Where have you had appalling customer service?

[deaddei]

Just reading some posts about Zara- they have my vote for the most uninterested, untrained bunch of duffers you could ever meet. It doesn't matter which branch you go in- Kingston, Sloane Square, wherever- same level of crappy service. I now make it a point to engage one of them in conversation and ask them a question they HAVE to answer- not just yes or no. I only buy trousers there as they're nice and long- otherwise I would shun them altogether.
Anyone equally bad experiences with other High Street stores?

ORANGE - appalling appalling broadband service, and really obstructive when you try and leave.

I should have tried to claim compensation for nearly having my head explode every time I spoke to them on the phone (nearly every day for six long broadbandless weeks) except that trying to claim anything from them would have only resulted in further pain, a fact which they were no doubt well aware of...

Mothercare -
I bought a Mamas and Papas pram when I was 8 months pregnant from one of their big retail stores that was about to close for a short time for a refurb. The saleswoman told us the pram (which I fell in love with) was minus a cosytoes and main cover but not to worry as "you can order these at the nearest branch or online."
When we went to the other the branch we were told that the make and model was "last season" and they couldn't get replacements. I needed the main cover over the pram as it was Autumn going into Winter.
They saw us coming............. because I was then told to take it back to the original store if I didn't want it (even though they knew that it was closed for refurb)
Told the manager of the smaller branch that I would like my money back. He obviously was having a very bad day as he approached us without a smile or curteous hello and mumbled "what do you want?" He made me stand in front of the till in front of a very big queue as I explained the situation to which he basically replied "Tough" it was sold as seen. When I explained that I felt conned as I was lead to believe by the saleswoman that I would be able to buy the cover etc easily from their shop he told me I was making it up!!!!! Very hormonal, heavily pregnant woman in Mothercare being called a liar is not a good combination. I stamped my foot and stood my ground (I nearly cried though) and told him I wasn't leaving the shop until he gave me my money back. After an hour he did!!!!
Have never stepped foot in one of their shops again.

Oohh look at the size of that rant....
Still makes my blood boil when I think of it. Sorry for the loooonnnggg post

hobbs...tripe service

Toys r us, around xmas time of year, treat anyone like crap! My mum took a pogo stick back, didnt go well

Gap - today - walked into changing rooms with a pair of jeans and had following conversation:
Assistant: (busy faffing with other things and clearly getting some kind of weirdo power trip from making me wait....assumes incredibly snotty & superior voice) Somebody helped you select the correct style?
Tulpe: erm...no
Assistant: well how do you know if they are right for you?
Tulpe: erm.....well I am after a pair of black skinny jeans and these appear to be a pair. I'm guessing I will know when I try them on?
Assistant: These ones are probably too big for you. They are skinny jeans you know. Skinny jeans are meant to be tight.
Tulpe: (incredulous) really?
Assistant: (turning her back on me and assessing items brought in by next customer) well in that case if they aren't right you had better let me know hadn't you, and I shall try and find something more suitable for you.

All this said in the haughtiest & sneeriest voice imaginable. Was so fecking angry that in retrospect I should have just left them there immediately and walked out. Instead I went into a cubicle, sat and fumed for a minute and then took them back out without trying on.

Thinking about it now makes me so angry. Am considering calling to complain.

Department of Work and Pensions.
The phones are manned by idiots. Also they are rude.

oh and the Student Loans Company who once asked me when I was going to go out and a get a proper job so I could repay what I owed them instead of staying at home with DS1 .

They have since been taken over by the lovely Thesis Management Services. They also give me a courtesy call every 3 months "to see if you've got a job yet" .

Despite me explaining that I am a SAHM and without income they still ask me if I can make some kind of monthly payment.......erm, yes, from which particular money tree would you like me to pluck said cash for you?

I find most of the staff in M&S are either non existant or chatting or bored or ill informed about what stock they have.

It's like we should be grateful the shop exists

Tescos stores.
Tescos Delivery.
Tescos photoshop.
Tescos online delivery of anything.

Home Delivery Network, who deliver for Yellow Moon.

The council gym/pool.

Clarks shoes.
Went on Saturday to kiddies department, took a ticket like you get at the cheese counter. Waited for 20 mins without anyone acknowledging my presence. 2 girls busy serving other families. Then one girl is free and instead of coming over to me, very slowly puts away all the shoes which the previous customer has been trying on! When she does eventually approach me she doesn't apologise for making me wait. When I buy the shoes she doesn't even thank me. A letter to Head Office I think.
Also, Toys R us. I bought a wooden garage which had the wrong parts in it so as a result it wouldn't piece together. I called up the store to find out if I could mail it back to them and left a message for the manager. After a week of my call not being returned, I visited the store and kicked up merry hell. When they asked if I wanted to speak to the Manager I replied "Indeed I do not. I want the number of your Head Office". Funnily enough the Manager called to apologise after that!

Best story was told to me by MIL... MIL's friend who is a little on the large side and tends to dress scruffy walks into a posh upmarket store, is browsing the rails. Snooty saleswoman approaches and patronisingly says, 'I am sorry but we don't make things in your size'.

MIL's friend looks her up and down and says 'Well, I guess you don't do gifts either then' and walks out! I laughed so much and still think of this when I go into a posh store

And obviously, I would never buy from LK Bennett after that horrendous experience!! My blood pressure still goes up thinking of that week!

Sky tv -couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery and their telephone operators are as thick as shit .

British gas-they take their brain out to go to work

Orange gave me free texts then took them away- I still need to sort that out. I changed my address then realised I wasn't getting any bills-oh we didn't change your address for bills WTF?

Mothercare are pretty poor but don't really go there anymore

Tiscali operatives are called 'William' and 'Susan' but clearly live in Bangalore and speak such strongly accented English that I had to ask them to repeat 3 times.

We've had some nightmares with them, but for a while it's been all quiet

Sky TV, Sky TV, Sky TV.

(Sayanything, a lovely woman from Belgacom was really helpful on the phone the other day when I called to complain about my phone bill being wrong, and I just got an apology letter and a new bill which is 200 euros cheaper. Apart from that, yep, Brussels service is appalling. Incredibly, inexplicably rude.)

Bhs

Bought an own-brand kettle there, which after a fortnight began to leak water from the electric switch, the button you push down to switch it on

Didn't have the receipt by then, but took it back, it was Bhs brand and still on sale there, and I just wanted a replacement

Me: I bought this 2 weeks ago, leaks water from the switch, can I exchange please?

Her: Hmm. No receipt?

Me:No, sorry. But own brand, still on sale, DANGEROUS, yadda yadda

Her: (looking inside it) Are you sure you've only had it 2 weeks? (sceptically)

Me: er, yes, and out of interest, after what amount of time would it be acceptable for an electric kettle to leak water from the switch?

Her: well I will exchange it, but next time you must bring your receipt

Me: don't worry, I think it's very unlikely that there'll be a next time!

In the same branch the assistant gave my sister change for £10 rather than 20, refused to believe her and said she'd have to come back into the shop the next day after they'd cashed up the till and if they were £10 over, she could have it back.

My poor sister, heavily pregnant, who knew she was right because that £20 was all she had to last her the week, had to take a £3 return bus journey the next day, and the assistant said 'Yes, it was £10 over' and threw her the money without any apology.

This is bad practice

M&S, bastian of the high street, was the last shop I received really poor service.

Returned DS' unworn and still tagged school coat as it was too small - with the receipt - and was told it was too late to return it by 2 days or even exchange it, there was nothing they could do. (M&S quietly ditched their 90 day returns policy this year, something I was unaware of)

I'm sure the cashier was wrong but she was adamant and surprisingly rude.

I'm slightly to say that dh, who happened to be with me, was so hacked off he just rejoined the queue, went to a different cashier, told her it was an unwanted gift, had no receipt, and she gave him a credit note.

at poor saintmaybe's sister. I'd have been demanding the store manager (and a chair to sit on for the wait) at that point.

Halifax - ex H left me - told Halifax he'd changed his address - and they sent my bank statement to his new address. Was promised a phone call from their complaints department within 5 days - 10 days on, still waiting...

ASK...........

Tesco every time. Tesco direct are good though.
House of Fraser. Very rude and uninterested.
Marks and Spencer. Rude.

Marks and sparks - got ds a baby toy from there (he was about 9 months old). He dropped it (not very far) and it shattered into small, choke sized pieces. I took it back and was told that I was lying, clearly someone had stamped on it and that 'these toys are tested don't you know'. Eventually they gave me a credit note back after I made a big fuss but made clear that they still thought that I was obviously lying.

I will never ever buy kids stuff in there again.

I also don't do tescos after a myriad of small complaints - none of which they handled well, or at all really. Including one complaint I sent several times and didn't get a single response.

Toys R Us over a pushchair which they took to test (big fault with it) 9 months later and 2 changes of store manager they claimed alternately that tehy had lost it or there was nothing wrong and we gave up.

I also know 2 people who have had huge problems with vodaphone contract phones to the extent that their phones became mostly unusuable.