Non-existing service, disgusting customer service!

On Monday 01 April 2019. I bought an air-conditioning unit from Makro. I asked the shop assist if they had any accredited installers that he could recommend as I did not want to take chances. At the till point I was introduced to a gentleman who works at Makro by the name of Mark Naidoo. Mark recommended Blingstallation highly. I completed the form which gave them permission to assist me with the installation. I swiped a total of R7 999.00 for the aircon unit and for the installation of which R1500.00 of that went to the installation. As soon as I stepped out of the store, as promised I received a call from Sarah-Lee from Blingstallation. My battery was about to die at that stage and I asked her to please call me back in about 30 minutes which she did not do.

On Tuesday 02 April 2019, I called the company to follow up on the booking and spoke to Nokuthula. She advised that the installer will come through the following day Wednesday 03 April 2019 at 08:30 to do the installation. I received a follow up SMS confirming the installation. This installation was to be done at my school in Midrand. On the morning of the installation, Wednesday 03 April 2019, I was up early to make it through traffic from Kempton Park to Midrand. On approaching the school in Midrand I called Blingstallation to check how far the installer is. I spoke to Nokuthula at 08:20. Nokuthula advised that the appointment is for 14:30 on that day. I explained to her that we agreed that it was 08:30 and I even received an SMS to confirm it. She simply brushed me off by saying that it was a system error and there is nothing she can do. I told her that clearly she can make a plan. She promised to call me back and advise if she can assist. Just to give you a scenario, my school doesn’t operate during the week so I took the morning off to be there for this installation to happen, now my whole morning is going to waste if I have to wait until 14:30. As expected, Nokuthula never got back to me until I called her around 12:00 to follow up on the plan that she was supposedly going to make. She had no excuse for not calling me back and insisted that she can stick to 14:30. Being the client who doesn’t have much of a choice, I wasted most of day waiting for Blingstallation installers. I needed the aircon for Friday and could not waste another day. At 16:00 I called the company as no one pitched at 14:30. As always, I’m following them around as the desperate customer who has paid. Using my airtime and having wasted a whole day. Sarah-Lee picked up the phone and I asked to speak to Nokuthula. Nokuthula obviously could not bear to speak to me knowing very well the injustice and horrible service I have been receiving. Sarah-Lee insisted that she could assist. I gave her a piece of my mind on how horrible the service from her organisation is. I asked to speak to a senior person. I was called back by her college Andre who was arrogant and convinced me that I do not have a choice but to receive the service at the companies convenient time which is the following day, 04 April 2019 at 08:30. I asked to speak to the company CEO but was told by the PA that he is not attainable. Yet again, being the customer who has paid, I accepted the disgusting treatment and no remorse from this organisation and accepted the following day 08:30.

04 April 2018, I find the installers onsite at 08:15. Here I was thinking that this will be quick and painless as opposed to the previous day. The installers told me that they need to do a quote for me. I was shocked at that statement as I had made payment at Makro for this installation. I asked him to access the place carefully and advise. There was no load shedding, the plugs were working properly, the outside unit was going to be installed right behind the internal unit, the walls were good for drilling and there was no issue. The installers told me that I need to buy brackets. That was about R650.00 which they quoted me. I’m not sure if people generally go around carrying that amount of money every day. Not wanting to delay the process, I surrendered as the stupid client labelled by Blingstallation. The installers went to the extent of saying they are adding an additional R650.00 as the installation will take three hours. These are the very people who have not even opened the boxes of the aircon unit and have just advised that there is nothing that will hinder the basic installation that was paid for. I was initially advised after paying that should there be issues that are hindering the installation to be in the hours recommended and I paid for they will charge more. Now the installers have not even began working on the installation. That was a RED flag for me. This means that customers are advised that installation is R1500.00 for two hours but it actually takes 3 hours. The company doesn’t tell you but makes sure that you pay more after committing. He confidently and arrogantly gave me a quote of about R1500.00. Total installation cost would be R3000.00. I advised the installer that I will not pay that much money. Installer told me to call office and explain, I told him the office can call me for a change. Whilst waiting for office to call me, installer has the audacity to tell me that the clock is ticking for my installation time. Sarah-Lee called me eventually and could not even try to understand.

Having said that, I have paid for a service that has only cost me grief. I would like to be refunded back the installation money in full. I am not negotiable to any other solution. I do not want to see or hear of Blingsolution. If anything I am disappointed in Makro for having such an organisation on their books.