Retail ombudsman receives 300 complaints over its first weekend | Money | The Guardia

[Legal Beagles]

A watchdog set up to deal with disputes between retailers and shoppers has received more than 300 complaints during its first weekend in business.Grievances lodged by consumers with the Retail Ombudsman TRO were mainly about delivery and returns following the huge increase in online shopping in the runup to Christmas, followed by mislabelling and damaged […]

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[Amethyst]

Re: Retail ombudsman receives 300 complaints over its first weekend | Money | The Gua

A watchdog set up to deal with disputes between retailers and shoppers has received more than 300 complaints during its first weekend in business.

Grievances lodged by consumers with the Retail Ombudsman (TRO) were mainly about delivery and returns following the huge increase in online shopping in the runup to Christmas, followed by mislabelling and damaged packaging.

A total of 107 complaints were made online on its launch day – 2 January – rising to 312 by the end of the weekend, the TRO said, putting it on course to meet its prediction of handling 100,000 cases this year as consumer awareness increases and more retailers sign up.

The service claims to provide “a free, fair and independent” facility for dealing with unresolved disputes between firms and consumers.

[Amethyst]

Re: Retail ombudsman receives 300 complaints over its first weekend | Money | The Gua

In other news....

Furniture Village has appointed Stephen McPartland MP to its board to tap into his experience as chairman of The Furniture Ombudsman.

McPartland, who is the Member of Parliament for Stevenage, will sit on the board as a non-executive director.

Furniture Village chief executive Peter Harrison said: “Stephen is committed to maintaining the health and the high standards of our industry, being considered by many its fiercest champion.

“At a time when Furniture Village has just experienced a record first full week of sales, Stephen’s support is a real endorsement of our business practices, and he brings a unique set of skills which will help ensure the company’s continued growth.”

Conservative MP McPartland became chair of Stevenage-based The Furniture Ombudsman, a non-profit organisation that resolves industry disputes, last year.

He also acts as chairman of the furniture sector’s All-Party Parliamentary Group and in that capacity will be opening this year’s January Furniture Show at Birmingham’s NEC on Tuesday January 13.

Is that not a conflict of interests? or do things like that not matter any more?