Roller Blind Confusion

[Poppea]

I recently visited a local carpet/curtain/blind shop and arranged for
a visit to measure my windows for roller blinds. This was in early
June. When the measurements were taken I was left with sample books,
and from this I chose a colour for all the windows, called Mint. After
a long, long delay, the owner of the shop arrived to fit the blinds
but to my horror they are the wrong colour, a rather unpleasant 'pea'
green. The owner had given no written confirmation of the order, and
even the cost was phoned through to me, rather than a letter. He now
says I must pay for the blinds and that his wife, who had taken the
order in the shop, and to whom I'd given the sample (removed from the
book just to be sure) insists the pea green was the one I chose.
Additionally, a separate upstairs window was meant to be blue, but
this has also been fitted with the green. The shop has admitted that
this is a mistake and will put this right. However, strangely, at the
same time one of the blinds I thought I'd ordered, for a half glass
back door, was not fitted. When I queried this, the owner insisted I
didn't order one for that window. But the odd thing is that the
wrongly coloured blind for the bedroom fits the door that's been
missed perfectly. As there was a) no written confirmation of the
order, and b) no written estimate of cost, I'm uncertain of my legal
position. The shop is run by a husband and wife team and they both
back one another up in saying I ordered this particular colour. Has
anyone in the group an opinion on this kind of situation?

[Joe Lee]

Post by Poppea
I recently visited a local carpet/curtain/blind shop and arranged for
a visit to measure my windows for roller blinds. This was in early
June. When the measurements were taken I was left with sample books,
and from this I chose a colour for all the windows, called Mint. After
a long, long delay, the owner of the shop arrived to fit the blinds
but to my horror they are the wrong colour, a rather unpleasant 'pea'
green. The owner had given no written confirmation of the order, and
even the cost was phoned through to me, rather than a letter. He now
says I must pay for the blinds and that his wife, who had taken the
order in the shop, and to whom I'd given the sample (removed from the
book just to be sure) insists the pea green was the one I chose.
Additionally, a separate upstairs window was meant to be blue, but
this has also been fitted with the green. The shop has admitted that
this is a mistake and will put this right. However, strangely, at the
same time one of the blinds I thought I'd ordered, for a half glass
back door, was not fitted. When I queried this, the owner insisted I
didn't order one for that window. But the odd thing is that the
wrongly coloured blind for the bedroom fits the door that's been
missed perfectly. As there was a) no written confirmation of the
order, and b) no written estimate of cost, I'm uncertain of my legal
position. The shop is run by a husband and wife team and they both
back one another up in saying I ordered this particular colour. Has
anyone in the group an opinion on this kind of situation?

It's unfortunate that you apparently have nothing in writing, nevertheless
you have entered into a Contract which is as enforceable as a written one,
the problem of course being that it's more difficult to prove what was
actually ordered for the agreed price. Both parties have rights &
obligations conferred & imposed on them in law.

I am a little confused by your post as you originally said that you chose
'Mint' for all the windows, but then that an upstairs window should have
been fitted with a blue blind.

I assume that when you ordered the blinds in the shop your Order would have
been written it an Order Book. If I were you I would call in the shop & ask
to have a look at the Order Book & then see whether your Order was taken
down correctly at that point.

But perhaps first you could speak to your local Trading standards Dept. or
Consumer Direct for free impartial advice.
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

I hope you get it resolved.

[h.tees]

Post by Joe Lee

Post by Poppea
I recently visited a local carpet/curtain/blind shop and arranged for
a visit to measure my windows for roller blinds. This was in early
June. When the measurements were taken I was left with sample books,
and from this I chose a colour for all the windows, called Mint. After
a long, long delay, the owner of the shop arrived to fit the blinds
but to my horror they are the wrong colour, a rather unpleasant 'pea'
green. The owner had given no written confirmation of the order, and
even the cost was phoned through to me, rather than a letter. He now
says I must pay for the blinds and that his wife, who had taken the
order in the shop, and to whom I'd given the sample (removed from the
book just to be sure) insists the pea green was the one I chose.
Additionally, a separate upstairs window was meant to be blue, but
this has also been fitted with the green. The shop has admitted that
this is a mistake and will put this right. However, strangely, at the
same time one of the blinds I thought I'd ordered, for a half glass
back door, was not fitted. When I queried this, the owner insisted I
didn't order one for that window. But the odd thing is that the
wrongly coloured blind for the bedroom fits the door that's been
missed perfectly. As there was a) no written confirmation of the
order, and b) no written estimate of cost, I'm uncertain of my legal
position. The shop is run by a husband and wife team and they both
back one another up in saying I ordered this particular colour. Has
anyone in the group an opinion on this kind of situation?

It's unfortunate that you apparently have nothing in writing, nevertheless
you have entered into a Contract which is as enforceable as a written one,
the problem of course being that it's more difficult to prove what was
actually ordered for the agreed price. Both parties have rights &
obligations conferred & imposed on them in law.
I am a little confused by your post as you originally said that you chose
'Mint' for all the windows, but then that an upstairs window should have
been fitted with a blue blind.
I assume that when you ordered the blinds in the shop your Order would
have been written it an Order Book. If I were you I would call in the shop
& ask to have a look at the Order Book & then see whether your Order was
taken down correctly at that point.
But perhaps first you could speak to your local Trading standards Dept. or
Consumer Direct for free impartial advice.
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/
I hope you get it resolved.
--
Joe Lee

It reminds me of when I ordered a dark blue sofa. A blue one with big
yellow flowers
arrived! Fortunately my order form stated what I had ordered and it was
replaced.
The shop checked and it was the manufactrers fault.

[h.tees]

Post by Poppea
I recently visited a local carpet/curtain/blind shop and arranged for
a visit to measure my windows for roller blinds. This was in early
June. When the measurements were taken I was left with sample books,
and from this I chose a colour for all the windows, called Mint.

All you need to do is show the documents such as a receipt or order form
confirming your order, delivery/fitting date and payment details. Problem
solved. If you can't prove what you ordered, what do you expect?
Prove you didn't order "foul pea green" and then change your mind once
fitted. Many people do that to scam shops in to giving a huge discount.
They will say they will put up with them for a reduced price - after
watching
them all being fitted of course.