Forum Topic

dry cleaning quandry

good people of the collective, you have offered good advice in the past, now I have a new quandary.Last week I took a suit and a pair of trousers into a local dry cleaners as I was going to a function on Saturday and wanted to try and look smart,( I work in shepperton, but live in Acton).Cardinal sin, I did not check them when I left the shop on collection.Getting ready on Saturday, I took the suit out of the wrapper to find that the trousers had been burnt. the way the burns looked, it looked like liquid has been spilt over them.I took them back to the shop today, to be told I was a liar, I am not a regular in the shop therefore I did the damage myself. He said he had photographic evidence which he would only show me in court.He then showed me the picture on his phone, but there was no date or time.I left the shop fuming, all I wanted was the clothes to be cleaned, I was not after a new suit like he suggested.I am so annoyed and do not know what to do next.Thank you        

Glenn Young ● 4083d3 Comments

What an awful, unpleasant situation. It sounds as though the owner is used to it happening!Every digital photograph contains data proving when it was created, but I suppose you would need to be able to prove what time you left the clothes in his care. Maybe he genuinely does take photos of items that arrive with damage that he could later be accused of doing, or maybe when he damages things he then takes a photo without a time/date stamp in an effort to frighten off the owner with talk of court. If the former, you'd think he'd make damn sure there was a time/date stamp on the photos.You could have the burn mark analysed, but that would cost you. Depends how much time and trouble you are prepared to take to prove he's lying. The Guardian has a good column called "Money" in the Saturday paper, in which they sort out problems like this, but it's usually with big national companies who don't want the bad publicity. Good luck, anyway.

Vin Miles ● 4082d

Question that springs to mind is why the owner would take a picture if your suit. Do they do this to every single item that is taken into the shop for dry cleaning? The mind boggles.

Tony Crumpton ● 4082d

could you ask another cleaner what could have caused the burn?

Kim Rugg ● 4082d