Wickes Furniture kicked my trust out the window.

Yesterday I wrote about how Wickes Furniture had “done me wrong” in keeping my $2083.40 refund for furniture I’d cancelled. I was angry yesterday and even said a few choice “bad” words. I felt so helpless that I couldn’t get my money, or an answer as to ‘if’ I would ever get it or the feeling that Wickes really wants to serve the consumer.

I had trouble sleeping last night. I feel guilty with all the problems in the world that losing my money is bothering me so badly. This amount, $2,083.40 is an awfully lot of money to me. But it’s not just the money that’s bothering me. Today I woke up feeling so violated and that the rug of trust had certainly been pulled out from under me. I started thinking of other transactions I have going and wondered if they’d be safe or if I could lose that too. I’m wary of having any repairs done to my home – will I be ripped off and lose money from that? Is my money safe in the bank? Will I wake up one morning to find out the banks have closed their doors.

I know, I’m getting a little crazy here, but I think these are the feelings one’s left with after a robbery, a rape or losing a loved one to a violent crime (certainly NOT on the same level), but terribly violated, nonetheless.

If you went into Wickes today to buy new furniture, do you know for sure it’ll be delivered or that you’re plunking down your hard earned money only to be told – “sorry, we’ve decided not to deliver your furniture and you’re out $XXX amount of dollars”. Of course you’ll be smarter than I was in using an electronic check. Credit cards only so you can have that added protection.

Where was the human decency that those in the corporate office wouldn’t treat me as though I were a pest asking about my refund? Why couldn’t they say that I could go get the furniture I had ordered and that they’d take care of everything? Why did they think I was taking up their time when I got upset that I was not only losing my money but that they said I couldn’t get my furniture?

What’s happening that a huge company can advertise with false promises? When they say that the consumer is their most important asset, why aren’t they?

What is the difference if someone at Wickes ran by me and stole my purse with my money in it? I think of them now as the legitimate thieves who are backed up by the courts and law enforcement. I can’t do a thing. The helplessness is painful. Who can we trust? Who are we truly safe from?

I’m dealing with a lot of questions right now. I was vulnerable, and I was basically robbed. Robbed of the faith I once had in businesses and robbed of my being able to trust the businesses who have told me I’m important to them. And, robbed of my $2,083.40.