#JusJoJan Daily Prompt – Jan. 17th/17 – Complaint

Day 17 of Linda’s #JusJoJan challenge hosted most ably again by Shan Jeniah Check out her blog here.

The Just Jot It January 17th prompt, brought to you by  Willow, blogging at Willowdot21 is: “Complaint.” Use it any way you’re inspired to. And make sure you stop by and say hi to Willow as well! Here’s her blog:  https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/

Do you complain?

Have you ever made a complaint?

Or is it too much hassle, or far too embarrassing to raise an issue?

It’s funny, but here in the UK, I think we get plenty of people who are ready to complain about anything, from the weather to the state of the transport network, from the size of new chocolate bars to the current government.

But do they actually do anything?

It’s all well and good discussing what is is wrong with the world, and comparing gripes over a good old British cup of tea, but what about acting on it?

I know as one person you can’t often do much to change the big things, but you can act on smaller issues! So who knows? If there are enough of you who agree on something bigger, maybe you could stand up for what you believe in!

Little complaints can result in minor victories, like when we went out for a meal, and the food was atrocious. A few words in the servers ear, and we got a discounted bill and a free dessert!

Or when the TV bill was creeping up, Hubby Dearest calling and complaining that loyal customers weren’t rewarded, instead, he best deals went straight to new customers… after a little while, we were rewarded with 6 months discounted rates!

I have to say, personally, I find it hard to complain. I end up being the one apologetically pointing out the problem, with a “Sorry to have to tell you but…” and then ending with a “So sorry I bothered you…” I end up being a bit too compliant instead!

I know I am polite, but sometimes it really doesn’t help!

Last year, when we had HUGE issues with our Hotpoint appliances, Hubby Dearest was on a total mission to get our items either repaired, replaced or refunded. He is fantastic on the phone, and though it took a heck of a long time, during which he did the talking and I did the social media campaign, we got cheques through for the washing machine, and dryer, and also the previous dryer which had also been plagued with the same problems!

See, it can do good to complain!

jjj-2017

Not So Hotpoint – The Finale!

hotpoint logo

A few of my friends called me or messaged me today to let me know that the whole Hotpoint fiasco was being discussed on This Morning today and that they had stated that it could take them up to 4 years to actually fix all the issues.

It is horrifying to read some of the cases out there where the machines actually have caught fire, and wiped out houses, causing so much damage, and yet they still can’t get their skates on and fix issues any faster.

I can happily say that our issues with them have finally been put to bed, but not without Hubby Dearest and his relentless contacting them.

Anyone who has any issues with them, please don’t give up.

Keep on hassling them.

You will be passed from pillar to post.

You will have to repeat your story to several people, despite them having all your details on record.

You will have to fight for what you are entitled to.

We managed to get full refunds for bot the washing machine and tumble dryer which were affected. Along the way, we found that our old dryer, which had had to be replaced after only a couple of years, was also an affected model, so after much argument, we got a full refund for that too!

And an extra £250 for compensation on top.  Now that, Hubby Dearest really had to fight for, but we got over £1000 from them in the end and the cheques are with us, thank goodness.

One thing is for sure, we won’t be buying Hotpoint anymore!

#notsohotpoint – Update 3

hotpoint logoI left it a few days.

But these guys are still totally incompetent!

I guess certain things can’t be changed on a whim.

I sent my big long message to the #notsohotpoint guys at Twitter and they never actually acknowledged receipt of the messages.  However we did get calls back.

As you may remember from the previous post, they were just as dim as the last lot of clowns we had been speaking to, and I held out little hope that the CEO would even acknowledge the email Hubby Dearest sent.

Well, it actually got passed on to the CEO’s Support Team, and we got a message back apologising for our complex case… (It’s not that complex, 2 out of 3 of our appliances are dangerous because of a manufacturing fault. We want a refund.  Because it has taken so long to acknowledge the complaint, and the lack of communication, we are requesting compensation for all the time and phone calls that we have had to make, Plus, we have lost faith in the company, and want the third appliance refunded too!)

I explained that in a few lines. Does that make it complex?

They got back to Hubby Dearest and expressed their apologies, and offered the refund for the 2 faulty units. The rest would be a different process.  Fine, we were getting somewhere! He was assured that though there was no direct number for this department, that the email was a 24hour manned email, and they were a special team, the CEO Support Team. Fine. We look forward to the cheque!

I got a text from Hubby Dearest with the good news, so I called him back.  My happiness was short-lived. After the conversation, an email was sent, stating that they need to arrange to pick up the units before the cheque would be sent.

Er, sorry but NO! Had this all been dealt with in a timely fashion, that would have been ok, but after all the cr@p they have made us, plus all their other customers, go through, we have no faith that a cheque would follow swiftly, thereby leaving us machine-less, with no money to buy new units either.

Hubby Deareast messaged them to ask why he didn’t bother to discuss this on the phone a few minutes earlier, and that he would appreciate another call, or an email to discuss this further. No reply. Yesterday or today.

Then, at my Mother-in-law’s suggestion, I also had invaded their Facebook page.

No reply on there either! I had even posted my blog posts, thinking they would get removed, but nothing. I did respond to someone else’s post with this comment.

Well it looks like this page isn’t being looked at, or they would have a removal frenzy! I’ve blogged, and started on Twitter. #notsohotpoint.
Got the DM us your details message, so sent them a whole host of emails sent to and received from them, last night… No contact today!
They don’t know their arses from their elbows! Im disgusted!

And I got a response!

Hi there,

Can you confirm whether you sent the details via private message on Facebook or sent them via email?

Could you please send these via private message on Facebook?

Kind regards, Tyler.

Really? After all the phone calls, emails, and Twitter promises? Now Facebook Hotpoint reckons they will sort things out instead! This was my response…

Hotpoint here’s the thing. Your customer services have been phoned by us, emailed by us. Your Twitter team contacted. They replied with “so sorry! DM us your details.” I did so, and that was on Tuesday evening. NOT ONE RESPONSE FROM THEM! We emailed your CEO direct and got a call from the team  this email was redirected to. Certain points were agreed then other ‘conditions’ sent in an email after. In order to clarify and question these things, we replied, and NO RESPONSE AGAIN! Today we called AGAIN and were told AGAIN that the customer service reps didn’t know who these people were. Then after admitting there was indeed this special team around, we were told we can’t speak with them. They are outbound only.
The best bit? After being put on hold for 30 minutes, then we are told that yes we could be put through… But this ‘dedicated 24hour response’ team finished 15 minutes ago! You what??!!
It’s not cool, no.
Do I send you these email trails too? What’s the guarantee you will even respond? Let alone do anything? Your Twitter team didn’t. Your main CS team is abominable…
Will you be able to actually deal with stuff, or will it be another ‘we need to pass it on/I’ll get someone to contact you asap” scenario??????

Does it come across, how frustrated I am??!!

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Then another gem from them. Hubby Dearest called again, to get put through to the CEO Support Team, which is meant to be so super good, but no.

This time, he called at 5.15pm, and today’s operator says they don’t know who he spoke to, and that he couldn’t put him through to anyone. After much faffing around, and being kept on hold for the best part of 30 minutes. The guy comes back and says “Erm I would put you through, but the department closed 15 minutes ago.”

Livid does not come close to describing the anger my Hubby Dearest was experiencing at this minute! After all, if the guy had put him through straight away, he may have been able to resolve certain issues! Goodness knows where we are with this all now,  but that CEO has had another message from Hubby Dearest…

I have just spent another 40 mins on your customer services line (as there is no phone number for CEO support) demanding to speak to Ishmail or Alison. They said they could not put me through, by the time I was put on hold the agent said the office closed at 5.30,why not just put me through 40 mins ago when the department was open.

You have now aggravated things yet further. Just so we are on the same page here ;

1 see my points below regarding additional compensation points. A response as per my chases should be acknowledged. 24 hour response on emails instead of the standard 10 days I was told for the SPECIAL customer relations email address!
2 I was not told by Ishmail that you needed to collect the faulty units and that I would be called to arrange collection?Again no phone  call, but more importantly I will not be waiting for a cheque after you collect the units, that is to be sent in advance. I simply no longer trust your company any more, there is no guarantee of a cheque and I need that refund to be able to order replacement products BEFORE you collect anything and there is no timeframe at all for this process given the urgency and continuous delay of my complaint.

Mr Pettorino, I demand a full response and phone call from you personally explaining your company’s incompetency yet again in this matter.

I too have run several companies, but when a loyal customer has to email you to get a response, you should at least feel a duty to respond personally, especially given these circumstances, or is that too much to ask of somebody like you in an apparent position of authority!

Regards

What will happen next?????

Again, any retweets would be great!

#notsohotpoint

 wp-1452898754975.png

#notsohotpoint – Update 2

hotpoint logoSeriously…who do these big companies think they are?

I got a Hotpoint followed me on Twitter.  I got a phone call, while at work, so I couldn’t answer, but then they called Hubby Dearest.

What a waste of time!

They said they were asked to call us, and that apparently they knew about the problem. Then they said no, they only deal with dryers, the washing machine and any other issues were a different department.  Apparently it had to be escalated further.

The classic?

When Hubby Dearest questioned why they had called if they couldn’t do anything? “Oh, I am sorry Sir, I called you in error, I shouldn’t have called you. It is being passed on.” then silence…

Another classic?

The helpful guy from yesterday, well, he came back saying that yes another person was involved, and he had to be the contact for us, but no, he could not say when this person would contact us. OK. Then after another few hours of no contact, Hubby Dearest called on the same number to be told that this guy (from yesterday) was unknown, and that he didn’t work there! WE HAVE HIS EMAIL YOU IDIOTS!

I am sorry but Hotpoint, you have employed a band of monkeys to operate your customer service line.  You should be so proud of how your name is being dragged through the mud, and to top it off, we have the CEO’s direct email, and he doesn’t bloody read his messages either! (Maurizio.Pettorino@indesit.com if you are interested!)

I have the email thread which I have messaged to the Twitter branch, as they wanted details. Heck they got details, and a half!

I am just so angry, and frustrated even more now! I don’t know who to contact anymore, I feel I should send messages to the media too!

Thanks again to those of you that shared via Twitter and Facebook.  Any more retweets or tweets, would be gratefully received! Please remember the hashtag #notsohotpoint.

Thank you my ever supportive Peeps, and remember… NEVER BUY HOTPOINT!!!

#notsohotpoint

 

#Notsohotpoint – an Update!

hotpoint logo

It’s still totally #notsohotpoint over here today!

I thought I would update you on the ongoing saga that is our Hotpoint fire hazard machines.

Thank you firstly to those of you that tweeted my post and used the hashtag #notsohotpoint, or retweeted. And thanks to those that shared via Facebook, or any other media.

If you recall, we were promised a call from the person dealing with our complaint today.

I rang Hubby Dearest at lunchtime, and there had been no call. No response via Twitter either, from their customer service Twitter handle @HotpointSupport.

By the end of the day though, I did get a tweet back from them, apologising, and requesting that I contact them via Direct Message, with address details and serial numbers etc… details they have got 10 fold over the last few weeks!

screenshot_2016-01-11-20-40-46.png

But, d’oh, they kinda have to follow me for me to be able to direct message them! Just a little thing! I cheked their account and they sent the same message out, more or less to all who contacted them via Twitter. I tweeted in reply, a couple of times… I am sure I shall hear back tomorrow…

screenshot_2016-01-11-20-40-51.png

Hubby Dearest, meanwhile still got no call back so he tried them again. He was spoken to by a decent individual who sympathised with us, and was only new to the job himself. He then did some running around and found that not only was no one doing anything, but the person who had been handling our case had, apparently, left the company on Friday last week!

He did give a direct email address though, and said he would take personal responsibility to follow things up… needless to say Hubby Dearest is fuming and we are worried that the appliances may be fuming, literally, soon too!

A little aside…

You know how all help line phone numbers are really irritating? They lead you round in circles with endless electronic menus that you have to navigate before being told you were in the wrong area anyway? Well Hotpoint is no different! So Hubby Dearest, (he is very resourceful!) spoke with the company that we had bought the machines from, and they gave him a proper number, where, amazingly, humans answer the phone! It hasn’t been any more fruitful than the automated one, but at least you get to speak to someone!

What is my next step??? Publicising that phone number so that all the other poor individuals can bug the heck out of them too!  What do you think?

Til tomorrow, when I will update again!

If you can, please tweet this post with the hashtag #notsohotpoint. Thank you kindly in advance!

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