dont have any. I believe they are using the CCJ punitively, not to recover money, but then maybe thats the general idea of these things.

Thanks for the response. My defence is weak to say the least so dont expect to win. I suppose what Im trying to ask is, whats the best way to avoid a CCJ at this stage. Im skint and out of work, but I could make a one off payment from money I can lend. If I get a CCJ I still only have the same amount of money.

I have a hearing on Fri 15th Apr at which the claimant (MBNA / Optima) is trying to get summary judgement prior to a full court hearing on the basis that I have no prospect of defending the claim. First of all do I have to attend the hearing ? What happens if I dont turn up ? Also, Im going to send Optima a letter making them an offer of a lump sum payment tomorrow. If they accept (which Im sure they wont as the amount is about a third of the claimed amount) will they stop proceedings? Will I still get a CCJ against me ? Thanks in advance

A question which may have a quick answer, hopefully. I have a hearing on 15th April 2011 at court where the claimant will apply for summary judgement on the basis that I have no hope of successfully defending at the real court. I wish to actually defend the case, but I also wish to make an offer of payment, on the off chance they will accept a significantly reduced payment offer. Is there a template that I can copy from somewhere ? Many thanks