Shining a light on injustice for another year
From lamp-post rows to car problems, I sort them
despite her pleas for help, they refused to assist and told her to travel to England and instruct a solicitor there to fight her corner.
But I soon had the decision overturned after taking her case to Susan AclandHood, boss of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service.
The court changed their tune, agreed that Stacey was able to make a Statutory Declaration before me in Scotland and finally set the conviction aside.
Then the police wit hdrew t he case, blaming an “administrative error” after we questioned their evidence. Stacey, of Motherwell, a mum to Alivia, five, said: “This was making me ill and had turned my life upside down. I just wish I had contacted you sooner.” Classic car fanatic Tom Cox was soon back on the right road thanks to me after I secured him a £10,169 refund for a rare 1970s Rover. The vehicle, from Peter Vardy Heritage, didn’t run properly and had a strong smell of petrol but he couldn’t get his money back. After I intervened, the firm’s chief executive met with Tom, 51, of Coatbridge, and the cash was quickly returned to his account. Tom, a company director, said: “I can’t thank you enough for what you did. It was such a weight off my shoulders.” I secured signi f icant refunds for readers including Stacey Cavanagh, 34, of Hamilton, after a firm failed to turn up three times to fit her £7300 kitchen. DM Kitchens, based in Hillington Park near Glasgow, blamed a delay in their production schedule but returned the money after I took them to task. Gillian Wei r’s car engine was also replaced at no cost. A warning light had appeared on the dash of the Ford EcoBoost and neither Ford nor the dealer would foot the £ 6000 bill despite it still being under warranty.
But Gil l ian, 29, of Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, was soon on the road again.
Scottish Gas cleared a £ 3445 central heating loan after lazy engineers fitted Gordon Buchanan’s new system to old pipes.
Gordon, 69, of Harthill, Lanarkshire, had contacted me to warn others.
Of course there was some light relief along the way in 2018.
I was f loored when a ca rpet manufacturer blamed “TV shuff le” for marks in William Roberts’ lounge.
Will iam, 76, of Greenock, had complained to local firm Dallas Carpets but makers Abingdon Flooring wouldn’t replace the £ 675 stain-free pile, claiming the “shuff ling movement of feet whilst seated” had caused shading.
They soon renewed the flooring as a gesture of goodwill after I pointed out that William and his wife Matilda, 73, wore slippers.
And six-year- old Ross Archibald was in a spin after the pedals broke on his go-kart.
His dad asked for my help when Smyths toys blamed wear and tear despite him boxing it up and taking it back to the store after a weld failed.
But Ross, of Balornock, Glasgow, was soon in the driving seat again with a replacement and the firm apologised for not sorting things sooner.