Happy old year as readers are quids in

Dec 21 2008 by Mr Justice, Sunday Sun

YOUR consumer champion has won many thousands of pounds for readers in the last 12 months.

Another busy year saw Mr Justice get refunds or replacement goods and services to the tune of £174,000.

But it wasn’t just about money for some of the 1129 people we were privileged to help.

Once again, we slapped a few wrists, patted a few backs, and exposed the incompetent.

Here are my top 10 successes as we gave the thumbs up and thumbs down to retailers big and small . . .

10 HEARTLESS airline bosses refused to refund the price of plane tickets to a family after their daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Parents Steven and Ruth Bell had to cancel the trip to Nice when Emma, three, took ill.

Steven, of Lanchester, County Durham, asked for help when easyJet did not refund the £600 tickets.

We pointed out how easyJet’s charity was the Anthony Nolan Trust . . . helping the victims of childhood leukaemia.

And the airline changed their minds hours before we went to press.

9 DRIVER Dave Stainton paid £35,000 for a rare imported car.

But the Dodge cab — one of only a handful in this country — spent more time getting repaired than it did on the road. Dave, of Ingleby Barwick, Teesside, got a full refund after I took up his complaint.

Dealership Kings Chrysler (Jeep) Stockton said they had followed the manufacturer’s procedures throughout.

While the car was in for repair, Dave got a tracking alert telling him the car was speeding.

8 A FOOD company admitted letting glass into a jar of pickled cockles. Leslie A Parsons and Sons told me it was caused by a mistake on the production line.

They apologised after grandmother Helen Thompson, of Birtley, Gateshead, alerted us to the scandal.

She was furious after a family member spotted the glass when baby Teegan was about to be given the seafood to taste and feel its texture.

7 WE even had a go at the police when Sydney Duffy was summoned to appear before magistrates for speeding.

Sydney’s wife Rovina suffered an epileptic fit when he was at the wheel.

His foot hit the accelerator as he turned his head to see what was happening.

Cumbria Police threatened to take him before the beak when he failed the pay the penalty.

But the case was dropped and Sydney, of Penrith, Cumbria, did not have to appear.

6 IT all started when Valerie Simpkin, of Wardley, Gateshead, transferred an ISA to LloydsTSB.

A simple transaction, you might think, but the bank lost her £14,000.

It took my involvement before they admitted it was their fault and paid the money into Valerie’s account.

The bank blamed an outdated cheque and postal system.

They said they had discussed the problem — which affected other customers as well — with the British Banking Association with a view to improving standards.

5 I WON almost £10,000 in an insurance row for Sandra Edgar.

Sandra told me how she was given a voucher for jewellery after a burglary.

But she was embarrassed when the shop said it was no longer valid.

Legal and General admitted they cancelled the voucher with the intention of replacing it with a cash settlement . . . but then forgot!

Sandra, of Sacriston, County Durham, got the cash after I took up her case.

4 A BUILDING company paid £3500 to a customer after my intervention.

Wickes Building Supplies admitted conservatory doors had to be repeatedly repaired.

Samantha Naylor, of Quarrington Hill, County Durham, accepted the compensation and an offer of further repairs.

Wickes also apologised for the time it took to resolve the complaint.

3 DAWN Christie was offered £500 in full and final settlement for delays in her kitchen.

The offer came from Magnet but Dawn, of Bill Quay, Gateshead, thought it could be better.

So did I . . . and I asked Magnet to think again.

They doubled it, and doubled it again, and Dawn accepted the new offer of £2000.

2 I HAD several successes against furniture companies.

Among them was a case involving retired soldier Major Bowan, of Widdrington, Northumberland.

He told me how his £900 recliner did not work properly since it was bought.

SCS offered a full refund within days of my call.

1 THE failings of power companies kept me busy through the year.

They included British Gas, who snatched a family’s £1000 charity grant.

The grant was made to Philip and Michelle Barker, of Middlesbrough, whose son Liam is on a life-support machine and needs a constant temperature.

British Gas admitted taking the money to pay a debt left by a previous occupier.

The money was refunded after my intervention.