Land of Leather

[smiffie]

Hi,

Just to let you know I have a family members that work for Royal Mail they have said that not all postman get people to sign for the Recorded Delivery posts, also I have had Recorded Delivery letters that I have not had to sign for. I would always recommend Special Delivery and so would the family members. Hope this just gives an insite into Royal Mail.

Many Thanks

smiffiexxXxx

 

Hi Smiffie

 

Just want to add very quickly to your post: recorded delivery does have to be signed for and can be looked up on the track and trace on the Royal Mail website to ensure that the company have accepted it.

 

Unless I've misunderstood you and you're talking about the companies who turn recorded delivery letters away.

 

Either way, when it comes down to it, even a proof of posting slip is enough for a court to decide that the letter was received. (They obviously have more trust in the Royal Mail than I do!)

[smiffie]

Hi Valerieanne,

Ring your LOL and ask for a 2nd opinion, give LOL no longer than 2 weeks to get there 2nd opinion, then a further week for them to colate there report. Hopefully this will be the end of the matter as it undoubtedly is a complaint. What they should now do is to offer you a replacement or a reselection and the last straw a refund. If they offer you a reselection then be carefull in your decision because they will in most cases charge you a usage charge for each month you have had the suite. Come back to me if this is the case b4 making a decision.

 

In the event there second opinion (normally a different leather specialist) comes back as the 1st then you must appoint a leather specialist yourself this will cost you between £40/£50 depending where you live. There report will follow or should do after approx 10 days. Forward a copy of your report to LOL stating you are giving them 10 days to respond with there decision. In the event they still refuse to do anything write to them with a warning that unless there own decision is overturned you will be going through the court system. I can assure you they seriously panic if they get a court case. please let us know what happens and email there report to me. Please remember to be patient the whole process can take a long time. In the event it goes to court you will get all of your outlays back and costs.

[smiffie]

Hi Valerieanne,

Just seeing how things are going? Have you asked for second opinion yet or have you had your own independant upholsterer out? vbmenu_register("postmenu_781914", true);

Kind Regards

smiffie

[valerieanne]

Hi there,

 

I have only just seen this thread. For some reason I have not been getting alerts and so therefore thought no-one had been replying to me.:o

 

Anyway... I am off to call an uplholster now and call LOL. So can I just get this clear:

 

I am calling LOL to ask them to have another upholsterer come out to give an opinion on the suite?

 

TIA

[brum]

We bought a half leather corner group from Land of Leather and after 3 months the material on the seats started fading, creasing & bobbling. One of the seats had also noticeably sunk and one side of the sofa was creaking.

After ages trying to get hold of someone to help at the store they finally sent a technician out to look at the sofa. He fixed the creaking on that visit and went away to write his report.

The report stated that the problems we were having were down to wear and tear and nothing would be done about it.

I found it hard to believe that wear tear could be an issue after just three months so attempted to follow up the issue with the store. After numerous ignored phone calls and letters we finally got the manager to respond by taking up the issue with trading standards.

As advised by trading standards we asked for a second assessment by another technician.

To our surprise the manager turned up with the same technician.

He then came up with a number of reasons as to why the sofa was as it was such as:

-The seats should be fluffed and turned over on a regular basis (a little hard to turn them over when the bottom is Velcro)

• The manager noticed that my mum was wearing jeans and this would be a factor in the wear because it is an abrasive material

It was quite clear by his tone and lack of manners that we weren’t going to get anywhere with him so as advised by trading standards and citizens advice we have now put in a claim via the small claims court.

I have now also noticed that under the purpose of visit section in the second report the reason is stated as ‘to re-iterate wear and tear’, this to me sounds like they had no intention of re-assessing the sofa at all.

I would love to hear from any one in the same situation and any help/advice would be very gratefully received.

[Darren]

The report stated that the problems we were having were down to wear and tear and nothing would be done about it.

 

They told my mum that hers was down to wear and tear, after just two days

 

The manager noticed that my mum was wearing jeans and this would be a factor in the wear because it is an abrasive material

 

LOL seem to think that they are selling their furniture as accessories, as they seem to tell everyone that it shows early signs of wear and tear because they are sitting on it.

 

What store was it?

 

We also have a court claim against them

 

Good luck

[valerieanne]

Just off phone to LOL...after much disputing about the time I had took to make the complaint etc... The manager asked what I wanted?? Saying you must have something in mind if you are taking this to court... I explained I wanted my suite looking like it did when I bought it... or a replacement.

 

He is calling next week to advise...he said it was in both our interests to sort this out!!!

[Darren]

He is calling next week to advise...he said it was in both our interests to sort this out!!!

 

sorting problems out is not company policy, once its been delivered its all 'wear and tear'

 

we had a reply from the court today, they are intending to defend. cant wait to hear it.

[smiffie]

Hi Valerianne,

You are asking LOL for another upholstery company to come out and look at the suite to esses your complaint. Insist that it is NOT TO BE THE SAME COMPANY. Lol have always tried to get away with saying "Wear and Tear" please remember that it is going to be a long process so try and stay patient. Keep CAG informed with the progress. Kind Regards smiffie xxXxx

[valerieanne]

Hi smiffie,

 

I called LOL yesterday again and spoke with the Manager. After quite a heated conversation he agreed the suite had incorrectly coloured and he would look into having it repaired and call me this week.

 

Today I had a call offering the following:

 

a) I keep the suite and they give me £200.

 

b) They collect the suite and take £150 off the price and I pick a new suite to this value.

 

The suite we bought was bought whilst on offer so was £600... take £150 off and that leaves £450....where on earth will I get a suite for this amount....

 

I have no idea what to do next!!! My father thinks I will not get a better offer from them and should take the £200 and live with "the suite"...

 

Any ideas/advice/comments appreciated.

[Darren]

try asking for a new one the same as yours if you are happy with it apart from the colour problem. Obviously he has had a rough quote for the cost of repairing it, and its quite high

[valerieanne]

I have asked for a replacement of one the same but they "no longer stock/make them" (wonder why)!!!

 

I think I may have to take the £200 and buy a large throw and lots of scatter cushions........

[valerieanne]

Smiffie Please can you advise if this usage charge is okay and what you think I should do?

 

Thanks very much.

 

Valerie

[smiffie]

Hi Valarieanne,

First Option: It is legally accepted by trading standards and any other governing bodies that any suite purchased should be fit for purpose and able to be used for 6 years (Check with trading standards if you wish). Therefore to determine a usage charge divide the cost of the suite by 72 months (6yrs) which will give you a monthly charge then you multiply by the amount of time you have had the suite. We have worked out on the assumption that you have had the suite for 11 months and the cost was £600, This equates to a usage charge of £8.33 per calendar month, therefore we see the cost of usage should be no more than £91.66, Argue that point (if you wish to).

 

LOL are legally able to charge you a usage charge.

 

For your own interest the LOL will not send the suite back to the manufacturers as it will not be cost effective for them to do this, what they will do more than likely is to clean the suite up, put it on the showroom floor of another LOL and sell off as used with no guarantee. We feel there is a little room for improvement on their offer for you to keep the suite. I suggest £250 but that is up to you, can you live with the suite as it is and knowing colour fading will continue and probably expand all over the suite?

 

Second option: If this was our personal purchase I would be looking into getting a much lower usage charge as in paragraph 1 and getting a REFUND including DELIVERY CHARGE then going elsewhere to purchase another suite. You can always shop in a different LOL if you wish to. They do not check up as they have had new computers and this does not give each store the other stores information.

 

If you went to court unfortunately you would not get a better deal as the court would give LOL a usage charge. You could only claim limited costs plus court costs so this is where the LOL have you by the short and curlies. You can’t even claim for distress or stress etc etc.

 

I hope this information is useful that we have given you. We feel you should argue over the usage charge, get your money and add to it and buy a new suite. Please let us know how you get on. GOOD LUCK.

[smiffie]

Sorry Valarieanne,

I forgot to mention that LOL will demand the suite back between 7-14 days and you will have no legal rights on this matter. Irrespective on whether you go for a refund or reselect with them. Naturally this will leave you with perhaps nothing to sit on, so in the event that you do reselect with them ask them to point out what they have in stock for immediate delivery and try to negotiate the price down a little, tell them out of a gesture of goodwill for all your trouble. Good luck and keep us all informed.

[valerieanne]

Sorry I have not posted before now. Okay story so far...

 

Suite was due to be paid on Monday 14th May 2007.

 

After my call with LOL my father suggested I take the money they were offering and pay off the suite (I only had £450!! saved)....to save me incurring the interest and he said he would give me the extra money until my money from LOL for discoloured suite came through...

 

My father transferred the funds through to them over the weekend and that was that...

 

Now the finance company are saying that infact the agreement started on the 7th May and not the 14th and they want payments of £41.37...for the suite!!!!

 

I now have no idea what to do. They have the £600 for the suite. I have called Mr Manager at LOL and agreed to take the lousy £200 but feel this is terrible if I have to pay £41.37 for the next 3 years for a discoloured suite.....less £200...yahoo:rolleyes:

 

Any advice would be very greatly appreciated. valerie

[Darren]

Sorry ISuite was due to be paid on Monday 14th May 2007.

 

 

what does your paperwork say.. If finance company are correct call the manager and tell him youve changed your mind and copy all correspondance to the finance company and tell them that you will not be paying until you have a brand new suite. You know this will be difficult as they have already said they no longer stock the item.

[valerieanne]

I shall how I get on when I call them today. paperwork has been sent uot on the 7th May 2006 and date to be paid is 14 May 2007!!

 

Its a nightmare!!

[valerieanne]

Actually the money was sent to them on the 2nd May but they are saying it lay in their offices (unopened) until the 8th May and suite was due to be paid on the 7th May (and I didn't send it recorded) thinking they would be happy to have their money!!!

 

They are now saying they are sure they will be able to come to an agreement figure...

 

I am not paying any more for this suite!!!!

[valerieanne]

sorry that should be " I am not paying anymore for this suite"

[valerieanne]

Okay so I called LOL Manager. he said the £150 they were taking off was for the marks on the suite. I tried to argue that the marks were because suite had discolouration problem but he would not move. So I explained that I did not want to pay £1097 less £200 for ruined suite.

 

I would just take the £450. I also asked for delivery money back but he said this was contracted out so NO!!

 

Anyway.. this now really causes a problem as I have sent them £628 for suite and am now aksing them to uplift it and finance company still want £457.91...apparently Manager of LOL does not know if I shall have to firstly pay them back the £150 then they will cancel contract and refund full £600 or whether they will want to charge me interest on the £150

 

Have I done the right thing? I am feeling really confused about the whole thing to be honest!!

 

ANY help appreciated!!

[smiffie]

Hi Valarieanne,

Can you please let me know what is happening with the suite? are you keeping it or sending it back or having a discount? With reference to the delivery charge LOL employ contract drivers so the delivery charge is a price between you and LOL and NOT YOU AND THE CONTRACTED DRIVERS. If you have a refund then you will have the delivery charge back. If you can let me know where you stand with the suite I can advise. I take it you got the suite on finance and you have paid the finance of now but they had your monies sitting on a desk and only decided to open it after the due date? Did you take the name of the person you spoke to at the finance company? If the finance company have agreed with you that they have had the cheque since that date then you are not in breach of contract and you need to make this clear to them and that you should not be paying any instalments. Please try to get back as soon as possible.

[valerieanne]

Okay.

 

Finance are saying suite should have been paid on 8th May 2007 and they did not receive cheque until 9th May 2007 so because they have received £628 from me will give me early settlement figure of £467.91 on TOP OFF the £628 they already have.

 

Yes I have the gents name.

 

They are NOT agreeing they had cheque before the 9th May (although I did send on the 2nd May)....

 

I have called LOL and asked them to collect the suite...

 

He refuses to come and go with the figure of £150 off suite, due to marks they shall have to fix!!!

 

He has left the conversation open as he does not know how this will affect the finance, as I have already paid £628....to the finance company...

 

He said what may happen is I pay them £150 then they pay me £600 back!! and agreement cancelled...OR

 

Finance company may want to charge me interest on the £150!!

 

VConfused

[valerieanne]

I have been looking at suites today and can see I shall have to spend at least another £500/600 to get anything half decent...along with the 467.91 the finance company want back.Any advice appreciated.

[Darren]

contact trading standards, copy everything to kent trading standards

Kent County Council

Consumer Advice

PO Box 71

Ashford

Kent

TN24 8WB

 

they have quite a large file on land of leather.

 

Write a letter before action to the store and copy all correspondance to the finance company as they are part of the conract and therefore are jointly liable. and as for them, if your paperwork states 14th May send them a copy and tell them it is paid in full, on time as per conract, and that you expect confirmation of this by return post.