Update 2: I think I have a gadget delivery malfunction

*I have decided to keep you updated on this issue, because I have made a conscious decision to name and shame the companies who get away with diabolical Customer Service. I like to think of myself as a modern day Joan of Arc but without the bowl haircut or the suit of armour* 

So, as you know, after paying out a sizeable sum for a new laptop, I have been engaging in combat with the company that I purchased it from (Currys Electricals) in order to find out when I will actually get the item.

To give you a bit of background about Currys, their Modus Operandi is: 1. take money, 2. bank money, then 3. blame every other Currys' store for non-delivery of product. If you are audacious enough to actually want possession of the item you have purchased, you are left to surf a myriad of different 'Customer dis Service' telephone numbers in order to try and figure out for yourself what the hell is going on.
 

As of the day before yesterday, my 'issue' had been escalated to a crack team at Currys' HQ called the Medics - allegedly the Customer Service version of the Marines - and I had been promised that everything would be resolved within 48 hours (i.e. by the end of today). By resolved, I mean that I should actually find out when I would receive the laptop I had paid for.

The deadline of 5pm came and passed, and had I received a phonecall? Nope. 

I rang the telephone number that I had been given yesterday, and it was wrong (it's 0844 5611000 if you fancy a bit of interaction in this story). An automated message told me the new number, and also informed me that the new number cost less to call. WOO HOO! It is costing me less that it would normally would to find out where the bloody hell my laptop is.

I rang the new number and was put on hold for 12 minutes after a 'Customer couldn't Care less Representative,'  argued with me saying that the Medics hadn't been given 48 hours to investigate my claim.

"Yes, they have," I retorted, "they were informed of the complaint the day before yesterday at a quarter to six."

After some digging, eventually the man on the phone agreed that 48 hours had passed since my complaint was logged.

"I want someone to ring me tonight to tell me what is happening with my order, or else I want a refund," I stated firmly [note: Robert who reads this blog told me to say that!].

"It might be tomorrow when they call," stuttered the man, "it is getting close to 6pm, when we close."

"Nope. I want someone to call me tonight." I insisted.

Sure enough, after mentioning the dreaded 'R' word (refund), I got a call back from Currys.

It was a chap called Tim, who stated authoritatively that he was a manager; "I have contacted the store that is holding stock of the laptop you want, and told them that they have to release one to you," he said.

"But that doesn't tell me when I will receive the laptop," I said, "particularly because I was informed that the store holding the stock of this particular item is up North."

"All you have to do," he added (ironically - oh is that all?), "is go into your local branch and arrange for the item to be shipped into them using DHL."

Ok, so I have to go to my local branch and arrange a DHL shipment from one Currys branch to another? It says it all really, doesn't it?

I would like to say that this was the happy ending to a ridiculous tale, but somehow I can't see this being the end.............. or maybe I am just a cynic?

P.S. I did an internet search on 'Curry's customer satisfaction' and found this picture of another disgruntled customer who was so peed off that he created the image above..... superb!