David O’Leary

I ordered a dog bed from Very on 28th September.

On 30th September, it arrived at the InPost warehouse, where it appears to have taken up permanent residency. Since then, the tracking hasn't moved. Not delayed. Not updated. Just...there.

After 10 days of watching the same tracking screen, I called Very. Their helpful solution was to ask me to wait another three days and call back.

So I did.

I've called again today, only to discover that the dog bed is now apparently being returned to Very. Why? Who knows. Perhaps it became homesick.

Very have refunded the delivery charge, which is something. Unfortunately, they won't refund the actual dog bed until it physically arrives back at their warehouse.

Apparently, that could take another 14 days.

So, if everything goes according to plan (and I'm beginning to think "plan" is doing some fairly heavy lifting here) I could finally receive my refund approximately one month after ordering a dog bed that never actually made it anywhere near my dog.

For context, this isn't a bespoke sofa. It isn't being handcrafted in Italy. It isn't a replacement part for the International Space Station.

It's a dog bed.

The most frustrating part has been the customer service. Nobody I've spoken to seems able to actually do anything. Every interaction appears to involve being told to wait for something else to happen, while my money remains with Very and the world's most well-travelled dog bed continues its mysterious tour of the InPost logistics network.

At this point, HS2 has made more observable progress.

I appreciate that Very didn't personally lose the parcel, but I bought the product from Very, I paid Very, and ultimately I expect Very to take ownership when their chosen delivery process goes wrong.

A month to potentially get my money back for an item I never received is, frankly, ridiculous.

The dog remains bedless. The dog bed remains missing.

And my refund is apparently travelling home at approximately the speed of continental drift.

Unfortunately Trustpilot doesn't offer a "Please just give me my bloody money back" button.

Total Parking Solutions (TPS) is, without exaggeration, one of the most appalling businesses I’ve ever had the misfortune of dealing with. It’s truly baffling that they are allowed to continue operating with such blatantly unethical and predatory practices.

I made a mistake - I parked at one of their car parks and received a fine for leaving the site on foot. Fair enough. I accepted the fine and paid the reduced amount the very next day.

End of story? Not even close.

Two weeks later, I received what turned out to be a duplicate fine for the exact same incident. I assumed it was just a clerical error or a follow-up letter. I’d paid, so I ignored it. Another two weeks passed, and I received a final demand—threatening escalation over a fine I had already settled.

I contacted TPS to explain. Instead of acknowledging their error, I was told I had to appeal. I did - but was informed that my appeal was submitted outside of their arbitrary 28-day window, and therefore “didn’t count.” They then demanded £120 and threatened to involve debt collectors.

I wrote to them again, spelling out clearly that this was a duplication on their part - not mine. Their response? They doubled down and told me the debt had already been passed to a collector.

At this point, I escalated the case to the British Parking Association (BPA), who thankfully agreed to investigate. A full month later, TPS finally wrote back to say they were “dropping all further action” as a so-called “gesture of goodwill.” A gesture? No. This was nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to save face after their own incompetence was exposed.

TPS’s conduct throughout was disgraceful - disorganised, heavy-handed, and completely lacking in accountability. They attempted to bully me into paying a second fine for a single mistake that I had already rectified. The stress, time, and energy wasted dealing with this nonsense was entirely their doing.

How many others have been tricked, intimidated, or worn down by this company’s tactics? How many just pay up out of fear or frustration? TPS thrives on administrative errors and technicalities - then hides behind robotic policies to avoid owning up to their mistakes.

Avoid this company at all costs. Their business model is based on coercion, not customer service - and the sooner regulators step in, the better.

I have been waiting over 8 weeks for my son’s referee shirt and shorts from Macron, and I still have no idea when, or if, they’ll ever be delivered.

The customer service is beyond awful - responses take an age, and when they do eventually reply, there’s nothing new or helpful. It’s always the same excuses: technical issues, system failures, or vague delays with no resolution in sight.

To make matters worse, they never answer their phones, so it’s impossible to speak to anyone directly.

This lack of communication is beyond frustrating. If they weren’t the approved supplier for my son’s kit, I would never dream of using them.

Their service is an absolute joke, and I genuinely don’t know how they’re still in business. Avoid if you can!

Great customer service. I lost some parts when moving and spoke with Maria on the phone. She promptly found what I needed and after calling to pay they were sent super fast. Great company in terms of response.

I would love to leave 5 stars as their new Oreo bar hits that spot; why would you buy standard chocolate when you have that!

However, despite their constant e-mails about promo offers, I can still buy them cheaper from retail stores such as B&M etc.

I have seen in previous replies to other reviews that Grenade talk about retailers working against them. Seems strange. Ultimately if I can buy a product cheaper in a store than from the manufacturer direct then I must be paying way over the odds to buy from Grenade.

If they can sort that out then I would certainly buy more.

What a brand. Seriously. They guys, and their clothing, are immense. Great quality - MUCH better than expected. I ordered the oversized hoodie and had to send it back as it was way too large for me (should have guessed!). However, these guys were THE most helpful ever. A HUGE shoutout to Isaac who went above and beyond for me. I have never met anyone like this guy in a customer service role. He deserves a medal. Thanks Isaac. Will defo buy again.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT use House of Fraser. They are beyond incapable of fulfilling their order promises.

I place an order for a Parajumpers jacket at a cost of £249 plus £4.99 for postage. The item was dispatched and delivered by EVRI.

Due to the value of the item, EVRI should have requested a signature, but instead they left the item at my front door, only for it to be stolen when I arrived home. I should add that at the point of ordering there was no other option than home delivery; not even to a store or shop drop-off.

I made a claim to HOF, and subsequently EVRI accepted liability - HOF then advised that a replacement would be dispatched within 2-7 workings days; and this is where the issues began.

To date, I have had 27 (yep...27!) mails back and forth with HOF, and on each occasion they are "checking with their warehouse" as to the status of the order. However, the warehouse must be somewhere in the Bermuda triangle, because the Warehouse never replies. Strange.

I have today sent my final mail to them before I peruse a claim with Trading Standards.

It has been 10 weeks since I placed my original order. They have my money, yet I don't have my goods.

Stay far and wide from these cowboys.

Today I completed my Level 3 Personal Trainer studies with Train Fitness, having completed my Level 2 Gym Instructor course just 2 months ago.

I cannot praise the team at Train Fitness highly enough for their teaching style, detail, empathy, support and dedication. Everyone who works here is truly an asset to the company.

The course is very comprehensive and detailed, but please, don't let that put you off - if it was easy then everyone would be doing it. I came in to the fitness industry later on in life, thinking that I knew a lot about what to do...little did I know that I am now completing these courses knowing 100 times more than what I did when I joined. They are delivered in such a simple format, and the support to assist you in passing is second to none.

A couple of shout outs to 2 of the trainers at Train Fitness:

Danielle - Filled me with THE most confidence I have ever felt since joining the fitness industry. Her observations, coaching cues and positive words during my assessment were hugely beneficial. No doubt. Thank you.

Ben - What a guy. What a teacher. From the first time I met Ben over ZOOM for one of the e-Classes, right through to my final weeks distance learning, this guy can make anyone feel at ease and empowered.

Post my studies, I will now continue in taking CPD courses with Train Fitness as their delivery approach is one of, if not THE, best in any studies I have taken.

Please, I urge you to ignore any negative reviews about this business. I have nothing but praise for Train Fitness and what they deliver. I promise you that you will NOT be disappointed.

Once again, thank you to ALL of the staff. Keep doing what you do.

I’ll be honest and say that I was sceptical about ordering from these guys, based on some of their negative reviews. However, the trainers I wanted to purchase were half-price and I thought I’d take the risk. I’m SO glad I did. Personally, the experience I have had with these guys has been second-to-none. It literally took 48hrs from the point of ordering to receiving the trainers. Thanks guys. I will definitely buy again and sincerely hope that I get the same experience. Well done guys. You are doing yourself proud.

Whilst I think the products are great (Maple Syrup and Golden Syrup flavours), the delivery times are way out of sync. They take an age. Been waiting well over a week for the products, and still no delivery. This was the same on my first order with them, but I thought that I would give them a second opportunity. Regretting that now.

A similar experience happened with my Wife’s order (an additional order for what I inadvertently missed).

I am sure I will hear a response from them, related to COVID.If I experienced delays with all of the other parcels I ordered then fair enough, but I don’t.

Sort your stuff out Skinny...a faster delivery process would give you a much better business. It’s letting you down.

I was sceptical because of the recent poor reviews, and the lack of response from Sports Shoes to said reviews, but I took a gamble.

Placed an order.
Received confirmation.
Order dispatched.
Trainers arrived today.

Was kept informed along the way with the relevant tracking numbers etc. and the trainers are exactly as ordered.

Would definitely buy again from these guys.

I was sceptical because of the recent poor reviews, and the lack of response from Sports Shoes to said reviews, but I took a gamble.

Placed an order.
Received confirmation.
Order dispatched.
Trainers arrived today.

Was kept informed along the way with the relevant tracking numbers etc. and the trainers are exactly as ordered.

Would definitely buy again from these guys.

Terrible service.

Ordered a personalised football shirt online after visiting a store and the item being out of stock. Store staff guided me through the process via an in-store ordering screen and I was advised that the order would be ready with 48-72hrs.

1 week on and the order has still not arrived.

Called to request an update and am now advised that the 48-72hrs is the time it takes to get the shirt to the printing company, and that the printing takes up to 2 weeks!

At NO stage, not even when ordering online, did it advise of this timescale.

Even more frustrating is that the order tracker shows my order as “dispatched” which is not correct. So now, every time I want to obtain an update, I have to call the JD Customer Setvice Team.

Would never order online like this again - but rather go in to a store and have it personalised there (providing that the item is in stock).

Excellent service. Spoke to one of the staff first who confirmed that my order could be fulfilled and then placed the order online.

It arrived before they had advised it would and the quality is outstanding. Will definitely use again.