BT Business Direct: A warning

Esinem · ‎29-09-2009

Watch out for second hand goods passed off as new!

I bought a DGM LCD TV from Dabs4Work just over 12 months ago. Recently, it developed a fault. When I reported it, I was told, to my surprise, it was used stock and only had a 90 day warranty! Dabs (now BT Business Direct) claim it was listed as such but after 10 written requests have failed to provide evidence and I have just been fobbed off. As you can see, it is blatantly misdescribed and no indication is given that it is other than new. It even clearly states a 12 month warranty: http://www.dabs.com/products/best-value-32--widescreen-hd-ready-lcd-tv-with-1-year-warranty-4C4W.htm

There is no telephone number for customer services, so everything has to be done by email. Avoid at all costs!!

alastair · ‎29-09-2009

i got a 500 GB lacie NAS and have had no problems at all with bt business direct or the quality of the product.

i haven't had to contact the "support" though.

=~~= All Glory to the Hypnotoad! =~~=

Esinem · ‎29-09-2009

Don't get me wrong, Alastair, they haven't ripped me off before. This is the first and last time. I shall certainly check to see if any company I deal with has at least a support number.

I'm not alone. There are plenty of other upset customers. I wish I had seen these reviews before I bought from this shower: http://members.dooyoo.co.uk/online-shops/dabs-com-1/reviews/1/ Just Google 'Dabs customer service', albeit an oxymoron, and you will find pages like this.

If anyone needs to talk to the director's PA, her name is Nicola and she's on 0870 4293456 or 01942 853000.
MD: Mr Simon Curry scurry@dabs.com.
FD: Neil Catto ncatto@dabs.com
Company lawyer: Matthew Brown matthew.brown@bt.com

Message Edited by Esinem on 29-09-2009 07:21 PM

Message Edited by Esinem on 29-09-2009 07:23 PM

rod · ‎09-10-2009

Thank you for that mate. They are a bleedin nuisance over there in Bolton. Yes there prices are good and we should congratulate them for that but customer services is useless and the chat team are monkeys. They dont have a clue. They just throw any old garbage back at you, claiming its your fault.

Thanks for the phone numbers.I phoned Nicky and she gave me Simons email to contact.

Basically their website is flawed ie. bugs and they just dont seem to have any interest in curing them or appointing a person who will take the issues seriously. For instance you can (when you finally figure it out for yourself as the chat team have no idea) try and add things to your regular buy list only for the correct numbers to be shown incorrectly on the main screen. You cant keep the basket live from one session to another which is time wating for business / self employed people. You add goods to the basket and then later delete them but they still remain in the basket on the front screen. It makes you wonder how many other errors there are. I know there is a circumstance in which you can double order without realising it by going backwards and forwards on the browser bar cos it happened to us but no one took a blind bit of interest.

I worry greatly that they are going to go bust. I have that feeling about them. Ive seen this sort of thing before when the firm is teetering and is just holding itself above liquidation.

Seraphsailor · ‎12-10-2009

I was considering the Aspire netbook/3G dongle offer (as an upgrade) and as they also do a re-conditioned Aspire I did check with them that if I ordered then the netbook would be BNIB - this was confirmed - however no answers to email questions posed about 2 weeks ago re their T&C's so they have now lost me as a potential upgrade customer.

Agree with you about the BT Business website for information on discrepancies. Their cancellation charges are very wrong and illegal, and they make no reference to distance selling regulations. Here's a discrepancy I've posted elsewhere on this forum and used their web feedback form to advise them but the weight information hasn't been changed yet (it also applies to Un-scheduled delivery). So if you've recently received an additional weight charge for a UK delivery that is under 999.0 Kilograms you could use this, and their inability to change erroneous information when pointed out to them via their web feedback form, so they must stand by what is on the web-site and you can get some money back!!

On their web pages re delivery:

Mainland UK - Scheduled Delivery

Scheduled Delivery gives you the flexibility to request delivery on a specific date at a specific time of day that fits in with your lifestyle such as before noon or 9am delivery.

If you don't need to guarantee delivery on a specific date, you can keep your delivery costs low by choosing a 3 working day range of dates instead, though note this option doesn't allow you to choose a specific time of day for delivery so your goods could arrive at any time between 7am and 6pm on any of the dates within your chosen 3 working day range.

Scheduled Delivery charges are displayed in the table below for orders where the total weight is less than 999.0 Kilograms.

Now here is another one:

Disputed Bills
If the Customer disputes any charge on an invoice the Customer will notify BT Business Direct in writing within 14 days of the date of the bill with all relevant information. Where the disputed amount is less than 5% of the total bill, the Customer will pay the full amount of the bill.

If BT were to misadvertently overcharge me by <5% and refuse to reimburse quoting this at me I'd slap them with a moneyclaim-on-line claim!!

Message Edited by Seraphsailor on 12-10-2009 12:15 PM

Esinem · ‎12-10-2009

We are not alone: http://www.clik2complaints.co.uk/Ori-others/dabs2.htm

and more: http://www.letsfixbritain.com/dabs.htm

and more: http://www.gringod.com/2004/12/09/yet-more-dabscom-details/

Seraphsailor · ‎12-10-2009

Esinem,

I don't think posting such aged information on a supplier is very helpful - as things may well have changed significantly over time. In contrast I have purchased a number of items from DABS in 2005/6 and received excellent service and communication.

One message I would leave with most viewers is to ensure your are aware of Distance Selling Regulations for purchasing items over the internet. Most items can be returned for a full refund providing you advise the seller within 7 days (software, hardbooks, e-books and jewellery are some exceptions) and you don't have to give a reason or for the product to be faulty!! (it's your cooling off period.)

csmanager · ‎14-10-2009

@Seraphsailor wrote:
they make no reference to distance selling regulations.

Hi Seraphsailor,

Distance Selling Regulations do not apply to Business sales, they are designed to protect consumers which is why they are not referenced on the BT Business Direct site.

You can get more information about the Distance Selling Regulations here (clicky).

Hope that clears that one up.

Jon