Getting fleeced by a company that poses as UK-based, but isn't.

[TryingToFigureItOut2]

Hi,

I think I am getting fleeced by a clothing company that poses as a high end UK fashion company in London, but which is really not. I wondered if I could tell you, and also ask if anyone has any idea of how to return the clothes?

I bought some shirts from a company called Ashford of London, after a recommendation from the Style and Beauty forum. After I bought them, I realised that the person who recommended them had never actually used the company and had just googled.

This is the company:
https://ashfordclothing.com/

I don't normally spend a lot of money on clothes, but this was to be special, so I was asking for a recommendation of an upmarket brand. I thought this brand would be good because it said it was a London company.

The clothes didn't arrive for two and half weeks, which I thought was odd. The tracker said they came through customs, so they had not come from London at all. When they arrived, they had a Royal Mail 48 label on, which was pretty weird for a three week journey. The clothes seems to have been made in China and possibly posted directly from there. They weren't nicely packed but were jammed tight into a tiny plastic bag.

The clothes didn't look at all like the ones on the website, and weren't suitable. They were meant to be men's shirts, but looked very like ladies shirts (pink and floaty). I started the process to return them.

The weird thing is that when I tried to return them, the company said I had to post them back to the Netherlands at my own expense (not London). They said that I must do the postage in such a way that they had no customs charges to pay to receive them. If they had to pay any customs charges, then they would reject the parcel and refuse to refund.

I sent the parcel by Royal Mail, stating that it was a "Return", so no duties would be due. I said they were from country of origin Netherlands, since I got them from this company which seems to be in the Netherlands. I figured that that would mean they didn't need to pay customs duties since none should be due.

After about a month, I have just heard that the parcel has been rejected because customs charges had been demanded, and they refused to pay them.

This means I will have no refund and will once again will have £350 worth of shirts, that I can't use, and can't send back. It cost me £17 to ship them before, and I'm not sure it's a great idea to spend another £17 to try again.

I wondered if anybody might have any idea of how to send a return parcel to the Netherlands without incurring customs charges? I really would like to return the shirts, as they are no use to me, and cost a lot of money.

Failing that, I wondered if I could just send out a warning not to take Ashford of London too seriously as a UK company who will play fair on returns, because they really seem not to be very helpful.

Thanks!

Unfortunately all of the Insta videos and photos are clearly AI generated. Try to learn what that looks like OP so you can check in future. Skin is too smooth, the people look like they move too smoothly.

This is very useful:

www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-spot-a-fake-fraudulent-or-scam-website-aUBir8j8C3kZ

Oh bloody hell I hope that wasnt me, I remember doing a google search because someone asked about a certain type of shoe and they came up and I linked to it but others on the thread identified it was a bit of a scam site.

Same has happened to me albeit different company Maybel and Daisy. Prfucts were utter cheap crap via china. Very poor quality easier shown by photos. Doing a chargeback via credit card Lloyd’s. They told me to exact legal wording to use and legal time limits which have just passed….
the pile of rubbish order has been sitting in my room for weeks now…

lesson learned

https://mabelanddaisy.com/

A Google lens check on the homepage photo of "Mabel and Daisy" finds 12 other "Somebody and Somebody else" websites using the photograph.

Similar happened to me and I got a charge back via my credit card, because it was not as described. If I didn't like it, then I'd be screwed. The fact you've posted it back means the chargeback will happen instantly. Talk to your credit card provider.

Looks like one of these. Sorry OP. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ced5wvn48q5o

My AVG virus checker won't even let me on the site, it says straight up it's a fake store. Google lens searching is so easy - it's something everyone should be doing if it's a site you're not familiar with

Just got a really charming threatening email from the shirt company. Lovely. I passed it on to the bank.

What! What did it say?

That doesn't surprise me. The threats and warnings on their website about doing chargebacks leads me to think they get a lot of unhappy customers doing this.

The bank wrote to say that that is resolved now and that the money has been permanently returned.

@YouMightLikeCats It wasn't really repeatable. Stuff about police and bailifs and fraud. Lengthy and specific.

I did wonder if there would be a Mumsnet thread on this company.... sadly I found it too late!

Thankfully only down £40 but been reluctant to actually return the item as I know chances are it won't be accepted. I pointed out to the company that there was no return slip so how would they know it was my item?

I did look at doing a charge back via my Revolut when it hadn't arrived after 3 weeks! But couldn't find the option.

I have reported the post on this other thread recommending the company so that nobody else sees the site and thinks it might be a good move to order.

Considering that this company do not seem to be adhering to Uk law on online purchases I don't think you have anything to worry about!

For anyone interested, here is the podcast for The Great Knitted Cardigan scandal. There is a whole series of programmes exposing how we get swindled.

That's a very good thought. Thanks.

My MIL ordered a top a month ago from this company. Nothing has been delivered.
I'm sure there are worse companies but 88% 1 star reviews on Trustpilot does look like a record to me.

It’s just happened to me for a second time! A hair care company called Shekys.

Place marking, I'll look for the online company I used and post a warning

I had this with a company called Velura who had claimed to be a UK company but were not. The item they (eventually) sent me turned up in the wrong size. They then tried to make me keep the item, insisting that posting it back would be at my own expense and it would likely get lost at customs.

After a few emails I got annoyed, called my bank and they took my side and refunded me.

I later sold the item on Vinted as there was nothing wrong with it other than the wrong size! 😅

Yes I would advise getting a credit card chargeback or bank refund. I had to put certain things in writing to the company and wait a designated number of days but I have the funds back and I doubt that will change. Customer advisor said she hears of these daily...
In the meanwhile the totally rubbish clothes sit in a bag in the corner of my room. What a waste 🗑

I ordered 2 items totalling £110 in October, the company website has disappeared, all tracking info has gone… I created a fraud claim on my bank app, ashford or whoever they are have challenged it!! But Halifax say they have enough info to defend it and have credited me. You can inform your bank if they refuse returns and with the amount of people doing this you may get your money back