Ribble Cycles: a warning

Jack Ouzzi

On Fri, 10 Dec 2004 21:15:41 +0000, Phil Armstrong
<phil-news@kantaka.co.uk> wrote:

>Pete Biggs <pwrinkledgrape{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote:
>> One month ago, Ribble Cycles took money from my bank account without
>> permission. Despite contacting them numerous times by letter, phone and
>> email, I still have not been fully refunded. It now seems like they are
>> deliberately winding me up and they have stopped answering my emails (I
>> know they still receive and read emails).
>>
>> These people are the worst bunch of wankers I've ever had the misfortune
>> of dealing with.


>If you have a case, a small claims court action would probably be
>quite effective. Cycle shops have lots of nice kit for the bailiffs to
>go after & they know it.

Yeah but want a pain when all you want is a pair of tyres or whatever,
and should REALLY have have satisfaction in the first place.

I have ALWAYS maintained that generally company Customers Services in
the UK is crap. I buy a bit from Germany (non cycling stuff) and the
CS is terrific, as well as the quick postage and helpful enquiries
staff. Ooh and PRICE.

I am slightly suprised at Pete's comments (I don't know Pete from
Adam) but through the generally helpful, non patronising, non sniping
way he posts, I think I'd buy him a beer at the end of a long cycle
run.

I have had NO problem with Ribble at all (had nothing to refund
though) but have been VERY interested in all the Ribble posts, not
just here, but 'around'

I am now also 'minded' to steer (pun) clear of Ribble in the future.

MANY more cycling supply companies out there, so if you are 'looking'
in Ribble ........ YOU will be the losers.

MM

Dave Kahn

On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 15:22:13 +0000, Jack Ouzzi
<nospam@nowayhose.co.au> wrote:

>I have had NO problem with Ribble at all (had nothing to refund
>though) but have been VERY interested in all the Ribble posts, not
>just here, but 'around'
>
>I am now also 'minded' to steer (pun) clear of Ribble in the future.
>
>MANY more cycling supply companies out there, so if you are 'looking'
>in Ribble ........ YOU will be the losers.

This is the puzzling thing. Even if they have no personal interest in
being nice it must cost them more in lost business from people who
know how to google than it would to give decent service in the first
place. I've not dealt with them and I'm not ever likely to because of
the impression I have of them. That is that they're great as long as
you don't hit a snag but a total pain in the bum if you do.

--
Dave...

Get a bicycle. You will not regret it. If you live. - Mark Twain

MSeries

Pete Biggs wrote:
> Tony Raven wrote:
>
>>MartinM wrote:
>>
>>>never had a problem,
>
>
> Your luck might not last forever.
>
>
>>try phoning them
>>
>>Isn't that what Pete said he did?
>
>
> Yes indeed, as well as writing and emailing. They say they will "sort
> this refund out" but nothing happens.
>
>
>>Curious as to how they managed to take money out of his bank account
>>without permission though.
>
>
> I don't know how they managed it either. They charged my debit card twice
> for an order and sent duplicate goods (several days after the initial
> order), then refused to refund until they had the goods back, then failed
> to fully refund once I did return the goods. After several requests they
> only refunded /some/ of the money.
>
>
>>Surely a matter for the bank to answer on.
>
>
> The bank have told me it wasn't their fault so I should claim from the
> company, but I don't think they should have allowed the debit in the first
> place. I will get back to them again.
>
> ~PB
>
>
Is it a 'restocking fee' or return postage they refuse to pay ? I
presume since they made the original mistake you see no reason why you
should have to fork out. I agree with you. I had a similar thig with
SJSC. They recommended a specific size BB, I bought one, they were wrong
and I didn't need it. I returned it and they refunded my money, BUT the
refund brought my order value to less than £50 so they refunded the
amound less £5 for original P&P. Nothing really wrong but I increased my
original order specifically to avoid paying P&P. I therefore had to pay
a couple of quid to return the BB to them then received about 1/4 of its
cost back. I try to avoid dealing with them these days, I wish I'd
flogged the BB on eBay.

Pete Biggs

MSeries wrote:

> Is it a 'restocking fee' or return postage they refuse to pay ?

They have not even fully refunded for the goods returned (that I did not
order), let alone all my expenses. They don't dispute receiving the
goods, don't seem to dispute anything, they just don't give me my money
back and offer no explaination whatsoever.

A refund for two items + expenses is still outsanding. All returned items
were completely unused.

I know they received the goods from Recorded Delivery tracking info and I
was eventually refunded for one of the items enclosed.

~PB

Pete Biggs

JLB wrote:

>> If you have a case, a small claims court action would probably be
>> quite effective. Cycle shops have lots of nice kit for the bailiffs
>> to
>> go after & they know it.

Do I need to use a court local to the company or local to me?

> "If" being quite a significant word. The story so far seems to imply
> that Ribble Cycles simply appeared out of nowhere to raid this poor
> chap's bank account.

That is what it felt like, that was the effect. They made a completely
unathorised charge to my debit card some days after an order for which I
was already charged.

The story is complicated by the fact that I returned two items for a
refund from the original order, but that doesn't explain or justify
sending the whole order again and charging again. It was either a bizarre
mistake or their idea of punishmment for daring to return (unused) items
that were not as described.

I did eventaully get a refund for those items but have so far only been
refunded for one of the three (unused, unsolicited) items in the second
lot I returned (all in the same parcel).

The matter is further complicated by £50 bank charges which resulted from
the unauthorised debit (as my account went into the red), for which I'm
trying to claim in addition. (Ribble said they would refund these on
receipt of proof but have not actually done so).

> Would Ribble Cycles contradict this version?

They have not denied it.

> If
> it's true, I wonder why Ribble Cycles bothers with the bike business
> at all. Emptying people's bank accounts at will is surely more
> remunerative.

It is true (not that I mind you questioning). I suspect they're happy
with the business they get from their weekly CW ad and can afford to mess
the odd person about for fun when they feel like it. Probably the number
of people influenced by bad reports on the internet is not enough to
bother them, sadly.

~PB

Tony Raven

Pete Biggs wrote:
> JLB wrote:
>
>
>>>If you have a case, a small claims court action would probably be
>>>quite effective. Cycle shops have lots of nice kit for the bailiffs
>>>to
>>>go after & they know it.
>
>
> Do I need to use a court local to the company or local to me?
>
>

Do it on-line
https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp

All the information you need is there.

Tony

Mark Thompson

> Everytime they start waffling just say the same words again "I want to
> report an unauthorised transaction". Become as robotic as the scripted
> call centre monkey your bank forces you to interact with. I'd amuse
> myself with counting just how many times I could say the phrase in the
> one phonecall

Eugh, phonecalls are expensive! If you've got the time go to a branch and
see a real person - they're better trained and get it sorted there and then
without costing you several pounds. Of course a few quid might be better
than losing your lunch break :-/

Cliff

Pete

Come off the fence say what you mean, you are among friends, why not express
yourself.


Remove my Bra to reply


"Pete Biggs" <pwrinkledgrape{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote in message
news:31uh8qF3h11n3U1@individual.net...
> One month ago, Ribble Cycles took money from my bank account without
> permission. Despite contacting them numerous times by letter, phone and
> email, I still have not been fully refunded. It now seems like they are
> deliberately winding me up and they have stopped answering my emails (I
> know they still receive and read emails).
>
> These people are the worst bunch of wankers I've ever had the misfortune
> of dealing with. Dear reader, I strongly suggest you never order anything
> from them. They cannot be trusted to correct mistakes and are clearly
> extremely incompetent if not dishonest if not psychopathic!
>
> ~PB
>
>

Provence1971

Stop top posting you little blighter !

Call me Bob

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 13:24:01 -0000, "Pete Biggs"
<pwrinkledgrape{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote:

>he bank has now refunded the charges after I wrote
>to them (I'm crap on the phone at things like this). And Dribble finally
>coughed up for the value of the goods returned.

That's good to hear Pete, glad it's all sorted.

>It was £55.04 in the end. £25 charge for every single DAY overdrawn then
>interest plus a £5 monthly charge!

HOLY COW !!

Twenty five quid a DAY? That is f***ing outrageous!

I think you should tell us the name of these thieving swines, so we
will be aware of their nature in future.

Anyway, hope the hip is healing well Pete, have a good Christmas mate
( Woo Hoo !! Figgy Pudding !! ).

--

Call me "Bob"

"More oneness, less categories,
Open hearts, no strategies"

Email address is spam trapped, to reply directly remove the beverage.