Furniture was over a year late – now maker threatens to repossess it all

QI PLACED a £6,783 bedroom furniture order in February 2016 with a local retailer to be finished in eight weeks.

Eighteen months later, the work remains uncompleted.

Now I am told the design I chose (needed for the last part is no longer available).

Most problems took three months to resolve including unanswered phone calls, emails and visits. Wardrobes had to be rebuilt. Doors did not fit.

I finally told the shop that due to serious breaches of contract – timescale, poor quality workmanship and zero customer service, I wanted a £900 discount. The retailer offered £750 which I rejected as the work would cost £500 at least to rectify.

The retailer then threatened that as I had contravened his terms and conditions, the goods remain his until paid for in full. He says he will take the goods from my home this month or call in debt collectors.

What do you think? Malcolm R

AYOU have been far too patient. You do not supply the retailer’s identity so this advice is general, but it does seem absurd an eight-week job is uncompleted 18 months later.

When you have work carried out on your home, it’s best to have a proper contract – there are downloadable templates including the Joint Contracts Tribunal Minor Works contract.

The contract should specify stage payments, how long it will take, and penalty clauses for late delivery. You can get someone else to finish the work if the original contractor messes around or goes bust.

The retailer’s threats are bluster. By failing to deliver remotely on schedule, he has contravened his own terms and conditions and would not get far in court. If you have not paid, you might as well tell him to collect all the stuff.

You could involve a credit card company, if you used one, under the Consumer Credit Act.

It’s absurd that his offer and your demand remain close but unresolved. The problem is whether you have any trust left in this shop to deliver either the work or an agreed discount. Send your questions to askwhich@which.co.uk