BBC ROGUE TRADERS-DELUXEHIRE

I am writing this review, as the company have released a response to the investigation.  I would like to respond to Ms T Blessing.

deluxehire.co.uk/epages/Store2_Shop1958.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Store2.Shop1958/Categories/BBC_ROGUE_TRADERSDELUXEHIRE

She has quoted her side of the story and I would like to express my view.

My wedding was in July 2013. I had hired online around £800 of goods from deluxe hire. I piad immediately and in advance of the date for collection from the warehouse (self storage), a couple of days before I had a friend call up to discuss a pick up time of the hired goods. My wedding was in wales, and had arranged to pick up the goods 2 days before my big day. Upon the telephone call, we were told that midday would ONLY be the time available to pick up. Yet via email a day before I could pick up at the desired time of 9am.

so we changed our plan and I sent my 2 out of 3 vans (with my bride) onto wales. Whilst I awaited to midday to collect my hired goods.  I came closer to the pick up address, and made the phone call as stated in an email, no answer.

so I arrived at a self storage address, and asked reception if they knew if anyone from deluxe hire was on the premises. I was told that they do not know, but the company does operate from this address. So I made a decision to leave this site, after making following failed phone calls attempts to pick up my wedding hire!

5 hours later on the road, and over 40 phone calls to each numbers stated on the company website. Please bear in mind that it is also a week day, and day time (standard working hours) . No one answered a single call, which made me worry. 

However as I had to use the M4 to get to my wedding rehearsal at 7pm in wales, I made 1 last attempt at the self storage unit.  This time I had a different response. 

I headed into the warehouse asking other storage unit owners if they knew of the company and where might I find the lock up. They stated that there was an incident in the morning, and suggested I spoke to reception for a 2nd time.

this time, the staff at the storage unit remembered me from the morning call and couldnt answer my questions. Under a little more pressure and personal reasons, they stated that since 3pm the company no longer operated at this storage facility. All goods were locked up and still no phone calls from the company. I left the storage unit after 5pm for a 2 hour journey to wales.

Bebe states the following.

she made a phone call in custody. 1. How did she have my number whilst at the police station?, especially as her calls were limited and being monitored. 2. Why didn't she leave a answer phone message on my mobile phone 3. i had no missed calls, it's a work phone and have dual calls option ON.

I still hadn't heard anything at this point for deluxe hire, my collection day 18th.

the next day. A work friend made a call to Bebe and was successful. He is a business owner with years of event experience, and understood that it was the worst day of her trading history.

She said that WE could get a van from London to pick up the goods. However I had 3 vans including a 7.5t in wales. She said that she would TRY to get a courier to us, but stated it would be very expensive FOR HER and we will not receive the goods until Saturday (the day of our wedding and no time provided/yet would she ever of paid out of her own pocket, or even done what she said she was going to do?) also, we had ordered over 700 glasses, and a freezer which would require a big van.

On the 19th (friday) I had a family meal, so at midday Friday I still had no glasses, cutley, kids games, serving spoons, champage buckets, freezer for the ice. £800 worth For 100 guests.

i had another supplier in wales, who was able to fulfill this order in time. All the basic at least. Bebe did not help us to source any goods, or do anything within her power to make up for the loss.

we politely CALLED BACK and told her the news.

please bear in mind, in her words this is 'most unfortunate'. 

Days after my wedding and mini honeymoon, I had to email Bebe for a credit note which was received 2 weeks after my wedding at my own request. 2 weeks later after this email, nothing in my bank account.

in the terms and condition it states that all money owed will be returned within 28 days. So a little more investigation, and BBC rogue traders.

i made phone call after phone call, visited the Mayfair office, self storage unit in Staines and nothing was happening. Bebe told me the story time and time again to prolong repayment.  She stated that her accountant was to release the funds, never happened. Thursday, Tuesday, another week, I'm too busy, call me back later, fire alarm, put me on hold, hung up the phone. I (the customer) had made all the phone calls, had no email reply apart from a useless credit note.

she states that she has negotiated with me a repayment structure.  And she has broken that. After 3 months, I have only had £250 back. I had to 1. Pay for deluxe hire, 2. Pay for the mess of deluxe hire with hiring goods with another company to replace the failed service 3. Make all the phone calls and time spent dealing with getting any money back

we didn't negotiate. She paid a small fee to keep me sweet (3 MONTHS after my wedding), and stated that she would repay each week a minimum amount. FAILED. i'm on week 6 of her 'negotiated' terms! And she hasn't had the effort to be straight with me, or even contact me with payments or lack of payment and made false promises.

I wanted to tell you the CUSTOMERS facts on the company of DELUXE HIRE and the methods of Ms Taylor Blessing.

the company failed me, I put all the money up front, it was one of the biggest day of my life which I will never get back (she was aware it was a wedding and in wales), she made no effort to right her wrongs, she still breaks her own promises, she will never be in the wrong And shall never pick up her phone and dial my or your number to explain.  NEVER put any faith in her words, or in the company and the service they may/may not provide.

I have no trust in her, she has broken EVERY promise and CONTRACT. She made no effort to put what was wrong right, or even guide or even find another hire company. She hasn't repaid me, she hasn't communicated with me. 

It was stated that i was working for the bbc, I do not work for the bbc. I work in the events industry, and shall do my upmost to warn people and others around me, including my clients and the general public. Some people never forget, and I will never forget or forgive Bebe.

It's your decision in choosing a hire company, i would strongly suggest that you take your business elsewhere.