Pensioner battling for stair lift refund after husband dies (From News Shopper)

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Northfleet pensioner Satwant Gill battling for stair lift refund after husband dies

10:48am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Gravesham news By Abigail Woodcock

Satwant Gill with her husband, Ajmer

A PENSIONER who ordered a stair lift for her husband is battling to get her £500 deposit back after he died days after ordering it.

Satwant Gill of St Mark's Avenue, Northfleet ordered the lift worth £2080 on September 5 last year for her 73-year-old husband, Ajmer, who suffered from dementia.

But on the evening of September 12, Mr Gill was taken to hospital suffering from a massive brain haemorrhage, leaving him paralysed.

The next day, Mrs Gill phoned Longfield’s TLC Stair lifts in Fawkham Road to cancel it, but they told her they would not refund her deposit.

Mr Gill passed away on September 22.

The couple had been married just short of 55 years.

Mrs Gill said: “We ordered the lift because my husband fell down the stairs once or twice and we needed it urgently.

“To be asked to pay the deposit is very upsetting.

“I feel very hurt. We wouldn’t have cancelled the lift if my husband had lived.

“It’s daylight robbery.”

Mrs Gill says she cannot afford to lose the £500.

She said: “It’s a lot of money for a pensioner. I’m not earning any money, I only get my pension.

“It’s all from our own pocket.

“I’m fighting with every penny.

“I have a house to pay for and the bills all by myself.

“It depresses me.

“I want to warn people to think twice before laying out such a large amount of money.”

She added: “It’s not even about the money, it’s how they’re handling it.

“They have no sympathy for people with dementia.

“They’re taking the micky.”

Managing director of TLC, Jim Simmonds said: “We would like to advise that we honestly sympathise with Mrs Gill during this difficult time.

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“Mr and Mrs Gill purchased a tailor made product from us and paid a non refundable deposit that allows us to have the lift made to the exact specifications required for the client and the staircase on which it is installed.

“An order form was signed which clearly states the terms and conditions of the non refundable deposit.

“We took delivery of the lift and arranged an installation date.

“Sadly Mr Gill passed away prior to the lift being installed. We have since put the lift back into storage.

“We would like to stress the point that retaining the deposit allows us to re-install into an alternate property.

“We are sorry for Mrs Gill’s loss and would like to help in whatever way we can.

“However, the situation with purchasing bespoke made equipment is that we are left with a product especially made for the client and their property.”

Comments(5)

phanmale says...
2:12pm Tue 14 Feb 12

I have mixed reactions to this story.
While I feel sorry for the loss of Mrs Gill's husband so soon after buying something for his needs, she says that she needs the £500 back as she can't afford to lose it. If her husband was still alive, she wouldn't have that argument?
But in turn, I feel the company of the stair lift are being very "jobs worth". I appreciate there was a signed contract with terms and conditions (no doubt small print) but it was literally only days after ordering that Mr Gill sadly passed away.
Mr Simmonds states that they retain the deposit to reinstall into a different property but then contradicts himself by stating that they have no use for a bespoke product elsewhere.
I appreciate it's not "business" but under the circumstances, I think a gesture of goodwill to return Mrs Gills deposit from TLC (tender, loving care??) would be honourable.