THREATENED TO BE SUED WHEN I DARED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT POOR PRODUCTS

I would like to bring to the attention of all clients what has happened to me when I dared to complain about products, that I rented from THE WEDDING WAREHOUSE, after the function took place.

I went to The Wedding Warehouse and was initially very happy with their service as they were very efficient and could source whatever we needed etc. I saw a rustic metal centerpiece there that I liked a lot but they only had one of it. They assured me that that was no problem and that they can have 13 more made before the wedding and I can collect this the Thursday before the wedding. I was of course very happy and also rented several other items from them.

I went to collect this the Wednesday before the wedding and when I got there I saw that these centerpieces that was supposed to be rustic did not look very good but with the wedding being that Saturday I thought that I would take them as I had no alternative plan. These centerpieces were made with black flat bar and they were put outside and sprayed with water to rust. Now according to my knowledge there is paint or spray available to get the rustic effect on metal.

When I got to the venue the people even asked me am I still going to spray this or am I going to use these centerpieces as is because it will stain their linen. I went to Chamberlain and bought rustic spray to just try and get these things in a better condition. They definitely did not look like the one that they had in stock - the rustic look that is. The spray cost me an additional R 1 200 but it definitely helped.

Also when we packed the on a flat surface some of them wanted to fall over as the feet was not bent properly - this was a rushed job and given to me in bad condition but I had to make a plan as this was my only choice and time did not allow me to take it back. We tied the centerpieces with florist's wire to the wooden slice that it stood on to prevent this from falling over onto the guests. This took hours to do.

The Monday was a public holiday and I had to take the stuff back to them on the Tuesday. I delivered this to their employees and also mentioned to them what problems we experienced but everything was paid in advance so all that I could do was to complain.

I had the owner's number on my phone and this has been bugging all day because they were so ignorant about the problem. That Tuesday night I had a sick dog and was lying awake at around 2 am. I then thought to myself let me send her a what's app regarding this problem and that I do not think that it is fair practice to rent things to clients that is not on the same standard as the product that I have seen before the time. I thought she could then just read it the following morning. I actually said to her that I think she must review the supplier they used to do the work for them as it was poorly done.

At around 4 am I received a what's app back but I only saw this the next morning. This stipulated that she sees this in a very serious light and that her lawyer would contact me that morning and that I had such a cheek to complain about this after I have used their products. I replied and said to her that if this is the way the respond to clients having a fair complaint it explains everything and that they could keep the money I paid.

At around just after 8 am I received a call from her husband who apparently is a lawyer and acts on the company's behalf. His first words to me were that he is going to sue me for harassment and that he will get an interdict against me so that I could not harass his wife any further. I was absolutely speechless. I asked him if he knows what harassment means as I sent her one what's app. He just continued to tell me about all the charges they would lay against me and I literally could net get a chance to speak.

My first words to him were "Only God knows where you come from with all these charges" and then he threatened to lay another charge for using foul language as he is a very professional person. I disagreed that using that sentence was foul language but was already quite angry with him at the time.

He said that I could chose if I wanted to walk the easy path and drop everything just there or if I wanted to continue with this. I was quite irritated with his attitude by then as I thought that if that is not intimidation in the worst degree then I don't know. I said to him to please do me a favor and delete my number from his phone as I never want to hear from them again. He said that he would gladly do that and that I must just know that I should not bad mouth their company anywhere as he would then come after me.

The bottom line of this story is - can a client not complain about bad service? Is this how a person should get treated and be intimidated when you dare to complain about their service? I have a strong personality and are not easily intimidated but what about customers that are not like that!!!!! My only mistake was to send that one what's app at 2 am. BEWARE