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Aggressive delivery driver - anyone else had problems with John Lewis?

46 replies

Sheeply · 06/06/2019 11:00

I have name changed for this because I don't want it linking to my usual account. Sorry if this is long and boring. I'd appreciate any opinions on wwyd or to hear if anyone else has had my experience.

Background: I live in a rural location that is difficult to access, my house is very old with a spring water supply. We have problems getting deliveries of appliances and have used John Lewis for many items as they have told us they have no problem coming to our property or working with the private water supply etc.

I have an ongoing problem with a JL dishwasher that was installed 30 months ago. The behaviour of the installation engineer was appalling. The driver struggled to get the vehicle to our property and the engineer worked himself into a rage. I heard a commotion on our lane and went down to see the engineer pushing the driver and calling him a 'cripple'. I videoed the incident and took the driver into the house with me and made him tea. I locked the engineer out until he calmed down and then he fitted the machine. During the fitting he encountered. problem with the water supply and again became enraged, he removed his shirt and fitted the dishwasher bare chested (it was not a hot day) cursing and being unpleasant. After they left I forwarded the video to JL and was compensated £50 voucher and got an apology and assured 'retraining' was occurring. I was told he had an important night out planned and the installation made him late due to the difficult location and fitting.

It was repaired twice for what google informed us was a 'known fault' under warranty. It then broke again and was repaired 'as a gesture of goodwill". When it went again I requested a refund and was given a part exchange on a new dishwasher with them covering the majority of the cost and the removal costs. That was booked for this morning.

I received a call that they would arrive in 40 mins and reminded them about the access, he sighed and said he knew nothing about it. They arrived and I opened the door and the driver (not the same one) started to push passed me into the house. I stopped him and asked him if he had any ID (he was wearing a yellow tabard and I couldn't see a JL uniform). The Engineer then came forward and said they didn't carry ID, what did I think they were going to do and they'd already called me. He then started kicking wellingtons around in the porch and asked if that was the only access. I confirmed it was and took them into the kitchen and showed them where the dishwasher was. I'd emptied the cupboard where the electric and water connects but he started pulling stuff out of another cupboard and said "This is no good, you've got a problem here". By this point I was irritated that he still hadn't said hello, told me his name, asked me where the dishwasher connected and that he was throwing clean tea towels on the floor. I replied "No, I have a faulty dishwasher for you to take away, and I have informed JL of all the problems with access and the installation and they said it was all fine, so I think it is JL problem".

He then accused me of shouting at him (I didn't raise my voice at all) and being "All off on the back foot at me" I said I didn't know what he was talking about and he replied "You think you're a special single lady" (WTF?) Then he ranted for several minutes "It's not just abut you, I am uncomfortable with your accusations, I am not doing this", actually stamped his foot and stormed out. When I looked out 5 mins later he was gone.

After they'd left I had a panic attack and feel really unwell now, it all seems completely bizarre. We have had hundreds of deliveries with no problems, I have never been accused of being aggressive by any one else in my life.

I spoke to the Contact Centre and they have raised an investigation. Meanwhile JL have my money and my dishwasher and are saying they don't know how long it will take to resolve.

Any ideas? I can't make head nor tail of it all. I wasn't aggressive, I didn't shout, what on earth is going on?

OP posts:
BogglesGoggles · 06/06/2019 11:04

Just call up and complain.

BogglesGoggles · 06/06/2019 11:05

Sorry I meant that in general as in call up and complain then forget about it whenever it happens.

Villanellesproudmum · 06/06/2019 11:05

Blimey, I’ve had a few things recently from them. I have a ditch in front of my house so they have to walk around a diversion but never been anything other than good humoured about it.

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KatherineJaneway · 06/06/2019 11:06

Probably a contractor or a third party and not an actual Partner in the business.

IvanaPee · 06/06/2019 11:10

I think you sound like a total drama queen!

I’d imagine they’ve been warned about you so were expecting to cop an attitude.

I’m not saying the first engineer was right in his behaviour. But this morning was partly your fault, IMO.

RosaWaiting · 06/06/2019 11:15

""You think you're a special single lady" (WTF?)"

I've had a few odd situations with men doing jobs in my home, making comments like this. They are usually just being wankers.

I'm a bit confused by the "accusations" thing, am I following your post correctly? He was just being a wanker I think.

Sheeply · 06/06/2019 11:22

I have called up and complained, very apologetic. I have a video of the first engineers behaviour and have written an account of todays visit. The last engineer was a contractor although the poor driver, who had gout and was in tears when I found the engineer abusing him, was a JL employee.
They claimed to have been given no information by JL at all. It is bizarre, we have had various furniture including 2 single beds, a kingsize, a dinning table etc delivered with no problems at all.I thought they were supposed to be famous for their excellent service.

OP posts:
BarrenFieldofFucks · 06/06/2019 11:24

How on earth does the OP sound like a drama queen?!

beenandgoneandbackagain · 06/06/2019 11:29

Never had a problem - in fact they have always gone above and beyond expectations to be very helpful, especially around my elderly parents.

I'd let them know that you have had some problems again though - it only takes one bad person to ruin reputation locally.

TwinklyMummaLuvsHerBubba89 · 06/06/2019 11:31

Terrible service. What a horrible person. I wonder if he knows the person from the original call out and was expecting grief, having only heard one side of the story.

I've never heard bad stuff about JL (have never used them but my DB and SIL got JL vouchers for their wedding and got all their white goods from them)

I don't think you sound like a drama queen at all.

I have an anxiety disorder and having workmen in my house is so stressful and can induce panic attacks just from them being there, so i understand completely you reacting to this subsequent incident the way you did.

I hope you can do something nice for the rest of the day. Don't fret over it, leave it with JL to sort.

Sheeply · 06/06/2019 11:33

@RosaWaiting I am confused by it too. I didn't make any accusations or raise my voice.

OP posts:
Sheeply · 06/06/2019 11:35

I don't have an anxiety disorder bit was very tense when they came in and started kicking things in the porch. I am normally very calm and laid back but when they left I was shaky and panicky.

It's completely bizarre.

OP posts:
IvanaPee · 06/06/2019 11:36

Having a panic attack because a delivery driver was rude is dramatic.

Seems a bit weird too that they’d insist OP had shouted when she hadn’t, but it’s possible I suppose.

Being annoyed that they hadn’t said hello is ridiculous and to my mind a bit drama queen-esque!

Sheeply · 06/06/2019 11:37

They now have the money and the dishwasher, so frustrating.
I have found their service excellent when delivering furniture. I think you are right, these must be contractors.

OP posts:
GlassSuppers · 06/06/2019 11:43

I agree with IvanaPee.
It sounds like you were already worked up and annoyed with JL before they even got there.

I find it a bit OTT that you were miffed they didn't tell you their name or exchange pleasantries!

Sissy79 · 06/06/2019 11:50

This sounds awful, I’ve never had anything like that with JL.

I did have an Argos man tell me that (after I’d paid £25 for fitting my dish washer) that he couldn’t fit it because it was too hard but I could if I just went to the shop and bought this certain piece of a certain millimetre and crawled in to the cavity and attached it all myself. I was holding both my babies in my arms at the time thinking, er, I paid for a professional fitting precisely because I’m not in a position to fit it, nor do I have the skill or the many arms and eyes it would take to do all that and look after the children at the same time.

Soola · 06/06/2019 11:51

They work in a hurry as other appointments and sometime the niceties go amiss when they just want to get in and do there ruddy job.

Soola · 06/06/2019 11:51

Their

birthdaymayhem · 06/06/2019 11:52

Another one not understanding people accusing op of being a drama queen ? Hmm

First of all JL are supposedly known (at least that's what they say) for being good with customer service.

Secondly it is quite standard and only polite for someone who is coming to your house (contractor or not) to at least say something along the lines of "Hi there I'm Dave from JL here for the dishwasher, do you mind showing me where it is?" It's hardly an impossible or OTT ask.

I wouldn't be happy or comfortable with someone who tries to barge past me into my house as soon as I open the door without as much as a hello even if I did speak to them on the phone half an hour ago. WTF.

Sissy79 · 06/06/2019 11:55

I also think announcing who they are and saying good morning or hello is pretty standard, they should at least do that and show ID. Even the dreaded TV license man does that before he tried to fine you. Grin

Sissy79 · 06/06/2019 11:55

*tries

NoTheresa · 06/06/2019 11:59

This behaviour is outrageous - whether contracted out or not. There is no way an unstable individual like the one described, should have ANY contact with the public. Actually, if I was his employer, he wouldn’t have a job anymore. John Lewis must be appalled.

Glad you had the presence of mind to get hard evidence, OP.

TwinklyMummaLuvsHerBubba89 · 06/06/2019 11:59

OP, I wasn't saying you have an anxiety disorder. I was just saying that it isn't you being dramatic to get upset by someone coming into your house and behaving the way you did.

(it's by the by, but I'm also very calm and laid back most of the time - I do however have anxiety triggers and workmen in the house is one of them)

Sheeply · 06/06/2019 12:10

I'm surprised how upset I am feeling about it all, very unlike me.
Thanks for your comments and kindness. I think you're right @TwinklyMummaLuvsHerBubba89, after the problems last time I was, unsurprisingly, anxious before they arrived.

OP posts:
Sheeply · 06/06/2019 12:27

@RosaWaiting when you say "odd situations" do you mean aggressive behaviour? I had a carpet fitter come out with a sexist tirade years ago but that was just as he was leaving.
The behaviour this time seemed deliberately difficult and I wonder if the job was too annoying/time consuming so they created an excuse. I know nothing about fitting dishwashers so can't really say but the house is an awkward layout due to it's age and location.

OP posts: