TV repair company on the blink
He's been fined thousands of pounds, named and shamed in the media and even been sentenced to prison for a year - but it seems nothing will stop TV Repair Centre (TVRC) boss, Gurdave Sharma from misleading and overcharging customers through his TV repair company that operates across England.
We've heard from people across the country, complaining about shoddy repairs, bad customer service and in some cases, never getting their TVs back altogether.
You may have phoned them thinking they're a local company, but think again. Sharma has lots of ads in the Yellow Pages all apparently local TV repairers, complete with local telephone numbers. But as Matt and Dan found out this week, you never know who's at the end of a 'so called' local company!
TVRC customer complaints
Maureen Macready called out 'Chorley and Leyland TV Repair' in January when her TV went on the blink. She was slightly surprised when a repairer turned up to take the TV away... to Birmingham! Sadly, that was the last she ever saw of it after paying £80 for TVRC to investigate the fault.
"I felt so stupid; I let the likes of those people to come into my home. And I actually gave them cash, and they took the television on top of it," she said.
Despite endless phone calls to TVRC and promises of its return, Maureen has given up hope of getting her TV back.
Lin Robinson fell victim to TVRC too, but for different reasons. After calling 'Bedford and Milton Keynes TV/LCD/Plasma Repair Centre' in the Yellow Pages, she was lucky enough to get her TV returned... unfortunately it cost £60 to repair and was still faulty!
Derek Barlow called what he too believed was a local company advertising as 'Northampton TV'. After they came and collected his TV for their advertised "free quotation", Derek wasn't happy with the estimate and tried to cancel.
"I said bring the TV back please, and he said no I'm sorry I can't do that. You're going to have to come and collect it". So despite company assurances of free estimates and free collection and delivery, Derek was forced to make a round trip of over an hour to pick up his TV.
We also heard similar complaints from other places including Preston and the Wirral. But despite the 'local' names and numbers, they're all just one Birmingham-based company, called TVRC. In 2006 the company was ripping off so many people that its boss, Gurdave Sharma, went to prison for breaking an undertaking to trade fairly. Is he up to his old tricks again? We called his company out to find out.
Rogue gets a repair
To get to the bottom of this, we decided to call out one of their 'local' repair companies, 'Bedford and Milton Keynes TV/LCD/Plasma Repair Centre' to get a taste of the TVRC experience. We got our TV expert, Jim Munford, with nearly 50 years experience to set a sound fault with an old Sony TV that would take no more than half an hour (and a bit of soldering) to repair. Not only that, but we installed it with hi-tech trackers, to see exactly where it went.
In our house in Milton Keynes, we set up secret cameras and waited for TVRC to arrive. They didn't come to fix it however, but took it away to the Midlands - with us tracking them the whole time.
Oddly, on its return to their industrial park, the van stops several times. There are similar adverts in Luton, Northampton and Peterborough - with the same tiny address on most of them - could just one van be picking up all the TVs for all these apparently local companies?
The tracker finally came to rest in Birmingham, at Hastingwood Industrial Estate, the business address of TVRC.
Despite promises of next day return, TVRC didn't turn up at our house in Milton Keynes until a week later... but strangely the company returned the wrong TV, as our Sony was apparently 'beyond economical repair'. Remember, it's only a simple soldering job that would take no more than half an hour to complete. Unconvinced by this replacement, our undercover researcher refused the TV and asked for the other 'unrepairable' TV back.
After a few text messages and a bit of whispering later, TVRC suddenly realise that they CAN repair the TV - the one they said was "beyond economical repair". Three days later they're back with the original TV and a bill for £145 - roughly double what it should have cost.
Our expert Jim Munford takes a look at their handiwork and is far from impressed. "They've only done part of the repair; out of ten solder joints they've soldered four. Eventually the sound will go off in a matter of days or weeks".
Not to be put off by the bad repair job in Milton Keynes, we tried another company, this time further north in Blackpool and a 'posher' TV, a 42" plasma.
Jim has set a new fault, a poorly on/off switch that costs about £1.20 to replace. Add on time and labour charges and it should cost no more than £200 to fix. We wait to see how TVRC get on...
Interestingly, the same man from Milton Keynes travels all the way to Blackpool to pick up our TV. He can't repair it at the house; instead he suggests that it will be taken to the local repair unit. But, we're on his tail, and despite losing him, we find the van the next day in Birmingham - next to the industrial estate where our other TV ended up.
A few days later, our TV is dropped off - at 9.30 at night! The repairman tells our undercover operator that the multimedia board was faulty, which was what caused it to switch off. He charges a total of £345 - at least £150 more than it should have been - even for a good job.
Once again Jim takes a good look at our TV to figure out what they have done (if anything). They have clearly replaced the switch, but Jim is confused by this alleged new multi media board. Jim's slightly puzzled and tells us "a multimedia board doesn't even exist".
But that's not the only enigma this plasma has to hide. Not only has TVRC fitted a non-existent part, but a new fault altogether seems to have developed.
"What they've done somehow is introduce a secondary fault - because now the set goes into protect mode after a couple of hours and turns itself off. It's a substandard repair - you've been ripped off".
We headed off to talk to TVRC about their shoddy repairs - and to find its boss - Gurdave Sharma. Remember, he's already been to prison for TV repair issues - so why is he still up to his old tricks?
Matt tracks down Sharma
Matt catches up with Gurdave Sharma having a coffee at a supermarket close to his Birmingham work place. He's keen to get away and has little to say to Matt, instead choosing to drive off with the car door open.
Gurdave Sharma, boss of TV Repair Centre did send us a statement:
"TVRC prides itself on successfully diagnosing and repairing televisions nationwide. The company has been established for over 30 years and has many, many satisfied customers.
"Therefore, statistically, problems or unresolved matters concerning diagnosis or cost of repair are extremely rare. However, it is deeply regretful if any customer(s) feel they have been mislead or treated unfairly by TVRC.
"Indeed, customers who have questions or queries regarding a repair are treated fairly and respectfully to bring about a prompt resolution to all concerned.
"Equally, customers mentioned on this programme will be swiftly contacted in order to effectively resolve all issues, problems or queries."
If you've had any problems with TV repair companies please send us your stories as we cannot publish any allegations about companies without investigating first.
However, we're keen to know what you feel about TV repairs - how do you choose your repair company and what level of service do you expect? Let us know below:
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~47~RS~)
Comments
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We are going through a very similar situation with a company in Glasgow [company removed] We have been waiting over a month for what was originally a 2 week, simple job (slightly loose aerial connection). They won't tell us what the delay is, hang up on us when we phone to find out what's going on and don't seem to be able to give us any indication of whether or not we'll see the £650 TV again. We are currently corresponding through recorded delivery mail as advised by Trading Standards, but are yet to get a reply. We have asked for the TV back in an unfixed state, but have been told this is not possible either. So infuriating.
Mr & Mrs Woodburn, Glasgow
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Also going through similar problem in Cardiff. Company has Birmingham postcode in advert in yellow pages AAAAAA TVI H/O 32/34 Constitution Hill B19 3JT. Similar reports of address doing a google search.
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Dear Wathdog, we are also going through the same problem. We live in Swansea and sent our LCD T.V for repair back in May. As the t.v report showed, the ad in the yellow pages was a local pages. I have chased it up on numerous occasions, but the person on the end of the line keeps saying that we will get out T.V back soon. The address i managed to get is also [details removed]. Regards Marc
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My mother has just had her TV repaired by this company under the Chorley and Leyland Branch which is advertised in Yellow Pages under a local Chorley tel number. She paid them £125 to have the TV repaired but they brought it back with a different remote control which is faulty. After numerous phones call we are still waiting for the original remote control to be returned as promised. I am also not convinced it is the same television they took away. My mother is 84 years old and cannot afford to lose the £125 she paid them for a faulty TV. They said it was guaranteed for 12 months parts and labour. But once they get your money they do not want to know. What kind of people are they.
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My name is Mr M J Reed, my family and I have been conned by the company shown on your programmed tonight. We gave our Tv to the company in birmingham in July and since been lied to continally week in week out. I have been in contact with our local trading standards, who are working with birmingham trading standards, to get our Tv back to with no avail. They charged us for the same circuit board as discribed on your programmme but we were charged £465 cash for works carried out.We still do not have our tv please help us and trading standards to bring these people to justice.
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Our one year old television was taken for repair to Birmingham in mid-August,we had rung a Cardiff number. After about three phone calls a high repair estimate reduced because the television was not collected on the two previously promise collection days. we agreed to the £160.00 repair cost.We were told later that they had decided it was not worth their while repairing it so would return it unrepaired. It still has not been returned.The website no longer exists nor are we able to get a reply when we ring the number. The consumer advice could not help because we did not know the business address.
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Experienced exactly the same circumstances as Mr & Mrs Woodburn in Glasgow. I live in Warrington, Cheshire and rang Warrington TV out of the Yellow Pages. They collected my broken telly for repair on 22 September 09 and to date have not returned it. I have wrote to them but again they have not replied nor do they answer my telephone calls now. I have reported this to the Police & Trading Standards and this is under investigation. Hopefully, the person responsible will be dealt with and charged?
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I had a similiar problem with TVRC. In the summer of last year I
called the Northampton "branch" to come and repair my faulty TV. They came and took the TV and told me over the phone it would cost £145 to repair, I agreed to this and they said they would bring it back within the week. It did not arrive that week or the week after. After numerous phone calls the TV was returned a month late. The TV guy hooked it up and I paid the money all was well.....for an hour. Then the picture on the TV went blank which was the original problem. I then phoned TVRC and complained. They turned up two weeks later and took the TV and promised to repair it and return it as I had a written guarentee from them. That was the last time I saw my TV.
After six or seven months, numerous calls to TVRC, the envolement of trading standards, recorded delivery letters to them and finally the envolement of BBC Radio Northampton they agreed to give me a replacement as they alledgedly could not repair the original TV.
At least I finally have a TV to watch them on now, even if its not the one I asked them to repair.
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i too have it seems been scammed out of £245.00 for a repair to my 42" goodmans plasma tv, tvi of constitution hill birmingham, colleced it, when i contacted Newport televisions on a local number , i did ask if they were a local repair company and was assured that they were, so i agreed to a free estimate, they turned up, and said they would have to take the tv in for estimation, i later found out that the tv was in birmingham, then i got a call to say it needed a new master board costing £185 plus labour charge, but the tv would be fully guaranteed for 12 months. they delivered it back days later at 21-09-09 at 9.15pm collected the 245 cash and left promptly. the following saturday evening it blew up while my wife and daughter were watching it.it took days to get a response from them and they eventually collected it after several promises to do so on 8-10-09 at 5.10pm. iv not heard a word from them since despite loads of phone calls to them, you can imagine my shock, my stomache sunk when i watched bbc1s watchdog programme, and i will now be contacting gwent police and my solicitor tomorrow promptly.
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Hi Watchdog,
Exactly the same thing. Over a year ago I called what I believed to be a Northampton TV company, TVRC. They picked my tv up and repaired it for £250, it took about 3 weeks to get back and a few phone calls but it was eventually returned. 3 weeks later it packed up again. They had guaranteed it for a year so I called them again and they collected it. Weeks passed and they would not return my tv. I called them and was told they no longer "did my area" and told me to come collect it from the industrial estate featured on the program based in Birmingham. I tried to collect it twice from the shop (240 miles in the car all together, 60 there, 60 back twice!!) and was told it was not there. I kicked up a bit of fuss both times to no avail. More than a year on I have no TV. I don't want to buy a new one as can't afford it and i already spent £250 on this one getting sorted. Currently a man at trading standards is doing his best to get the tv and my money back. To be honest I would be happy with just my hard earned £250 so i can put it towards another brand new tv as I don't trust they will have repaired it (I'll wave the petrol money which is around £40 for my wasted trips!!!) I am so annoyed at them, its essentially theft now. They will not return my property or money.
Dave Everett
Kettering, Northants
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Dear Watchdog,
I myself have had dealings with Mr Sharma after seeing an advert in the Derby Yellow Pages for 'Derby TV Centre'. They offered a same day service, free estimates etc - it was a local number.
Some one collected my TV on Monday 5th October - the man stated that it had to be taken away and repaired and that I would get a call within two days with an estimate.
The estimate on Wednesday 7th October was £225 for an installation problem with the picture and that it needed a new front.
Myself and my husband discussed this and felt it was too expensive and asked for our TV back. He stated that he had made a mistake and got my TV mixed up with some one elses and stated the estimate was actually £185 and that he had already carried this work out. I told him to bring the TV back, that I did not want it repairing and that I was not paying.
The TV had not been returned by Monday 12th October as I suggested to him so I went to the Police. The Officer telephoned Derby TV Centre and spoke to Mr Sharma and informed him to bring the TV back by Wednesday 14th October. No TV received therefore contacted the Police again on Wednesday 14th October, they contacted Derby TV Centre again on Thursday 15th October and the TV was returned later that same day.
The TV has the same problem even though he said the TV had already repaired in our telephone conversation.
Just for your information my husband called him a cowboy on the telephone when asking for our TV back. He stated to apologise for the comment or we'll never see our TV again.
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I have been done by this company too. Same story. Local Cardiff add in yellow pages. They took my TV away - charged me £165 but it worked for one day. Stupidly I asked them to put it right and have now not had my TV since the middle of August and I can't get it back. Working with Consumer Direct but nothing yet. How can this man still be trading? Isn't the law to protect us?
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rang the bedford number same as everyone else,had my tv since july.tv kept switching off an on, was told could be fixed for £385 but could do it for £200 cash.that was fine they would get it done an bring it back but they wanted to bring it back on the day of my daughters funeral which was on the 30july.asked them to bring it back on the saturday,dont hear anything for 2weeks.then got hold of them after many calls an was told it had not been fixed an had a second fault with the screen as it has been banged.they said would do a report to do for our insurance company we said ok. an not heard from them in 2months sent recorded delivery letters that came back as rufused also been in touch wiht police an trading standered an it was being looked into. then they appeared on watchdog ,the next day i rang them an to my surprise phone was answered, i told them i wanted my tv back as they told me it could not be fixed, on saturday the 17october a police rang me an they were told that it was in bedford an had been fixed to my surprise.spoke to bedford number again on saturday an was told one min it was not fixed the next it was an my tv was in Birmingham (DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW I HAD ENOUGH JUST WANT MY TV BACK)
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We have also been cheater by this company. We contacted the Chester number from yellow pages. They came and collected the TV, rang to say it was £195.00, £110.00 for the part the rest for labour. The start up button on the TV was clicking on and off. They returned the set. We paid them the money, cash!. 10 mins later the TV stopped working. After contacting them, finally by telephoning the number on the 1 year guarantt they said they would pick it up and fix it. 3 days of waiting and ringing both numbers being told it would be picked up by 2, then 4, then 6 no one came. I then looked them up on the internet and say the report on the previous conviction. I contacted Trading Standing who sent me a form letter. Eventually we decided we didn't want them to pick the TV, probably just lose the TV. It would be great if yellow pages could be made to stop showing their ads. Can this be done?
Joan and Clive Newton
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I feel so bad and so angry I arranged for this charlatan to repair my mum's tv about 8 weeks ago and have been told it was £165.00 to repair, that it is not repairable, that they are sourcing cheaper parts and on 6 different occassions that it will be reurned un repaired only not to turn up on each occassion. I rang again today and asked for it to be returned only to be asked was I sure I was giving the right name for my mum as they couldn't find her in there book. Found her eventuall after I got a bit irate with him. He then asked me was I the lady from Cardiff who had written on the Watch Dog Blog which immeadiately made me suspicious and directed me to find out what is going on. I phone The T.V. Repair Company listed as local repairs in the Cardiff Yellow Pages. He has assured me it will be returned tonight and I have assured him that I am reporting him to the police for theft.
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I too appear to have been caught. They (TV RC, advertisin with a local number) took away my [brand removed] 50" from Newport in early August, and phoned the next day with an estimate of £445. When I refused that estimate they promised to return my telly a couple of days later and despite half a dozen promised delivery dates it has yet to reappear.
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A miracle happened last night in Cardiff at around 7pm my Mum's tv was returned still not repaired but obviously the words that I shared with this cowboy in the afternoon had the desired effect I will now take it to a reputible repair centre and hopefully get some honesty. This 'man' should be taken to task as soon as possible and be stopped how come yellow pages are still taking his adverts on if he is a known con man?
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Earlier this year I sent my 50" Sony plasma to be repaired by TVRC. The quote was reasonably priced and returned the next day fixed. I am not writing to complain about TVRC because they fixed my TV with no problems at all.In fact I think in this recession its good to see someone willing to drive up and down the uk picking up and reparing TVs.9.30pm and he's still in Liverpool collecting TVs to be brought back the next day from B'ham? He sounds like a grafter to me.So what if he's not "local?"."Local" people are in bed at 9.30 after doing their strict 9-5. I'm just happy for the good repair at a time that suits me like sunday evenings or 9.30pm because I too have to work 9-5.Granted he may overcharge. But so [do other companies].I think Watchgdog and the people who have complained about TVRC should redirect their greviance to [other companies] and ask them why their LCDs and Plasmas are over priced and built to last 12-18 months.Bring back the old time big square TVs I say.It may not be HD but at least they worked when I pressed the "on" button.
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They picked up my mother's tv the other day, as my mother had not watched the watchdog show on the company, once she had told me about the company i realized it was tvrc as seen on your show, they picked up the 32" lcd tv and took it away, a few days later they ran saying they can fix the problem and it will need a new multi-media board, the same as in rogue traders video, i couldn't believe it, i told my mother about them and she asked where they were based and they said a location, but later on said there in Birmingham she then said that they had said the previous location and not Birmingham and refused to admit he had lied, he got very angry and started being very rude and then put the phone down, we now have no idea if were going to get our tv back
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honestrealtalk, while you were e mailing at 4.22 in the morning before your 9 til 5 job did you notice you are the only one with anything complimentary to say. the other 17 people who e mailed have all had trouble. gurdave sharma. rogue trader.
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I called my 'local'Reading & Newbury TV repair centre in Augsut after my 14month old LG LCD TV developed a fault. They picked it up and the next day told me the fault was a 'multimedia' fault and would cost £225 to repair and that the repair would be guaranteed for 12 months.I told them to go ahead. TV was returned the next day - much quicker than I expected - and I handed over the CASH. The TV now has exactly the same fault again so I called them and they said they would pick it up -they didn't of course. After several phone calls and days it still didn't get collected. My friend told me about the Watchdog program and having read some of these items I consider myself lucky to have my TV at all. Trading standards are currently investigating. Its outrageous that these conmen are robbing people
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honestrealtalk - hope the repair lasts
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Cay850.The BBC said:
"we're keen to know what you feel about TV repairs - how do you choose your repair company and what level of service do you expect?"
Therefore, this forum is not a Sharma fan club nor is it a tool to vilify Mr Sharma.I am sorry if you and 17 others had a bad experience (of which yours was returned) but I didn't.And I have just as much right to write about my experience at 04.22hrs just before my 9-5 as you do.
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people who carry on like this disgust me!
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This is the biggest rogue company I have ever encountered.
On the 4th October they collected my daughters tv for repairs as the colour was pink. They took it away for estimate of repairs. TVRC said repairs would cost £176.00 for a new colour screen.
Two weeks later I rang and they said it was repaired and the technician had done a very good job and it would be delivered. Two weeks later I rang again as the TV was still not delivered, they were full of promises and said it would be delivered, after a series of numerous phone calls I eventually threatened them with a theft case, this made no difference and the person I spoke to gave his name and said to be sure to give it to the police, they then said they would not deliver because we had threatened them. More calls later .... they then said they would un-repair the telly and deliver. This went on and on with no satisfaction..... the manner in which they conducted thier business was very poor, very abrupt on the phone and making excuses all the time.
It is a shame for the genuine people who believe and get caught out by these rogues it is absolutely scandulous.
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It wasn't done for this reason (i.e. Watchdog complaints), but we have just launched a new national TV repair service, called NOISE (National Organisation of Installation & Service Engineers). This service links together 50 repair companies across the UK and Ireland who are authorised at the the highest level by manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung, Panasonic etc.
In total, we offer 60 workshops, around 450 staff and 300 vehicles and consequently are able to provide an excellent response to most enquiries.
Our website www.thenoiseuk.com went live on 12th November 2009. To use it, all a customer has to do is input their name, address and product details and the site will route the enquiry to the appropriate local service centre.
Hopefully this will reduce the level of complaints about our industry.
Steven Pearson, Appliance Care Limited. Exeter
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Yes I have had similar troubles.. There is a new company out to combat this problem they only use Manufacturer Authorised Service Agents. Now that is something to make a Noise (UK) about.
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Firstly I would like to say thank you to Watchdog for this blog which has tonight saved me from being another "TVRC victim"! We too rang what we thought was a local TV repair company - Rochdale TV whose number (01706 330472) which we got from Yellow Pages. We were told they would come and look at the TV without charge, diagnose the problem at our house and give a quote. However when they turned up we were told they would take it away and ring us in the morning with a quote. I asked to see the receipt they were giving us as our proof of handing over our TV and immediately alarm bells started to ring! The "receipt" was a small printed receipt with a handwritten mobile number on the back (which was incorrect) and I questioned where he was actually taking my TV. He then went on to say he was just the driver and the Tv would be going to a local repair centre - which was on Cecil Street, Altrincham. I asked for more proof of receipt from him as I wasn't satisfied with what he had given me and straight away he asked "whats wrong do you think we are a dodgy company or something"? He said he would get some letterhead from the van if I didn't believe him and I said to get it. I didn't feel satifisfied at all but my husband insisted it would be ok and let the man take our TV. Before we even had chance to check the paper he gave me he was out of the door with our TV and the first thing I noticed was that this so called "nationwide" company didnt even have a company registration number on their letterhead. He hadn't completed our name, address or model number of the TV on the paperwork he took with him or the paper he left with us. Before their van had left our street I rang the 08000 number on the letterhead which didn't ring at all then seemed to divert to a mobile and then cut off. We took the van registration number which was [removed] and tried ringing the mobile number on the "receipt". This was incorrect. I searched on the internet and saw an article about the company and told my husband to ring the number he had initially rang when he contacted them and this was an answer machine giving another mobile which we rang. This was someone different who tried to assure us that they were genuine and that someone would ring us with a quote. He said that he could understand our concerns after what we may have read on the internet but tried to assure us they were ligitimate. I wasn't on the phone myself but was in the background and asked for our TV back as I didn't have much faith in them or I would report the matter to the police. I decided to contact the police anyway to advise of what had just taken place and they immediately began to make enquiries. In the meantimem I continued to try the telephone numbers I had and evenutally one number was answered and was informed that my TV would be back with me within 10 minutes which I thought odd as the last conversation with them was that someone would ring us in the morning and not to worry! Our TV was in fact returned to us within 10 minutes and when I asked why they had suddenly decided to bring it back I was told "it was just going to be hassle and stressful and that he had been told to"! I beleive the reason the TV was returned is because the words "police" were mentioned and once again am grateful to Watchdog for this blog as otherwise I think if we did ever see our TV again it would have cost us a lot of money to get it back!!
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I have been having problems with my plasma, so looked into the yellow pages and found 2 companies that would come and collect both with 'Oxford' phone numbers.
Left a message and someone finally got back to me stating they would be happy to come and collect my TV between 7-9 at night for a free qoute on the repairs needed.
Thankfully i found out about these people and cancelled the visit.
However they appear to be working out of other local Yellow pages, yet when you look closley at the ad they have birmingham postcodes. strerange considering it is meant to be a local company with a local phone number.
Thanks to this webiste i still have my TV
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