Mike

As loyal LV customers, we received our household renewal quote for a few pounds less than last year £717 versus £725.

Looked promising until we shopped around and found like for like cover available with AXA, an A class high street insurer, for £200 or more less for the same or better cover.

We've already moved our annual holiday insurance away from LV for similar reasons, and both our motor insurance policies to Hastings, again for similar reasons.

Like a lot of companies, they most certainly don't appear to reward loyalty and rely on people's apathy to double check each year.

I visited Dukes Hill because I was specifically looking for genuinely nitrate and nitrite free bacon.

The website immediately creates the impression of exceptional quality and traditional craftsmanship. It proudly describes itself as "Champions of the Artisan" and speaks about its unwavering commitment to quality, authenticity and traditional methods.

Their Smoked Dry Cured Back Bacon continues the same theme, describing "proper British bacon", "time honoured smoked dry cured back bacon", "dry cured by hand", "artisan bacon like it used to be", "British outdoor bred pork", "traditional British methods" and "award winning quality".

Reading this, I naturally expected a product made with simple, traditional ingredients.

Then I looked at the ingredients.

Alongside the British pork, salt and Demerara sugar were potassium nitrate, sodium nitrite and sodium ascorbate, exactly the curing additives I had been trying to avoid.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a company choosing to use these preservatives. They are widely used throughout the meat industry and customers can make their own informed decisions.

My criticism is something quite different.

The marketing creates an image of artisan food, traditional methods and authenticity, yet the ingredients reveal a conventionally cured bacon using the same preservatives found in countless supermarket products. That simply wasn't what I was expecting after reading the website.

This wasn't an impulse purchase. I had specifically searched online for nitrate and nitrite free bacon and Dukes Hill appeared to fit that brief. I had even bought bacon from another artisan supplier so we could cook them side by side in a taste test.

That idea disappeared as soon as I read the ingredients.

What disappointed me most was the contrast between the carefully crafted marketing and the reality of the product. There is so much emphasis on craftsmanship, heritage and tradition that it is very easy for customers to assume the ingredients reflect that philosophy.

They don't.

If you're happy buying conventionally cured bacon containing potassium nitrate and sodium nitrite, you'll probably enjoy it.

However, if, like me, you're specifically trying to avoid these additives, don't rely on the beautifully written descriptions. Read the ingredients first.

In my opinion, the marketing promises far more than the product actually delivers, and I came away feeling disappointed.

I specifically set out to buy genuinely nitrate and nitrite free bacon. Like many people, I started with a Google search, which listed The Dorset Meat Company alongside other suppliers of nitrate and nitrite free bacon.

The marketing immediately appealed to me. The website talks about "GRASS FED | FREE RANGE | ETHICALLY REARED | SUSTAINABLE FARMING" and says its meat is produced "in harmony with nature" by small family farms, claiming this is better for "the farmer, the animal, the local ecology, and for you" and produces meat "you can trust completely."

As someone looking for food with as few additives as possible, that gave me every reason to believe I had found exactly what I was looking for.

I ordered from The Dorset Meat Company and another artisan supplier whose website gave a very similar impression. Our intention was to cook both products side by side in a live taste test.

That never happened.

Before cooking, I read the ingredients carefully and was genuinely astonished. Despite all the emphasis on traditional curing, sea salt, slow growing pigs, ethical farming and natural production methods, their standard Free Range Smoked Back Bacon contains E250 (sodium nitrite), E251 (sodium nitrate) and E301. When I previously purchased it, even their Pork Belly Confit contained the same curing additives.

After going through the range carefully, I discovered that the only genuinely nitrate and nitrite free bacon they sell is their Free Range Smoked Nitrite and Nitrate Free Back Bacon.

To be fair, this product is exactly what it claims to be. It contains no nitrites, no nitrates and no preservatives, and I give them full credit for producing it.

Unfortunately, it arrives having already been frozen and thawed and is labelled not suitable for refreezing. Unless you intend to eat it immediately, it is of little practical use if, like me, you buy meat online to stock your freezer.

My disappointment is not that The Dorset Meat Company uses nitrites and nitrates in most of its cured meats. Many producers do, and customers can make their own informed choices about that.

My disappointment is that the overall presentation of the website creates a strong impression that these traditional, ethically reared products are somehow different from conventionally cured bacon, when in reality most of the bacon still contains the same curing additives found elsewhere.

After finding another artisan supplier using remarkably similar marketing while selling conventionally cured products, it left me feeling that there is far too much smoke and mirrors in this part of the industry. The emphasis is on traditional methods, natural farming and wholesome language, while the ingredients tell a rather different story.

If you are specifically trying to avoid nitrites and nitrates, don't rely on the marketing. Read every ingredients list carefully. Also be aware that some producers use celery extract or celery powder as a natural source of nitrates while promoting products as "uncured" or "naturally cured". If avoiding nitrites and nitrates is your aim, always check the ingredients rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.

The Dorset Meat Company may well produce high quality meat from well cared for animals, and I have no reason to doubt that. However, I came away feeling that the website promises far more than most of the products actually deliver, and as a customer I was left disappointed.

Allowed them to visit and assess some of our elderly and end-of-life care residents.

Their clinicians attended and then made some alarming claims to the residents next-of-kin about what was said, agreed to and transpired from their assessments, which was in stark contrast to what was contained in our nursing records and which ultimately mislead families into paying for some completely unsuitable and unrequired prescriptions or replacements.

Numerous complaints were received from our residents families.

Needless to say, we will not be reinviting Specsavers to revisit any of our residents at any stage in the future.

Having organised many previous trips for our residents to enjoy performances here in the past, our Activities Coordinator called this afternoon to book concessionary tickets for the matinee performance of Wind in the Willows on 24/10/26.

The published prices on the website indicate:
Standard: £18.00
Concessions/Under 16s: £12.00
Family Ticket: £50.00

We were first advised that a CEA card was necessary to obtain an elderly or disabled concession. We have never been asked for this previously, and for information the CEA card is designed for cinemas not theatres with "the UK Cinema Association (UKCA) and its members expressing they want to make visiting the cinema an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all".

We were then advised that without a CEA card the residents (of whom all would qualify for a disabled blue badge) would pay the full adult price but this would now cost us £19.50 (not £18 as quoted on their website), and each accompanying carer would also have to pay full adult price.

We were also asked if our residents were "properly" and permanently wheelchair bound! The fact that they are residents of a CQC registered nursing home should speak volumes to anyone with an ounce of common sense.

It seems the Gladstone Theatre have changed their ticketing and pricing policies to the detriment of disabled visitors who will clearly now feel a theatre visit is beyond them.

How sad! Particularly when the Floral Pavilion and many other venues across the Wirral and Merseyside offer to fully fund Carer's and Disabled Seats free or at least at concessionary rates.

Ordered 2 ironstone saucers at £60 each. At that time there were 9 showing in stock Waited a week to be told "Upon picking your order, we were down to the last two. I have attached some images for you to see, but there is a slight colour difference. We have cleaned them thoroughly for you to see". Asked if there was any gesture of goodwill or discount given the poor comms, marked difference in colour and delay in sending. The answer a resounding "No". Refund requested, a lost customer and will source elsewhere.

Dreadful customer service. After sending a seller a query using the platform, OnBuy notify you automatically that if the seller doesn't respond after 48hrs they are there to help you.

Without trying to connect with the seller, they just sent one email after another stating the items we'd purchased were non-returnable and non-refundable even after I'd submitted screen shots showing the clear advice that there is a 30day returns policy. After 4-5 of these extremely unhelpful responses, I eventually received a reply from the seller who advised they had not heard from OnBuy about this issue or received my initial query. They only responded when I emailed them directly. Reassuringly, they said they are keen to assist and help with any returns.

My advice. Ditch OnBuy and buy direct from sellers.

I've requested a formal complaint is registered but as yet, I've heard no confirmation of this.

Simply dreadful.

Initially indicated a £555 offer for my iPhone 15 pro max. It had a couple of very light marks to the screen, otherwise it was in mint condition.

UR received the phone, checked it and said the scratches were deep (they were not) and offered £220. I declined and within mins they reoffered
£230.

I'm now waiting for both the phones I sent to them to be returned.

A bunch of rogues in my humble opinion.

I'll stick to 02 recycle system. Much more reliable and professional.

Delivered one day early. Fabulous service

Excellent service. Ordered andcdelivered the following day.

Very disappointing. Marked and scuffed quickly. Corners delaminated. I had thought buying a non-chinese manufactured product would have guaranteed better quality but my previous Apple leather case (Made in China) performed much better for 1/2 the price. Would not buy again.

Provided me with the details of our nearest drop-off shop. However, when we got their we were told they'd stop taking Collect+ parcels over 3 months ago.

No offer of compensation for wasted time, parking charges and fuel.

We appreciate that Karma Mobility do not deal directly with the public. However, we expected we could rely on the specification and dimensions quoted on their website to produce an order for up to 10 different Karma Wheelchairs.

During this time we had cause to call Karma Mobility UK to clarify a few things as their website showed incorrect photos against various products which was very confusing.

On each occasion we spoke to one of two ladies who's spoken and understanding of English made our necessary enquiries much more difficult than should have been the case.

Ultimately, we've now received our Karma wheelchairs (Ergo 3 Transport and Ergo 2 Lite Tall (both crash tested). However, shockingly, we have found that whilst all the Ergo 3 chairs match precisely with the specifications given on their website, regrettably all the Ergo 2 Lite Tall chairs are much smaller than specified.

Their 18 inch (458mm) wide seat wheel chair is actually 16.5 inch (420mm) wide, some 39mm smaller.

And their 20 inch (508mm) is actually 18.5 inch (470mm), some 49mm smaller.

This renders the information on their website completely unreliable and I would strongly urge you to be VERY careful or use an alternative manufacturer.

Our experience has wasted an inordinate amount of time, and been an utter nightmare.

On 12th January at 17:52, after immediately confirming our availability to accept delivery the following day in a 4 hour slot allocated to us, we then received an email notification at 08:30 on 13th advising us they could not deliver and we would have to arrange delivery when next available. We'll keep our fingers crossed you manage to make it this time on 14th within a further 3 hour slot! No offer of compensation. Dreadful service!

Following their reply....still no offer of compensation for a missed day at work.

After placing an order with these guys on 3rd January, I finally received my jeans on 12th, AFTER receiving 19 (yes nineteen!!) emails from them.

I would avoid using them at all costs as they just harass you almost daily. Bizarrely this "marketing strategy" is working in completely the opposite way to what they no doubt intended.

Apart from poor quality sponge scourers, I am dismayed that the company feel that trading with China aligns with their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy.

Trading with China is morally reprehensible and most certainly does not fit with Seep's stated aims. Many, many Chinese firms (BCorp certified or otherwise) have corrupt procurement streams, dreadful human and animal welfare rights and are more generally and regularly cited as spying on the UK or "digitally attacking" the UK infrastructure.

Lugging any products made in China the 4-5000 miles to reach the UK is far from environmentally friendly.

The facts about Cellulose: Cellulose products still have environmental impacts, but they are generally considered more sustainable than fossil fuel plastics due to being renewable, biodegradable, and capable of sequestering carbon, though concerns exist regarding deforestation, chemical processing (like in some regenerated fibers), and energy use in manufacturing, with impacts varying greatly by product and production method.

So Seep's partnering with On A Mission doesn't really detract from the huge energy required to make cellulose products or the fact that China's energy production is far from clean.

Read: China's energy eco-credentials present a paradox: it leads the world in renewable energy deployment (solar, wind) and green tech manufacturing, driving global solutions, yet remains the largest emitter due to massive coal use and growing demand, with its 2030 climate targets rated as "Insufficient" by the Climate Action Tracker, despite commitments to carbon neutrality by 2060. The country uses robust systems like Green Electricity Certificates (GECs) to track renewable use but faces scrutiny over its overall fossil fuel reliance and emissions trajectory.

Dreadful delays in emails being answered.
Wrote to them on 11th December attaching initial invoice showing quantities, and item codes, asking when we could expect the rest of our order as we were missing the glass mason jugs.

Unaware of receiving any calls to advise us of the reason for the delay, 11 days later we receive a reply asking for the quantity and product codes of the missing items.

Called and explained that the invoice I attached made clear the product codes and quantities of the missing glass mason jugs. For some reason, I now have to wait for an investigation to take place before we even reach the point of arranging delivery of the missing items.

Twice I ordered a product (2-3 weeks apart) that was showing as in stock. Saw evidence whilst on their website of others ordering the same product.

Received an email saying my order was being processed. Received another email 1-3 days later advising me they had insufficient stock to fulfil my order.

Arranged a prompt refund on both occasions.

Save yourself the hassle and shop elsewhere.
Very frustrating

Had car insurance with them. When up for renewal the card they had on file had been renewed so couldn't take payment. Asked me to call them only to be told they can't take payment on an incoming call - they had to call me. Called me (so an incoming call to me) and asked me to provide my full date of birth, name and address including postcode!!!

How insecure and prone to abuse when fraudsters realise this is what the RAC expect? Not even my bank ask for this level of information.

Just quote...."computer says no" and "we need to go through data protection / ID. We're registered with the FCA".

Not protecting my data very well by exposing me to this level of fraud risk.

Simply useless, except Pavin who works on their social media messaging. Very courteous and empathetic.

Now registered complaints with FCA and the Financial Ombudsman.

From the moment I was introduced to Morgan at Enable Law, I felt confident that both I and my case were in safe and highly professional hands.

Morgan and the team supported me through an extremely challenging period of my life following the incident, and were always available to provide clarity and reassurance. I never felt like just a number; I was dealt with personally and with genuine care, and it was clear that my best interests were always at the forefront of their work.

I cannot thank them enough. They exceeded my expectations both in the quality of their service and in the outcome they achieved on my behalf.