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The Furniture Ombudsman

Last post Mon, Jan 24 2011, 5:46 PM by fenny303. 6 replies.
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  •  Mon, Jan 24 2011, 5:46 PM

    Re: The Furniture Ombudsman

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    Hi Leo32,

    I had to make a few follow up calls, I think this was mainly due to the person I was dealing with being on maternity leave.

    They were very easy to deal with, and if it were not for them, I would have got nowhere with the company I was in dispute with.

    The company are a very large fitted furniture provider, and to be honest I think the lady at the ombudsman enjoyed taking them on.
    • Post Points: 5

  •  Mon, Jan 24 2011, 1:14 PM

    Re: The Furniture Ombudsman

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    fenny303:

    I had a dispute last year with a fitted wardrobe company,

    I was advised by the CAB to aproach the Furniture Ombudsman,

    They took their time, but managed to improve the offer of compensation from £100 to £750, I did not have to pay them anything. So I found them to be quite useful,

    @Fenny303,

    Thank you for your post. You are the first response that I have had from several forums that I have posted.

    You say that you did not have to pay anything, which is good. I read on their web site that they charge an 'up front' fee for an inspection which may or may not be refunded depending on the outcome of the complaint.

    You also say that they took their time, were they easy to deal with?

    Cheers
    • Post Points: 20

  •  Mon, Jan 24 2011, 8:39 AM

    Re: The Furniture Ombudsman

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    I had a dispute last year with a fitted wardrobe company,

    I was advised by the CAB to aproach the Furniture Ombudsman,

    They took their time, but managed to improve the offer of compensation from £100 to £750, I did not have to pay them anything. So I found them to be quite useful,

    • Post Points: 50

  •  Sun, Jan 23 2011, 11:49 AM

    Re: The Furniture Ombudsman

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    This just backs up what Exterminator has said then, the ombudsman is not reliable and the tried and tested Sale of Goods Acts is probably the best way to go if you have a problem
    • Post Points: 20

  •  Sun, Jan 23 2011, 10:28 AM

    Re: The Furniture Ombudsman

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    After doing my research I posted here for peoples experience with the Furniture Ombudsman. It seems that not only nobody has had any dealings with them nobody has heard of them!
    • Post Points: 20

  •  Sat, Jan 22 2011, 5:02 PM

    Re: The Furniture Ombudsman

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    I personally had never heard or had any cause to use them, but from my research it all seems a bit too voluntary and toothless to be of any major benefit for my liking.

    The very suggestion that anyone locked in complaint with one of their members should have to pay for an inspection first, then could only reclaim the fee if their case was succesfully upheld does not instill me with any degree of confidence. Neither does it provide me with much faith in their objectives.

    I would much prefer instead to rely on the more definitive and clearcut pre-existing sale of goods act, and other transparent legislation on consumer protection, rather than rely on a ambiguous voluntary code of practice that operates on a optional membership, the whole situation smacks of cronyism, IMO.

    http://www.thefurnitureombudsman.org/faqs
    • Post Points: 20

  •  Mon, Jan 10 2011, 12:10 PM

    The Furniture Ombudsman

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    Has anyone taken a complaint against a store who was a member of FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association), as many are, to the Furniture Ombudsman?

    What was you experience and how fair was your case dealt with?
    • Post Points: 20