From faulty freezers to misfiring smart meters, we got it sorted in 2019
There have been complaints about sky-high power bills, faulty appliances, bad workmanship, nightmare holidays…and even cold-calling funeral plan firms. In 2019, every week the Raw Deal mailbag bulged with requests for help from stressed-out readers. Here we look back at the occasions when we stepped in to take on companies, institutions and traders to put things right…
Tracy and Allan Fraser are celebrating a comfortable festive season in their revamped home after Raw Deal helped secure them a £16,000 insurance payout following a blaze.
In September 2018, fire wrecked the utility room and damaged an en suite bathroom at the couple’s bungalow in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. It left them without heating or hot water for four months.
School dinner lady Tracy, 51, said she was lucky to spot the flames as she left the house to go to work, or things could have been far worse.
An electrical fault with her washing machine had started the blaze, which had begun to spread to the roof.
The couple swiftly informed their insurers Churchill but lengthy delays in getting repairs under way ensued after visits from independent assessors.
The first valuer who came out reckoned it would only cost about £3,000 to fix the damage.
In frustration, the Frasers turned to Raw Deal for help and we asked Churchill to carry out an investigation.
The insurers soon increased the amount to more than £16,000.
As a result, the Frasers have now had the damage repaired and the house has been refurbished.
“Last Christmas was a disaster because of all the mess,” said Tracy. “It took months for the work to be finished but now the house looks a treat.
“Thanks to Raw Deal, this time we have been able to enjoy a happy festive season with the family.”
Wall right now for joiners
Joiners Danny Willox and Ewan Forbes celebrated after getting £5,000 due to them in wages from a building job, thanks to Raw Deal.
In November, we told how the pair had hit a brick wall in their attempts to get their money from a sub-contractor. Between May and July, both men were hired by Huntly-based Glenmoir Construction as self-employed carpenters on a housing development in Cove, Aberdeenshire. However, despite several promises, their final wages were never paid. Within hours of their story being published, the full amount was paid to the joiners.
Grand tour back on track
Landscape photographer John Ellis spends much of his free time travelling to some of Scotland’s most remote beauty spots, so having reliable transport is essential.
The 49-year-old dad from Strathpeffer, Ross and Cromarty, also needs a dependable set of wheels for his day job as a window cleaner.
John paid £10,500 for a 2016 Peugeot Expert van from Arnold Clark Citroen in Inverness.
However, there was a recurring problem with a juddering steering wheel. After Raw Deal contacted Peugeot, the French car giant agreed to foot the £3,500 repair costs.
Ringing endorsement
A telecom company charged Glasgow pensioner Joseph Innes £500 for broadband – despite the fact he was not one of their customers and wasn’t even online. The former shipyard worker, 80, was shocked when he discovered he had been paying Talktalk for home media services for 18 months.
“I only have a landline at my house and I have been with Virgin for many years,” said Joseph. “I only found out by chance in January that I had paid more than £500 to Talktalk and I had ongoing monthly direct debits with them.”
After Raw Deal got involved, Talktalk apologised and issued a refund of almost £300.