I need to vent!!
My mother (slightly useless. money burns a hole in her pockets) signed a contract with a company to replace fascias and guttering to her small bungalow- costing £2k- then changed her mind later. She usually asks for my or DH's opinion on such things, but it didn't come to light until one day after the 14 day cooling off period ended.
I called the company explaining that she was 78, recently widowed and had acted in haste and regretted her decision, and would they cancel the contract as a gesture of good will as it was only 1 day late. They refused (quite rudely).
I emailed them later that day to ask them to reconsider. They did not acknowledge the email, so I called them 5 days later to ask whether they had received it. The man on the phone said "I'll go and check and call you back in 10 mins" An hour later I called him and explained that I had called earlier. He said "yes" followed by a long silence. I asked if he had received the email the week before. He said "Yes". I then had to ask him what his response to that email was. He said that his decision of the week before stood.
When I asked him if he was ever going to reply to or acknowledge the email he said "No, it was an irrelevant question." I said that even though the answer may have been the same it is customary to reply to emails to that effect. I asked if he had ever intended on returning my call and got the same answer. He said I was being rude.
He said that if my mother refused to have the work done he would put the case in the hands of solicitors. The workmen would come anyway.
I know that he is legally within his rights, but has anyone ever heard of goodwill or brand protection or being reasonable? I could not believe his attitude, not even to the refusal to cancel the contract but mostly to the attitude towards my email and phone call.
Am I being unreasonable?