M&S jeans turned my £2,500 sofa blue – now I’m out of pocket
WE ARE in dispute with Marks & Spencer over the transfer of colour from a pair of men’s jeans, which has ruined one of our settees, also purchased from M&S.
We returned the garment for a refund and were given the number of someone who would deal with the matter.
But each time we call, we are told that ‘due to the unique method of finishing this fabric, some colour transfer may occur’. This, they claim, is clearly stated on the jeans.
At the time of the complaint, M&S was offering a 20 pc discount off the price of new furniture. We suggested that if it would increase this, we could purchase a new suite and that would be the end of the matter. However, I have had a negative reply.
What is fair about a pair of £30 jeans ruining a suite that cost around £ 2,500? My partner and I have purchased many pairs of jeans in our time, but have never experienced colour transference from one dry cloth to another. Mrs B. A., Wirral. When I contacted Marks & Spencer, I said this was one of the most ludicrous complaints ever to come across my desk. Is M&S seriously suggesting someone should not sit down on a sofa in a pair of jeans in case the colour transfers?
Are gentlemen supposed to remove their trousers before sitting? Perhaps we should all wander round naked!
M&S quickly got on the case. It tells me that to create an indigo denim, it uses a dye that creates a small risk of dye loss. I might expect this to lead to caution when tossing a pile of clothes into the washing machine, but I still wouldn’t expect colour to transfer from my backside on to the sofa.
M&S says, on rare occasions, colour can transfer on to some light-coloured materials, especially if damp. I note that you say your partner’s jeans were dry.
M&S says it never wants to disappoint customers. So, in addition to the refund for the jeans, it will be offering a full sofa cleaning service as a goodwill gesture.
however, you have bought a new sofa, so it is sending you a £100 gift voucher. I HAVE been trying to transfer my Isa from Stocktrade to Hargreaves Lansdown, but am tearing out what little hair I have left, as this has been going on for more than three months.
Stocktrade — now part of Alliance Trust Savings (ATS) — has consistently failed to communicate with me.
I raised a complaint, which was upheld by ATS, but no action was taken and no apology or compensation offered.
I have had consistent problems with both Stocktrade and ATS ignoring communications from me, so I would assume that the fault lies with them.
I will be relieved to be rid of both Stocktrade and ATS, as I feel the way I have been treated is disgraceful. D. B., Lincolnshire. It ProbAbly won’t surprise you to learn that I, too, initially had trouble getting a response from AtS.
Most firms have some form of media contact on their website — AtS doesn’t.
I phoned the company three times, leaving various messages, without response.
Meanwhile, I made contact with hargreaves lansdown, which confirmed that it had received a valuation of your Isa from Stock-trade on July 5 and responded on July 12, suggesting trading and settlement dates, which are essential for the transfer.
on August 7, Stocktrade emailed saying it had not received these, so hargreaves sent new ones. hargreaves chased these on August 8, August 22 and September 8.
Apparently, hargreaves is often able to agree the trading and settlement dates by phone, but Stocktrade/Alliance trust will only do this via email — which can add to clients’ frustration.
I eventually managed to make contact with AtS’s press people. they told me that the firm accepts your version of events. It apologises and confirms the transfer will ‘complete imminently’.
It has waived its usual transfer administration charge and sent you a £200 goodwill gesture. I also informed hargreaves — it will be on a special lookout for your Isa. A SCOTTISH Power contractor came to fit a smart meter. After this, my switches stopped working downstairs, including the oxygen tank on which I rely. I had to call out an emergency electrician to get my power working again, which cost £185. Can you help me get a refund? S. A., Renfrewshire. thIS isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone accuse a smart energy meter of being rather less intelligent than billed.
other readers say appliances in their homes have stopped working when they’ve updated their power supply. Could the radio waves used by the new meters be causing electrical interference?
Scottish Power says no — the problems you experienced were the result of faulty wiring in your home and had nothing to do with the meter change.
In any case, it has offered to refund your electrician’s bill as a goodwill gesture. I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has experienced similar issues.