I booked a teepee for 3 nights back in June with the Teepee Sleepover Company. When I booked it I was unable to find any negative reviews. The website was very professional, Katie was very polite via email and it all seemed very professional.
At the time of my booking there was a Facebook page for Teepee Sleepover Parties with photos of Tamzin Outhwaite (I see she has liked their latest Instagram post) and her teepee so I thought it was legitimate. The Facebook page is no longer there. I paid my deposit and remaining balance 7 days before.
Only on the morning of delivery, 30th July, I thought it was strange that I had not had a confirmed time that it would arrive. I tried the phone number on the website and it didn’t connect. So I started to google and read all the horrendous reviews about this company. Katie got back to me eventually via email saying she would be there at 6pm which was going to be too late. I was dubious and challenged her asking if she was really going to arrive or whether I would have 8 disappointed girls on my hands. She asked me to give her the opportunity to prove that the Internet reviews were not true and have the “decency” to tell her if I’d arranged alternative plans so they don’t have a wasted trip. I had paid £300 so wanted the tent but also didn’t want to take a risk so managed to source a smaller tent which was in place by 3pm still leaving room for the larger tent.
I asked Katie to provide me with a phone number or to call me a number of times during the day. She ignored these requests. Apparently too busy to phone but able to email. Customer service is non-existent.
At 5pm I had a phone call from a call handler with an out of area number saying that they were on their way and would be with me by 6pm.
They arrived around 5.45pm. I showed them where I wanted the tent and as soon as they saw the other tent her partner started to shout and swear in front of my daughter and her friends and stormed off back to the hire van, threw a box into the back and slammed all the doors. He said he was fed up and to give me a refund. I have still not received my refund and expect I never will 🤦♀️.
I have filed a report with the police and with Action Fraud. She failed to deliver on her part of our contract. She had researched me before arriving - obviously to ensure that I wasn’t a lawyer or worked for the BBC.
There is a long history of similar incidents of fraud with her as a Director. Do your research and never part with money before the product or service has been delivered to your satisfaction.