Can I complain to anyone about a saddle fitter?

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LouiseG

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So 3 months ago I bought a brand new ex demo Saddle Company saddle, fitted my horse fine and probably through my own naivety and excitement over getting my new horse, I accepted from the saddle fitter that the uncomfy and hard saddle I was sitting on would soften up. In her expert opinion it fitted us both perfectly. 3 months later and it has caused a massive amount of problems for me and my horse. My balance was completely off, the seat was too small for me, my legs were in completely the wrong place. I genuinely thought a saddle fitter's job was to fit you and your horse. Anyway I got another saddle fitter out a few weeks ago, fitted me with a brand new saddle and the difference in me and my horse is amazing!

Over the last 3 months I repeatedly contacted the saddle fitter expressing my concerns, what can be done, is there anything she can do to help, can she buy it back from me etc etc. She was no help whatsoever and I was fobbed off repeatedly. So I decided in the end to accept that I would be at a loss and put it on Ebay. Turns out the person who has bought it (after some investigating on my part!) is the saddle fitters boyfriend, whom is obviously acting on her behalf, and she will sell on for a profit no doubt... so I am furious. I find it all really under hand and deceitful and wonder if I have enough to complain, and if so, who can I complain to?
 
LouiseG said:
So 3 months ago I bought a brand new ex demo Saddle Company saddle, fitted my horse fine and probably through my own naivety and excitement over getting my new horse, I accepted from the saddle fitter that the uncomfy and hard saddle I was sitting on would soften up. In her expert opinion it fitted us both perfectly. 3 months later and it has caused a massive amount of problems for me and my horse. My balance was completely off, the seat was too small for me, my legs were in completely the wrong place. I genuinely thought a saddle fitter's job was to fit you and your horse. Anyway I got another saddle fitter out a few weeks ago, fitted me with a brand new saddle and the difference in me and my horse is amazing!

Over the last 3 months I repeatedly contacted the saddle fitter expressing my concerns, what can be done, is there anything she can do to help, can she buy it back from me etc etc. She was no help whatsoever and I was fobbed off repeatedly. So I decided in the end to accept that I would be at a loss and put it on Ebay. Turns out the person who has bought it (after some investigating on my part!) is the saddle fitters boyfriend, whom is obviously acting on her behalf, and she will sell on for a profit no doubt... so I am furious. I find it all really under hand and deceitful and wonder if I have enough to complain, and if so, who can I complain to?
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Now you've sold it I doubt there is anything you can do.

Hindsight's wonderful but at the point of being fobbed off repeatedly, I'd have gone to Trading Standards. Saddles are not cheap and no doubt you have lost a lot of money.

Is the saddle fitter registered with a trade body/SMS etc?
 
She is ISFA approved? I only just sold it on eBay yesterday, they have paid me for it so I have emailed her letting her know that I am aware of what has happened and could she please collect it from my yard to save me the hassle of posting it. Reputation is everything to small businesses and so is word of mouth. I certainly wont be recommending her to anyone, that's for sure. I lost about £250, not to mention the expense of getting a new saddle. She will make money off me when she sells it on, at my expense... for the second time! What a mug I am! :mad: Thankfully my new saddle fitter has been fantastic!
 
How good is your ebay account?

If you don't have a lot of feedback/reputation to lose just refuse to sell to them and take the NPS strike. Keep copies of all correspondence and still go to trading standards.

I would have done a listing saying what you have above, no names but your area is in the listing.

If they paid by Paypal you must not allow them to collect. You have no protection from Paypal on the collected item, only if sent by a tracked means, and it is not unusual for a less ethical buyer to claim the payment back after collecting as the seller cannot provide tracking.

Refund...
 
I gather the ISFA is an association and not sure it can qualify or register anyone, and it certainly seems there is no consumer protection from them. If she is a SC approved fitter then I would contact the company.
 
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