Monday 26 January 2009

coals2u

So at the beginning of January we ordered some coal from CPL Distibution.

On their website it states that "We will endeavour to deliver your solid fuel order within 3 working days unless otherwise stated, if delivery is likely to be more than 5 working days we will ring you to advise you of a delivery date." We ordered our coal, when we reallised we had almost run out, on the 2nd of January and, 24 days later, finally cancelled the order after losing hope that it would ever actually arrive.

The company didn't contact us after 3 working days, and when, after well over a week, i contacted them to find out what was going on, they said that it would be any day now, before eventually admitting that thee were 'supply problems at the depot'. Of course, if i'd known this earlier i could have gone elsewhere but it took them a long time to tell us. Then they said that the depot had got the coal and that we would get our coal, hopefully last friday (didn't happen) and if not then DEFINITELY today. When i phoned today they still didn't have a date for delivery so i cancelled the order.

In the meantime, and through a record -10 degree cold spell, we have been entirely without heating, which has rendered the boat almost uninhabitable at times and certainly unpleasant to be in. The lack of recent blogging has been partly down to the fact that most things have ground to a halt because it's just been too damn cold to do anything. It's a real shame because the idea of getting coal delivered to the door is great, it's just that they never managed the actual delivery bit.

We're now going to go and get some ourselves, something we could have done 3 weeks ago if we'd known that the coal we'd ordered wasn't actually going to be arriving any day now, and so the boat should once again be nice and warm.

8 comments:

Melissa Fehr Trade said...

oh no! I had no idea you guys were still without heat. You should've said, you could've camped out in our saloon. Having spent last winter on Hendrik without heat, I'd never want anyone to have to endure cold like that again. If it happens again, please come calling!

IsmilebecauseIhavenoideawhatsgoingon said...

-10 degrees.
Yep. Pretty Damn cold. Have endured it myself. I now own many pairs of long jons and thermal tops which helps. I remember a morning recently when the overnight temperature went to -8, I awoke to discover that the water in my kettle (a good 6 inches of it) had frozen completely solid. Waking up in that cold and having to bugger about before being able to make coffee made me question the sanity of what I'm doing for the 469th time.
Take care and all that...
S

Steve Lawson said...

that's really effed up. Will spread the word. Glad to see you outing the unreliable scumbags.

Looking forward to seeing you guys on Friday! Yay!

MFV Pansy said...

How much a bag as well!!???

we pay £5.50 a bag for coal and £6.40 for anthracite or coke - thats 50kg bags as well - delivered

steve said...

They're great prices! Where do get your coal from?

MFV Pansy said...

we're lucky enough to live where coal fires are still de-rigeur, up in the north east! The coal man still comes every fortnight. My brother lives on a boat in london as well though, and am pretty sure he pays much less than that for his. will try and find out

coaless and alone said...

I too ordered from CPL distribution and still not had delivery ,it wouldnt be so bad if they answered emails or made any attempt to contact customers to let them know there is problem
I sent an email cancelling my order and suddenly its coming tomorow even though they advised notice of delivery would be given by telephone 1 day in advance.that never happened, I came home tonight to an email and i now have to take a day off work without clearing it with my boss. I will never order with this company again the customer service is appalling and once you have paid over the website how do you get a refund from a company who dont respond to emails or answer the telephone?
if anyone knows of a local coalman covering the Middleton Manchester area I would be very grateful for the details

Will McKendry said...

Appreciate this is an old blog but has anyone tried www.housefuel.co.uk?

Recently came across them online and not sure what they are like.

Any help would be much appreciate.

Cheers,

Will McKendry.