[penance]

I placed an order with Fothergills on 14/1, still waiting for delivery.
I mailed them on Monday finally had a reply today. They say that my payement didnt clear until the 27th. I thought that odd as I paid by debit card and know I had the funds.
I checked with my bank and they say the funds went thru that day.

Has anyone else experienced problems with Fothergills?

[puravida]

I've never dealt with them so can't comment on past experience but will bear it in mind as Fothergills is one of the seed mags I'm browsing at the moment.

I do have a couple of shops and debit card payments take three working days (MAX!) to clear whether it is from the card machine in the shop or if payment was taken online.

They are claiming it took thirteen days - even with a couple of weekends thrown in that's still NINE working days  :blink: it has taken them to even acknowledge your order (never mind send it to you!) which seems too long to me!

[compostqueen]

Fothergills offer a very good service and you can email them or speak to them if you're unhappy.  I've ordered from them for years and they are quick at sending stuff (you must be unlucky  ) They answer questions with pleasure and I'd not hesitate to recommend them 

[penance]

Hi Compostqueen,
Shame my experience has been the opposite. Order still not recieved even tho my bank say the funds cleared within 24 hours.
Someone has told porkies and i doubt its the bank.

Also it took 4 days for email reply, I would call but have been busy at work so emailed instead.

A shame, but i wont be using them again.

[compostqueen]

What did you order?  Sometimes you order say spuds, onions or garlic - and pay up front - but they deliver them as the weather permits so you get them at the right time. Maybe that's it

[penance]

No late dispatch items, all were in stock and ready. It was all seed items.

The email I got from them said that the reason they had not dispatched was due to funds not clearing, nothing else.

[Stripey_cat]

Sometimes the bank will transfer the money out of your account at once, and then sit on it for the legal maximum before putting it into the recipient's.  Annoying when it's between two banks, but when it's between two accounts in the same branch of the same bank, it's maddening.

That should only tie up the funds for a few days, though.  A fortnight sounds like there was a problem somewhere.  (I'm more inclined to blame the incompetence of banks, though, than the retailer: they are much less concerned about their reputation.)