17st gran refused refund on ‘faulty’ Harveys sofa after they claimed she broke it because she was TOO FAT
Anita White, 51, demanded her money back after one side of her two-seater couch started to droop
A GRANNY was refused a refund on a faulty Harveys sofa after the furniture giant claimed she'd bust it - because she was too FAT.
Seventeen stone Anita White, 51, demanded her money back after one side of her two-seater couch started to droop.
She and husband Alan had purchased a pair of brown leather settees from the High Street furniture chain only a year before it began to sag.
But Harveys turned down her request for a refund after insurers employed by the company inspected the sofa.
Anita was furious when they wrote a report saying the fault was due to “being the most used seat - and both of the customers are QUITE LARGE BUILD”.
Now she wants her money back - and an apology from the company for implying she broke the settee because she's a fatty.
Anita originally paid £1,594 for two sofas.
Harveys eventually offered her either around £1,000 back in cash because the sofa was a year old, or a store credit for the full price - £1,594 - towards a new two piece suite.
Unhappy with the cash offer, Anita decided to go with the credit - but in need of comfort for her disability, the only suitable sofa she could find was worth £2,644 - meaning she and Alan had to shell out an extra £1,050.
Anita, from Sandiacre, Derbys, said: "I was absolutely disgusted. They said the sinkage was because we are hefty people.
"But I’m 17-and-a-half stone and Alan is 14-and-a-half. It’s not as though we’re 20 stoners or anything like that.
"There must be people far heavier than us that buy Harveys sofas.
"Do you have to be six stone wet through to ensure it doesn't break?
"I want my money back and should get a proper apology for them implying the sofa collapsed because it couldn't take my weight. I feel the company have humiliated me and left me out of pocket."
I feel the company have humiliated me and left me out of pocket
Anita and retired Rolls Royce worker Alan, 61, bought the pair of settees from a Harveys store in Nottingham in June 2014, but they wasn't delivered until the end of the following September.
By July last year Anita, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, had noticed a problem with the two-seater, and contacted Harveys to complain.
The firm told her to call HomeServe, the insurance company that deals with warranties taken out on Harveys products, and an inspector was sent out to visit Anita.
But she was left stunned after going into her local Harveys branch weeks later when a worker read out the results of the insurer's report.
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Dogged Anita then paid an independent expert to examine the sofa - and he found it had been "poorly manufactured", with the foam underneath dropping through a large gap in the lining.
She presented Harveys with his findings, and the store eventually said it would look to settle her complaint.
But the sofa model had been discontinued, so Anita was unable to get a direct replacement, and she was then only offered £1,000 towards the cost of another one because of "wear and tear" on the original - leaving her and Alan more than £500 down.
Anita, who worked as a hospital nurse before her disability forced her to quit work, said: "A Harveys salesman printed me off a copy of the insurers report when we called in to the store
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it.I was livid.
"It said the inspector found the 'left-hand side of the two-seater was sitting lower than the right', and this was 'down to being the most used seat and both of the customers are quite large build'.
"So Harveys said it wasn't their problem - end of. I think they thought that would be the end of it, but I was absolutely livid and want a refund.
"It's not like we’re massive people. I’m not huge and knew they were making excuses.
Because of my disability, I need a really good sofa than I can put my legs up on
"They conceded I was right after we got the second opinion report that proved the sofa was badly made.
"I told them 'I want my money back', but they were only prepared to give me some store credit - and much less than we originally paid.
"Because of my disability, I need a really good sofa than I can put my legs up on.
"We eventually found one, but it was an extra £1,050."
Anita added:"I'm very disappointed. When we went to buy the settee we said we need something good that’s going to last.
"I've been a loyal Harveys customer for years but now I'm really disheartened with them.
"I was left embarrassed by the report that said we'd broken the sofa ourselves, and should have been offered a full refund from the start.
"Instead Harveys dug its heels in and I really think the service I’ve got from them has been appalling.
"They can't treat people like that. It's been such a long struggle."
Harveys said last night it was “maintaining a communication” with Anita “to reach a quick solution”.