Poor Customer Service (La Redoute)

Member Name: babybat

Product:	La Redoute
Date:	12/03/05 (301 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap, easy online shopping, free returns

Disadvantages: rude customer services, random fees, poor cut of items

I've bought things from La Redoute once or twice, and although not fabulous quality, they've always been reasonable and inexpensive.
A few weeks ago, I was tempted by the silk camisoles on their website, as I had a voucher which effectively brought them down to £8 - bargain! - so I ordered two different colours, paid online, and awaited my delivery. The first one arrives, with a note to say that the other is out of stock but will be with me very soon. I try it on, and the cut is just appalling - baggy, shapeless, and with cheap-looking lace (although the silk was very nice). So I put it to one side, and intend to return it.
Last week, I find out from my bank that my card had been used in some fraudulent activity, so they had to cancel it, and this may mean that some payments have not gone through. On the same day, I get a letter from La Redoute to tell me that my payment was declined, so could I please call them to pay the £15 ADMINISTRATION FEE??? I call them, politely inform them that my card's been used fraudulently (which is rather distressing to me), and can we just cancel the second camisole, because I'm returning the first one anyway? Disinterested call-centre lady says she can cancel the second despatch, but I'll still have to pay the fee - MAYBE my bank will refund me, but she's not sure? She couldn't be less interested in helping me as a customer, or explaining why the fee was £15 and what it covered, as that's a lot of money for a computer generated letter! So I'll return the first camisole, and I suppose I'll pay the £7 difference, although it's so very tempting not to. And I certainly won't shop with them again!

Summary: