Re: whats up with Country Covers?
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 9:00 am
Still currently active as per Companies House (under Company No. 03371360).
Most Trading Standards depts do not now deal with consumer issues in first instance (if at all!) - better off a call to Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 to get your complaint logged and seek advice (they'll tell you to write to the trader first, quoting Sale of Goods Act/Distance Selling and then progress to Small Claim if no joy).
Depending upon your payment method and total amount of the order, best option may be to pursue through your credit card provider (if you paid on it) as a S75 complaint (under Consumer Credit Act 1974). Otherwise, if you used a Visa debit card, then you could request a chargeback through your bank, but these do not carry the same weight (or have the statutory basis) as a S75 claim (lesson being to always use a credit card on purchases of £100-£30K, even if only using it for a deposit!).
Just looking at the t&c's on their website, it appears that they haven't had a Trading Standards eye over their online presence yet as many of their terms appear contrary to consumer protection legislation (i.e. 'we don't give refunds/credit notes only' - with few exceptions in consumer sales, that's a definite no-no!).
I have no horse in this race and have never used the company, but am just speaking as an ex-TS Fair Trading Officer and giving the advice I would have given to any consumer in this situation when I was in role. IME, clear and concise letters (sent Recorded Signed For and with a copy retained) which stick to the facts and quote the relevant legislation are always better than emails or phone calls once things go sour, and easier to present as part of a S75 claim/Particulars of Claim.
(Sorry, just got back into my old work/advice mode there for a minute! Hope it works out)
Most Trading Standards depts do not now deal with consumer issues in first instance (if at all!) - better off a call to Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 to get your complaint logged and seek advice (they'll tell you to write to the trader first, quoting Sale of Goods Act/Distance Selling and then progress to Small Claim if no joy).
Depending upon your payment method and total amount of the order, best option may be to pursue through your credit card provider (if you paid on it) as a S75 complaint (under Consumer Credit Act 1974). Otherwise, if you used a Visa debit card, then you could request a chargeback through your bank, but these do not carry the same weight (or have the statutory basis) as a S75 claim (lesson being to always use a credit card on purchases of £100-£30K, even if only using it for a deposit!).
Just looking at the t&c's on their website, it appears that they haven't had a Trading Standards eye over their online presence yet as many of their terms appear contrary to consumer protection legislation (i.e. 'we don't give refunds/credit notes only' - with few exceptions in consumer sales, that's a definite no-no!).
I have no horse in this race and have never used the company, but am just speaking as an ex-TS Fair Trading Officer and giving the advice I would have given to any consumer in this situation when I was in role. IME, clear and concise letters (sent Recorded Signed For and with a copy retained) which stick to the facts and quote the relevant legislation are always better than emails or phone calls once things go sour, and easier to present as part of a S75 claim/Particulars of Claim.
(Sorry, just got back into my old work/advice mode there for a minute! Hope it works out)
