Name and praise companies and businesses with excellent customer service

[BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows]

Following on from the thread about appalling experiences with companies that people would never use again for various reasons, I'd like to put a positive spin on it and 'name and praise' companies that DO care very much about their customers, deliver top quality service and take ownership of problems when they do arise and actually fix them; and thus deserve to be 'exposed' in a very positive way to others who may or may not wish to give them a try.

If you've been really impressed by a company that you feel values your custom - whether a big company, a small one or even just a local business to you that you believe deserves credit, feel free to share it here.

Needless to say, this is intended for wholly unconnected third-party customers - not for the businesses themselves or their associates/connected parties to advertise and blow their own trumpets!!

I didn't end up using them but the lady in the call centre at the AA was really lovely and spoke to me for ages to try to help when we got a flat tyre on a motorway in freezing temperatures and I had a younger DD in the car. I have a Volvo and deliberately service with them to ensure when things like this happen they pick us up and repair with a Volvo approved tyre etc, but my local showroom hadn't filed the papers from my last service meaning I was told by Aviva I had "no cover" which made me completely panic. I called AA and was trying to sort out being towed but my card wasn't sending the amount needed via the phone, so we tried everything - using a different card, transferring from one card to another, getting text codes to prove who I was (obv hadn't bought my card reader which was all it seemed to accept). Finally she noticed that I was very near to the Highways office and immediately pinged them to say we were stranded and needing assistance. They arrived within 10 minutes and she was audibly relived that we had found a solution, even though she had spent a lot of time and effort on my non-profitable call.
I would not recommend Volvo after this and use Halfords instead - much cheaper and no false promises. Volvo didn't even apologise or refund the costs, so I won't be servicing with them again.

I have recently had excellent customer service from Next. I asked to return a sofa. It was collected three days later and the money was back in my account two days after that.

Nationwide for all the reasons already mentioned.
Purdy and Figg - outstanding customer service on the two occasions that there has been a problem with my order. One was sorted put on a Sunday afternoon!

Glad to say Sureflap are still great! I had to contact them recently because of an issue I was having, and the customer service really was excellent.

Anchor /Eufy are great , I have one of their robot vacs , it kept going round in small circles after giving it a good clean which didn't cure it I contacted them , they asked a few questions and asked for a video of it malfunctioning.

They diagnosed a knackered wheel moter , a new one only cost me about £5 , free post and they sent me free brushes and filters.
They sent me a couple of links to videos on how to fitt the moter which was surprisingly easy.

Specsavers. I always feel like royalty. The customer service is brilliant.

Britannia rescue (breakdown cover). They have helped us so many times and always so quick and simple. I recommend them to everyone.

Natwest mortgage. You phone, a person answers and helps. Easy.

Swinton car insurance. I only went with them because they were cheap, but again, so easy to contact and they always have the answers.

Nissan. My car was 3 weeks out of warranty when it developed a massive and unusual fault that would cost £4500 to fix. Id only had the car about 8 months, and had not bought an extra warranty because I couldn't afford it. The man in the dealer garage said sometimes Nissan will agree to provide the part and I would then 'just' need to find £2000 for labour costs. So I rang them hoping for this and spoke to a very kind lady, who listened to my sobs and said she would see what she could do. She rang back later to say that if I would pay a £95 gesture, Nissan would cover the rest. I can still feel the utter relief now.

I would put these on the other (bad business) thread.
They tried to charge me £35 for a watch battery. I told them I could get it done elsewhere for £5 then said any cheaper options wouldn't keep the watch waterproof. I asked if they thought the seal (to keep it waterproof) was intact and they said yes. Which is funny as the watch is 20 years old and I've had the £5 batteries put in many many times (knowing they couldn't guarantee to keep the seal). So a blatant lie to try to overcharge me. Never going there again.

My dad had a Motability car. I didn't have a car at the time as I lived in city centre, walking distance to work, but towards the end I was a named driver on his to take him to hospital appointments etc. I called them when he died to arrange collection of the car and they said "with everything you've got to deal with, would it be helpful to have the car a bit longer? We'll collect it in 6 weeks, you can drive it as much as you need until then".

I didn't really need it to be honest, it was helpful for a few things but I could have easily managed without it. But I was just so surprised with how helpful and understanding they were.

Sorry but I have to disagree with this; they were appalling when my dad died. According to their website money can be released from the deceased account to pay for the funeral but they refused to do so, even though we had the relevant paperwork.
Having read this thread and disagreeing with some of the companies listed I have to say it depends on the individual you are dealing with. Some people are excellent at their job and some people are dire.

Nationwide has always been brilliant for us as a family. All four of us have accounts, and both mortgages are on there (original and extension). I went straight there with my big tax refund cheque after NatWest made my life hell. They have never let me down. Even when things were tough.

I have consistently had great service from Morrisons home delivery: my home economist friend suggested them when I was locked out of my Tesco account just before lockdown 2020. Because everything comes from a massive warehouse they share with Ocado, there are rarely any substitutions.

A wonderful local store called Harvest Moon. Great jewelry, incense, alternative stuff... it is a local landmark and beloved.

I really love St Eval in Cornwall. Gorgeous candles and great customer service.

Nationwide
Aviva pensions
Sainsburys
Admiral insurance

Another vote for Timpsons. The staff are consistently so friendly and helpful which ever branch you go to.

Chapel Interiors. Ordered some expensive paint from them. One leaked en route. I emailed to explain what had happened and within the hour they'd refunded the delivery cost as a gesture of goodwill and put a new tin in the post and emailed to tell me. Very friendly and personal service. Will definitely buy from them again.

A stark contrast to a certain pet supply company from whom I will avoid ordering again if I possibly can.

I agree, I’ve taken things back to a different branch and they’ve still been happy to replace/repair without question nor argument.

A big shout out to Alncom Broadband, they are a great company. I am moving soon and they will install in to my new home next day after the move. As an existing customer I cannot fault them.

Dunelm. Don’t know if it’s like that everywhere but the staff in my local one are fabulous.

Buhrani hardware in Leicester is just like the other hardware place a PP mentioned. They’ve got everything and are super-helpful. My stepdad would spend ages in there if he could, just pottering and chatting.

Jet 2. Refunded my flights during COVID without me even asking ( unlike Euro camp).

Said I'd always travel with them again and did earlier this year. Fantastic service and will always use them in future

I won't use Sainsbury's having contacted them about the sudden death of a former employee and they refused any payout for his widow and 2 very young children. They made a statutory profit after tax last year of £393 million.

Other former employer by contrast agreed to pay her £1,000 a month. Both they and the Government Depts were great. I had contacted them both on the Tuesday and the widow's and children's pensions were in her bank account the next Monday!

Contrast Sainsbury's also with Marks and Spencer who somehow had learnt that the aged widow of a long ago former employee was struggling financially and out of the blue sent her a sizeable lump sum!

Teachers' Superannuation scheme btw were also great (many years ago though.) Lump sum paid out September 1st ( first day of retirement ). Pension paid out promptly day before birth date as promised also in September.

I've not been in for years but the one nearest me at Xmas give parents a cup of tea and a biscuit, while the shop staff get the order.

Timpsons vary for me. My local branch is brilliant and they are very helpful . Another branch were awful. I took my favourite pair of boots to them to see if they could be reheeled and they just about laughed me out of the shop saying they were obviously beyond repair.

I took them to local Timpson and they couldnt have been more different (and did the repair!) Another time, a buckle on DDs shoes came loose. They repaired it. A few weeks later it happened again although I was sure it was the other shoe. The guy at Timpdon said it was the one he had recently repaired and fixed it without charge.

Absolutely not! Tried to charge me £85 for a new watch battery because of the brand. Paid £7 elsewhere. Scammers!

Jet2 are great until something goes wrong.

Snoozeband are excellent IMO.
My snoozeband wouldn't charge the other week so an email into them one response from them asking for confirmation of a few techy bits another just to confirm address and then it was replaced. Simple and efficient. No but you must have done this type customer service. I had similar last year too when my velcro came off. Really excellent really.

Also a bit of a local one. Rainworth Skoda were excellent. My daughter went with her Dad to drop the car in came back with a teddy bear from the service advisor had been spoken to kindly and everything was done as described when it should have been and several update phone calls. Compared to my experience elsewhere recently for my car it was night and day. I also looked at a car whilst I was there picking them up and there wasn't any jump on sales people.