Dry cleaning blunder Post Reply

[Stoneylee]

I found a stain on one of a pair John Lewis curtains so I took it to the new dry cleaners in Clapham Old Town (Whiteleys). When I got it home again and rehung it I realised it was now shorter (two inches no less) than the other one and the stain was still there. Obviously I wasn't happy so returned to complain as the curtains have twice previously been dry cleaned without incident.

The female owner was totally unsympathetic and refused to acknowledge blame. She has merely offered to take the hem down on them which I don't think is a solution as the previous hem line will be very noticeable. She also suggested I pay £200 for them to be sent to the Textile Services Association for an 'independent' test to see if the dry cleaners are at fault or it is the fault of the material. I now have to buy a new pair of curtains and she is refusing to give me any compensation. Has anyone else had a similar experience? What should I do?

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[BeeCee]

Hi! This advice from the CAB website might help (I had a similar problem with a coat that was damaged by a dry cleaner last year and found this to be a useful link)

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consu ... y-cleaner/

Hope it helps!

[Stoneylee]

Thanks for that; it's really useful advice.

So far I've got nowhere as the dry cleaner keeps insisting that shrinkage is normal for curtains, even ones which have been successfully dry cleaned previously. According to her they can 'go at anytime' and it is 'a fault with the material'. I find this very hard to believe as I've never had any trouble with any other curtains from John Lewis. I just expected to be treated with more respect when my curtains have been ruined....

[BeeCee]

That's such a shame and so irritating- and you are right, they should treat you with some respected and take your complaint seriously rather than giving you a load of excuses. I had a very similar situation and I think that the dry cleaners hope that you will accept their excuses and just go away. I think it is worth pursuing it as they have ruined your curtains and you have had to replace them. Would it be worth contacting John Lewis to ask their advice about the material and also ask if they had ever had complaints about the fabric shrinking? I would definitely write a letter of complaint to the dry cleaner. I wrote to my dry cleaner (a "specialist" suede and leather cleaner- ha, ha) sent photographs of the damage (a big hole in one panel of a shearling coat- really upsetting as it was a gift) and asked for his offer of compensation. He gave me every excuse, and dragged it out but I didn't let it go and ultimately took him to small claims court and won- definitely worth it because the coat was damaged beyond repair and not wearable.

Good luck with your dry cleaner- I hope they sort it out and at least make you some offer towards the cost of the replacement curtains!