Name and Shame UK
We expose the dirty deedsters
Some companies totally lack integrity
After your weekly dose of 'Rogue Traders' or 'Watchdog' you might be forgiven for thinking it was only builders, plumbers and travel companies who were dishonest. Far from it, some of our largest commercial enterprises are guilty of the most extraordinary abuses of regulations. And they are extremely intolerant of customers. Their idea of 'customer service' is merely the customer's pipedream. It doesn't exist in real life.
It's perfectly true that customers can be a pain in the arse. If there was a way to run a business without customers it would be bliss but the truth is, as a wise old sage once said, "Without customers, we ain't got a business!". Hence the old saying that 'the customer is always right.'
Unfortunately, that's just what it is - an old saying. These days, the customer is rarely right. He's an interruption to a company's efforts to make mega-money for the greed-ridden directors - he's an annoying blot on the marketing plan.
So what sort of tricks do these companies get up to?
Well ... if, as a customer, you are prepared to accept without question the extortionate prices you are charged, and if you pay in a timely manner, they will do nothing but relieve you of your money. But if you question the charges or complain about the quality of their goods or service, woe betide you. They will either consign you to their Customer Relations Manager who is permanently blindfolded so that he sees no other viewpoint than the company's, or they will introduce you to a whole host of Customer Advisers who are similarly blinkered and obviously don't work to the same set of guidelines. Each one will tell you a different story and you will eventually get completely pissed off because you are getting nowhere.
A few letters may ensue and those you receive will merely confirm that neither the Customer Relations Manager, nor his staff, are sufficiently well educated to construct a grammatically-correct letter without spelling mistakes. Even though your Microsoft Word spell-checker works perfectly well for you, theirs doesn't appear to function at all. Either that, or they do not understand the wiggly coloured lines underneath certain words!
As a person with principles, you will argue your case defiantly, not realising until later that the company in question does not have principles ... or scruples ... or integrity. Then they will come down on you with the full force of the law using highly expensive legal firms - often crooked and also totally lacking in integrity, honesty, etcetera - knowing you certainly cannot afford to pay for your own defence because you are very likely to end up paying for your prosecution.
Unless you are extremely skilled in self-representation, you will probably lose in court. And you cannot rely on courts dispensing justice because that's not something they do. These large corporations have the laws of the land tied up so firmly in their favour that they are totally impervious. Unless you find a loophole, they win ... you lose.
All you can then try to do is expose their practises, as we have done on these pages. Strangely, although the culprits know our exposures exist, none have never contested anything we said. That's how secure they feel. But we think our purpose is served if we deter just one potential customer from buying their goods or services. It takes time but it has a long term effect - drip ... drip ... drip.
Visitors' Comments
Councils, lawyers & judges in fact ... the whole common purpose! Example: legal profession - all cheats and crooks living in and out of each other's pockets.
Jean Mullan, N Ayrshire
With the credit crunch in full swing and top cat wages capped, how come companies are increasing the price of their goods and blaming it on the weak pound against the Euro? Surely price increases should be on hold until this has calmed down, especially the car companies who received a cash injection.
Ivor Johnson, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim
Editorial Comment: Good point, Ivor. We had the same thoughts.
I'm in full agreement with your comments, and to lend weight to your arguments, listen to this. I hired a car from www.car-hire-uk.com on the 29 Apr for four weeks in Aug/Sept, and cancelled it four days later after having paid the full amount of £419.42 which is company policy. The live operator I spoke to on computer assured me that a cancellation form would be sent to me, and my money refunded. Guess what? they now refuse to refund my money with some lame excuse about it being a special deal, and I didn't take out insurance. I would like you to disperse this message far and wide in order that no-one else is caught out like me. Thank You.
Peter Cooke, Perth
Editorial Comment: Car Hire UK is a Bromley based company who mainly appear to operate car hire facilities at Heathrow and Gatwick. Having checked their Terms and Conditions it appears that their cancellation fee is 100% of the rental charge unless their cancellation protection option is taken. But if an employee told you that your money would be refunded then you should pursue the matter. Ed.
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"Many men stumble across the truth ... but most manage to pick themselves up and continue as if nothing had happened."
Winston S Churchill
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