Sponsored by
PC persistence pays off
When college graduate Phil Kitchin ordered a custom-built PC online he thought he'd avoided all the hassle - but he was wrong.
The 18-year-old, from Chorley, paid 750 from.computerplanet.co.uk.
However when it didn't arrive for several weeks he contacted the Consumer Champion - while continuing to contact the company directly himself.
Phil, who recently graduated from Wigan's Winstanley College and now works as a gardener, was supposed to get his new computer on June 14 but it didn't turn up for another three weeks.
This was because of difficulties with installing certain components of the PC.
The teenager said: "I emailed them four days before it was due and they told me I had made a mistake with the things I chose to go in the PC.
"But before ordering the computer I spoke to their sales team and they assured me all the things I chose would work perfectly.
"I was then told I had to pay 23.50 extra on top of the 750 to have a downgrade because the wires inside the PC weren't long enough.
"I told them that I needed the computer as soon as possible and it took ages before the wires arrived.
"I then had another email from them saying it would take seven to nine days just to get the computer in the queue to be built.
"It got to the point where I thought they had broken their word too many times and I just wanted to get my money back or have the computer delivered."
Phil stood his corner - and saved himself 23.50.
At one point he got in touch with the PC Association, which is the trade and consumer body for the PC Industry.
The PC Association got in touch with Computer Planet who then promptly delivered the PC.
A spokesman for Computer Planet said: "We provide custom-built solutions for PC and customers can choose from 650 different options.
"The customer had picked a solution from our website and and there was an initial problem with processing the order.
"The main problem was that the customer had ordered a power supply which, due to the design of the other components, could not be used.
"There was no way we could have known that this would be the case and the customer told us he was not prepared to pay 23.50 for a different power supply.
"He then contacted the PC Association and we decided to pay for the power supply as a sign of goodwill."
The spokeman said Phil had since been in contact saying it was the 'the best computer he ever bought'.
The Consumer Champion applauds Phil's approach and urges readers to be equally persistent.
If you've had a computer problem contact the Champ on guardiannews@lep.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Chorley
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
