Quality and service not what expected
I contracted Automated Blinds & Awnings Limited trading as WiSER Interiors in December 2020 to install blinds and curtains to a new house build. Total contract value circa £12,000. Whilst initial install of curtains and blinds in our bedrooms, kitchen and study went well it all started to unravel when a battery failed in our kitchen and the curtains and pelmets were installed in the lounge. To cut a long story short, the kitchen battery in one of the blinds broke twice. Wiser replaced the first battery and then subsequently accused me of “accidental damage” on the second occasion since after poor service (See further detail), I asked another authorised Somfy reseller to assess the fault. I had to go direct to Somfy the manufacturer for them to approve a replacement battery under warranty and ask the new Somfy Approved Reseller to replace the battery, as Somfy had acknowledged it was a fitting issue not user issue (note the blind was controlled by a remote and Alexa so I have no idea how I could have mis-used the blind. Furthermore, I had 4 other motorised blinds all working fine). It took Wiser 3 attempts to get the 3 pelmets for my lounge cut correctly to fit around the stepped cornice. The second attempt the installer had the audacity to cut the pelmet to fit the cornice, mount the pelmet and leave our premises without acknowledging what he had done. To mount the pelmets Wiser used Velcro glued to off cuts of metal and cable trunking, both materials non-porous which resulted in the Velcro glue becoming dry and pelmets not maintained in position. The third attempt I refused Wiser to attend my property. The photos also show that the pelmet across the patio window was square cut and not stepped so not even matching. The cabling to the motor was dangerous as it had been connected to an electrical block covered with insulation tape, without the cable being cut back and was left hanging over a metal light switch. The width of the curtains was too short so the Somfy motor to the left of the curtains was visible and to make matters worse the curtain track was fixed to the cornice using ceiling mounts rather then wall mounted. In time the track would have fallen. Lastly after employing another company to address the issues in removing the blind and curtain tracks it became apparent that not all drill holes had rawl plugs and some drill holes had been drilled but not filled when not used. The outcome is the MD at Wiser was unwilling to acknowledge the issues and pay for another company to rectify them. Note I had lost all faith in Wiser workmanship and trust in the MD. I submitted a claim via the small claims court and on 16th October 2023 I won my case. I also complained at the same time to BBSA (British Blinds and Shutters Association) a trade organisation that Wiser is a member of (note MD is on the BBSA management board) and state that by using a BBSA member put “Simply, it is your assurance of the highest standards of quality, workmanship, service, fair trading and child safety.” I was under the impression the association was there to protect customers but feel free to read my review on Google of the BBSA. Whilst the BBSA stated to me they investigated my complaint on the 5th May 2024 I finally got confirmation that “in this case it has been determined that the outcome of this internal disciplinary hearing will not be shared with other parties”. Therefore, please note that BBSA offers minimal if any protection for customers and in my opinion is worthless. In summary I hope this helps when considering using Wiser for your curtains and blinds and make your own decision on the value of a BBSA member. Review posted nearly 4 years since I contracted Wiser. This is how long it took through complaints process with Wiser, court case and BBSA investigation to conclude.
16 October 2023
Unprompted review