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Can you trust the big brand names?

Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2010-12-12 21:11:15 - Graham Ellis

I tread with great care if I post criticism of "big names" as I don't want big guns turned on me (yes, I'm vain enough to imagine that this may be being read;-) ). But here are a couple of example of what I consider to be appalling advertising, over the last few days, from big names mis-selling their product - the facts simply don't match the adverts in my opinion, and I feel badly let down. Names not quoted, but you can probably guess!


I don't have cover, can you send a tradesman if I have an emergency now?
Yes. If you have an emergency at home right now, call 0800 197 4184 for immediate assistance.

How long will I have to wait before someone comes out in an emergency?
We aim to have a tradesman at your home within 4 hours of your call. Where there is a need for faster service we aim to be with you within 2 hours.


So why - when I contact them (as a longstanding member for 10+ years) - am I still waiting in freezing a house with central heating boiler and hot water out of service some 60 hours after my call?



Thank you for this year and for next.

This year,as a way of sayng thank you, we've offered our customers a little extra help ...

We've given our current account customers access to better deals ..


So why - if they're doing so much more to provide extra help - have they shut down their Melksham branch with an additional requirement placed on customers to visit Trowbridge or Chippenham for certain transactions?

And why - when a customer wants to transfer a mortgage to a company that's remained in the town - are they imposing thousands of pounds of penalties?



With big brand names, I expect to may somewhat more for a product that's probably not the very best - but I do expect it to be consistent, reliable, and to do what it says in the blurb. Perhaps I'm naive; perhaps these two companies have got the size they are by selling more than they can deliver, and pocketing or speculating with the profit.