Blinds nightmare - where do I stand?

[Clouday]

I’m having a total nightmare with some blinds I’ve ordered and I’m looking for any advice. We were quoted for some roller blinds and one wooden blind, and we paid a deposit (50%) back in September.

We were advised at the time it could be 4-6 weeks for the wooden blind, but the roller blinds could be available sooner. We said we were ok to wait the 4-6 weeks and just have everything fit in one go. This was in September.

After 8 weeks and having heard nothing, we got in touch with the company who said they would likely be coming in 17 November and they’d call on Monday to arrange a fitting. Monday came and went. We got back in touch and asked again, and were advised they’d be coming in on 24 November and they’d be fitting over the weekend to clear the backlog. Again, weekend came and went with no contact and no updates.

After this I’ve contacted the company twice and had no reply. I did have a phone call where it was all very non-committal but it would get sorted but not give a date (or an apology - 10 weeks at this point, far over the 4-6 we were quoted!).

Now we are into 11 weeks. I have attempted to make contact today asking for either a fitting date or the money back as we are well over the agreed timescales. As you might have guessed, I’ve heard nothing.

I feel so frustrated and let down. We have had no window coverings now for 3 months, and even more annoying is it’s probably nothing will be sorted by Christmas at this point.

Any thoughts on where I would stand getting my money back? We were told it was a 50% deposit - the quote slip that has the details on does have space for a customer signature (which by chance we hadn’t signed).

Totally fed up 😖

Did you pay on credit card?

Unfortunately not.

The diffculty comes I suppose from the fact that the blinds will be made to measure - I presume the blinds will have been made and the delay is on the fitting. On the website / terms and conditions that were attached to your receipt, does it say anything about timescales? I would expect there to be something which says its an "estimate" or similar, and reference to a made to measure product? Does it mention anything about this circumstance?

There is nothing on the receipt re timescales, we were advised on booking the rollers would be ready pretty soon and the wooden would be 4-6 weeks. The quote slip does mention it being made to measure etc, although when we paid we didn’t sign the slip. My main gripe is that if we’d been quoted 10-12 weeks we’d have said on your bike we’ll go with another company. Judging by more recent reviews of the company, there are many other people in the same situation as us where we have been given unrealistic timescales.

I don't think the fact that you didn't sign the slip makes any difference. You had the quote, then placed the order and paid the deposit. I completely understand your frustration and I'd be furious too. I thinkbyou need to read all the documentation / terms on the website carefully. I think you're probably stuck waiting for them to install, rather than get your money back given that they're bespoke items.