Stay away from Chesterton Carpets and Gary Hall
Alien Guest
Milton Road) obtained my account details from a third party without
permission, charged my account and did a bad service. If you must get
carpet from them, then make sure *everything* should be written down,
get them to measure even you are very sure.
For those want to read:
On Saturday 12th May, I had a carpet fitted by Gary Hall, who probably
subcontracted by Chesterton Carpets. It went on okay, so I rang up the
shop in the middle of fitting asked to pay the balance (I'd like to pay
by credit card, not write them a cheque). The guy, however, did not have
their copy of the order form, and apparently did not accept the value I
stated. He insisted me to get the fitting Gary to call the shop with his
(Gary's) yellow copy. Gary was then busy in the room with door shut,
this payment did not happen.
As he finished the job, I told him (Gary) about the payment and asked
him to give the shop a call, and tell them the amount of money I was
going to pay. He did not.
On the mean while, I walked into the room had a quick look. Realised the
under-stair was not done at all. Gary Hall turned immediately not happy
when I told him the shop had agreed that it was okay to make up by edge
of the carpet. "I am not doing jigsaw, this is crap!". He shot out to
his van and spoke to the shop on his mobile for a while. (I don't think
it was a good conversation, by the length of it).
Gary then came back told me he (the shop guy) said he could not remember
said that, and they (the shop) did not come over for a measurement.
I went away to call the shop. And got a very unfriendly voice told me
that he (I think this probably is the shop owner, a forty some man)
spoke to "five hundred customers every day", he could not remember what
he said to each of them.
I might have been stupid by then, at least astonished. I said to him
"how about I forget to pay the balance". At this time, he was absolutely
mad, yelled at me over the phone saying he was not the type of person
that I could threatening at. He can just call his fitting people rip off
the carpet and I would "not get a penny back!" (I had paid 300 pounds
deposit on ordering).
We sort of calmed down a little later, and he suggested I order more
carpet and get things sorted next weekend. I refused as there was enough
carpet and it is only for under-stair storage, but asked him to leave
underlay, because I have paid for that.
This time Gary came upstairs (there is only one phone in the house) and
told me he wanted his money. I had passed the phone to him, meant the
shop could instruct him for the underlay (he had already cleaned up the
site). So stupid I was, that I did not use hands free to join the
conversation. I think that was the time shop asked him to copy my bank
details. Gary said a few "okay mate" - and hanged up the phone. So I did
not get to talk with the shop, nor the paying of balance happened.
So by the time I gave him the cheque, he asked to copy my card number. I
gave my card to him, did not watch what he was copying.
I did not call the shop on Saturday, really not feel want to speak to
him after being yelled rudely.
Sunday I was going to move some money and accidently found my bank
balance was 330 pound short (transactions are not displayed immediately)
from online banking. I am still waiting for the bank to confirm how took
the money, but I am almost certain that was Chestereton Carpet. They got
my bank details from the fitting people.
I have been contacting bank for the last two days. The *authorised*
transaction happened 11:20am, and that was the time either Gary left my
house immediately drove to Chesterton Carpet (I live in Cherry Hinton),
or he called the shop with my details right after left my house. My bank
is still waiting for the transaction comes back to confirm who it went
to.
I think this is illegal (copy number for the transaction, is same as
steal money from one's pocket), but bank dose not back me, as they think
the service is there, I was going to pay, and the shop does not take
extra money. They reckon I am not in a very strong legal position. Only
thing they can do is to get me fill a deny form after the transaction
comes back with details.
I am not sure what to do now: if the money is refunded, I get to pay the
balance by the way I was going to means I will have to *speak* to them.
And that is *not* something I want to do. I did not think about not
paying the balance, but after the bad experience, I don't feel want to
pay. However, there seems no reason I should not pay. (Got the carpet,
it values 630).
Also, it is a bit late now. I was too much distracted by the under-stair
storage fitting, and did not check the fitting quality. I don't think
the carpet fitting is of good quality, there are lumps. By the service I
have received so far, I just don't see the point of get this (lumps)
fixed.
Also, I don't have any evidence, if he *forgot* what he said, he could
deny anything. I have thought about cancel the cheque to Gary and
contact him, so I can get him confirm passed bank details to the shop.
But I am not confident I have the roughness charactor to handle him. He
dose not seem to be a nice guy either.
I will write this to the Trading Standard, and see what they say.
Gary Hall: about 5'5 (under 1.70m), very skinny, black hair.
Shop person: I think his name might be Albey Barham (got a biz card
first time visited), and when I rang up mention elder guy might be the
boss, he told me that was him.
--
Alien Guest