Discriminated against by major retailers
Sir,
I would like to support Martin Laing (At Random, The Oban Times, February 8) and the news story in the same issue regarding this problem.
I tried to order online from Currys PC World in the week between Christmas and New Year, more than £600 worth of goods to take advantage of their usual post-Christmas sale.
The website did not recognise my PA34 postcode and gave me a number to call to sort the situation. I called the number and was advised that they had an IT problem with PA postcodes which had existed for several weeks before Christmas, and it should be resolved in the next few days. Over the following four weeks I continued to try to place my order without success, and made several additional phone calls to be told the same story.
On losing patience, I again contacted the customer service department stating that it was ridiculous that they could not accept my order over the phone, and was told in a very patronising manner that they did not deliver to Scotland, far less PA34 as previously advised. I told them that this could not be true as they had several stores in Scotland, and one in the PA postcode area. I was again told that they did not deliver to Scotland.
I emailed Currys’ customer service complaining about the situation and received a reply which stated that, as it was an internal matter, they would investigate but not give me any feedback. I further complained that this was unacceptable and was told I should contact Trading Standards, which I intend to do. I asked for a contact to take the matter further within Currys, and was given a phone number, which has not been answered on each of three attempts to call.
I would concur with Martin Laing’s suggestion that no one should deal with any companies who discriminate by refusing to deliver to any postcode areas in Scotland.
I placed my orders with another company, John Lewis, and when there was an issue with delivery dates, they have offered a goodwill gesture to compensate my inconvenience. This is the sort of customer service I would expect from a reasonable company – not the dismissive discrimination I received from Currys.
Eric Chapman, by email.