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Original poster

Done over by jeweller - anything I can do?

226 replies

Puzzledandpissedoff · 14/12/2020 14:18

Posting here for traffic, and yes I know it's a first world problem but I'd appreciate any advice

My 18ct yellow gold rope chain broke, and the jeweller I took it to for repair has substituted a 9ct chain (very clear just by the weight and colour). Obviously I queried this at the time, and equally obviously he denied it while avoiding my eyes and then scuttling into the back of the shop

The chain was my late mum's so I don't have a receipt, but the 18ct is stamped on the clasp - only now it doesn't match the chain itself
I'm not sure there's much I can do TBH, but if anyone has any suggestions I'd be grateful

OP posts:
Zilla1 · 14/12/2020 16:01

TS might 'need' repeat complaints but FWIW, there may already have been complaints. In my experience, dishonest people are rarely dishonest once. The clever ones might prepare for one large heist but most are serially dishonest.

MadeForThis · 14/12/2020 16:02

I would tell him that you have insurance documents for the chain including valuation and photos. If he doesn't replace the chain you will contact the police.

Letsrunabath · 14/12/2020 16:03

Similar story about my mums engagement ring wearing down and my dad took it to a jewellers as she’d stopped wearing it to get a new band put on as a surprise. Jeweller gave my dad a different ring back, he didn’t notice but my mum did. Went back to complain and was fobbed off, in the end he went in a with a few friends. Never got my mums original ring back but he did let my mum pick a ring of her choice to the original value and a bit extra not to contact the police. Years later he was charged with theft turned out he was a gambling addict who owed lots of people money. We all felt sorry for him.

wildraisins · 14/12/2020 16:04

As others have suggested - trading standards and social media. ESPECIALLY social media. Tell the jeweller that you are going to share your appalling experience - you are right that it is robbery. Also threaten with small claims. Sometimes that is all it takes and you don't actually have to go any further.

Hayeahnobut · 14/12/2020 16:06

TS might 'need' repeat complaints but FWIW, there may already have been complaints.

The CAB advice line keeps a record of complaints and passes them to TS if they see a pattern. They effectively act as a go between, as TS do not have the resources to be taking calls from individuals.

Beautiful3 · 14/12/2020 16:10

Take it to another jewellers and pay them to value it on paper then go back and explain that its fraud what they've done. I'm sure after that he admit his mistake.

PizzaForOne · 14/12/2020 16:10

Name and shame on all social media and review sites.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 14/12/2020 16:14

Wow, this sounds quite widespread. My example is my MIL taking a gold watch to a jeweller for repair. When she went to pick it up, they told her they'd lost it, apologised & offered her a new (cheap, non-gold) one instead.

She was an old lady & I guess they thought they'd try it on. But she rang me & she knew it wasn't right. I advised her to tell them that she'd brought a gold watch in & if they'd lost it she would accept a new gold watch, but nothing less. She did just that & - hey presto! - they 'found' her original watch & returned it to her. Criminals. And this was in a very naice English city.

Shodan · 14/12/2020 16:15

If you have one, use a magnifying glass to see if you can spot any signs of a repair. A rope chain is quite difficult to solder neatly- if there's no sign of repair that would be extra evidence.

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 14/12/2020 16:17

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Cheetas one of the links had broken and apparently needed soldering (or whatever they call it with gold) and the repair cost me £35

I've just called trading standards and it's gone to voicemail (??) so will try again tomorrow

£35 is daylight robbery for starters. I wonder if he messed up the mend and switched the chain?
MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 14/12/2020 16:18

@Puzzledandpissedoff

I have photos of me wearing it, but not closeup ones and guess one chain looks much like another except for the weight which obviously wouldn't show in pics

And it's an independent, yes - ironically my mum, whose chain it was, used to use them which is largely why I went there (sorry, mum Sad)
I'm liking the idea of Trading Standards since I'm not sure the police will be interested - apart from anything else they'll presumably know if he's done this before

The jeweller doesn't know that you haven't got close ups.

I'd go back, say that you have been examining the close up photos you took for insurance purposes, and that it's clearly a different chain. You think he must have made a mistake. Could he please check his records and give you yours back, as you'd hate to have to drag in the police?

And take someone else with you as a witness.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 14/12/2020 16:20

Wow, this sounds quite widespread

Yeah, it's a very common scam - as is substituting diamonds for lesser quality ones. Always take good quality close ups of any jewellery before repairs, and check the receipt you are given to make sure it describes the item accurately.

WhereverIGoddamnLike · 14/12/2020 16:21

@ThatIsNotMyUsername

It isnt daylight robbery at all. I'm a jeweller. £35 for preparing a broken link in a gold rope is perfectly fine.

rwalker · 14/12/2020 16:23

Honestly it comes down to proof and you don't have any if you were trying to pursue it legally .

Graciebobcat · 14/12/2020 16:25

I'd never heard of this before. What a bunch of crooks some jewellers are.

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 14/12/2020 16:44

That is shocking OP. Straight onto the police for theft and fraud.

I get people freaking out about leaving their jewels with me and its so frustrating because its time consuming trying to put their minds at rest. Stuff like this is so bad for the trade and is disgusting behaviour.

Hayeahnobut · 14/12/2020 16:46

Don't tie yourself in knots by telling lies. If you claim to have pictures and a valuation, the first thing the retailer will ask is, "can I see them please?". Be honest and assertive, telling lies significantly weakens your position.

murasaki · 14/12/2020 16:47

off topic, but can I just say @@mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork how much I love your username. I have been inspired to dig out my Molesworth

NoSleepInTheHeat · 14/12/2020 16:49

@Europilgrim

I would go back and say (without accusing anyone) that the chain is not the same chain that you brought in and so you are going to report it to the police and to your insurance company. However, you would like to ask him if, perhaps it might have "accidentally" have been mixed up and would he like to check one last time before you do that.
Exactly, do that! A chance for them to save face, but a clear threat that you will be going to the police if he doesn't swap it back. Don't think about if the police will be interested or not, the threat might be enough. Also say you will let people know on your local social media.
ScrapThatThen · 14/12/2020 16:57

This would be a good one for BBC Rogue Traders

Chottie · 14/12/2020 16:57

A friend of my mother's took a string of pearls in to a jewellers to be restrung. When she collected her pearls, she was convinced there were fewer pearls on the string, but had no proof.

It's wise to count the pearls and have the number written on the receipt, before you hand them over.

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 14/12/2020 16:58

[quote WhereverIGoddamnLike]@ThatIsNotMyUsername

It isnt daylight robbery at all. I'm a jeweller. £35 for preparing a broken link in a gold rope is perfectly fine.[/quote]
Last time I had one mended it was £15 in Hatton garden (about a year ago).

Zilla1 · 14/12/2020 16:59

@WhereverIGoddamnLike £35 for a repair in 18t seems good value to me too. Less so if the price includes turning the whole chain into thinner, 9ct.

@Graciebobcat and the profession with no miscreants and dishonesty is ?

Zilla1 · 14/12/2020 17:09

So:

VAT on service; £29.66 to fund
solder/thermal consumables depending on the design unless laser weld?;
time; including extra time if it turns out the chain was filled/misdescribed and 'assayed'?;
overheads; and
the trip to Mauritius for those who think this is daylight robbery.

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 14/12/2020 17:09

Lots of good advice here. Do tell the jeweller a member of his staff must have made the change, so he has room to pretend it wasn't him, and "find" the correct chain if it hasn't already been sold.

Best of luck, OP. How upsetting that he stole your Mum's chain, especially after she had been a good customer.