Hattie

After checking MSE Cheap Energy Club, I decided to switch from my current supplier to Fuse. I went through a direct cashback link. At first, I was sent an email to say the direct debit had been set up (nothing about cashback) and I did think “a bit keen” but then I received an email demanding an upfront payment of £500. At no point was this mentioned on sign up and, as a user at the address for the past 10 years, and having switched before, this has never happened. A terrible company who ask for large sums on sign up without adequate explanation. Avoid.

I had an appointment for an Eye Examination (with NHS entitlement) at the Bexleyheath branch costing £65.00, which I understood included tests extra to a routine NHS exam.
The optician was cordial and seemed to carry out an eye exam with the same elements as I have received at other opticians, although totally under NHS funding. The optician was aware I was a cancer patient in remission.
During the tests at no time did I see the optician sanitise her hands or any piece of equipment even the machine requiring direct contact with the eye area. In fact, I was urged to press my eye nearer. Having had tests for decades I have never witnessed a lack of hygiene on such a level.
After the exam, I saw a dispensing optician but I informed him I already had a new frame at home. Despite this he asked me to choose a frame “like the one I had” and pointlessly made marks on my existing glasses which he later cleaned off. The point of the exercise seemed to be a sale of VisionPlan, a scheme which I later worked out was money losing in my case. I was quoted the cost of a medium quality lens totalling nearly £800. I declined.
On returning home, I sent an email requesting a prescription detailing my recall date and my pupil distance. I received a revised prescription but no PD. I then sent another email to ask for the PD. I then had a phone call from the manager who explained they refused, which I accepted. At this point and due to that condescending call where the manager could clearly hear I was trying to deal with a caller at my door, but persevered, I really felt that I was being treated like some disadvantaged oik who was not their type. Within a day of attending the exam, my eyes were sore but I put this down to the drops that the optician had administered. But then my eyes streamed and I realised there was something a bit more than that, needing medical attention.
I emailed the practice informing them about my reservations on hygiene standards and was then told they were confident that their cleaning protocols were consistently followed. I don’t know how they can be so sure but perhaps they have cameras in every room - I doubt it. On the whole, my Linklaters’ experience was vile, lacking any form of customer service awareness, unhygienic and unpleasant. I will not be returning and I would advise anyone else to avoid.

Computershare are a dangerous company. They have created links with US companies on the false pretext that they can deal with international shareholders when they actually can't. Their computer system is inadequate rendering access from abroad impossible. This results in them misappropriating vast sums of money from overseas clients who were forced to use them when (as employees) their companies created shareholder schemes.

I will be transferring from this bank asap. Looking on my ISA recently, it stated my contributions this tax year were £0. I immediately paid money in as I was almost certain I had paid in but it’s a bank, and they have to be right? I subsequently transferred and the new ISA provider rejected the “extra” as I had previously used my allowance. When challenged, Monument said they were unable to check. So, lazy, dangerously inaccurate and full of faults in the app… no thanks.

If I could give minus stars I would. They think they’re so clever, don’t they? Wonder who it was that suggested only providing a telephone number to a foreign call centre (and no other contact details) would deter customers from complaining? And when you call that distant centre, no complaint reference number, just a foreign bloke who couldn’t care less. Wonder who it was that said “we’ll say we’ll get back to you” (but really we won’t) because we don’t have any obligation, what the hell, they’re only customers. Wonder who it was who said let’s act like a cowboy outfit with absolutely no obligation or observation of consumer rights and to hell with those customers? Having had the horrendous experience I did with their “service” I am seriously considering taking these uncaring, money grabbing cowboys to court. No doubt Asda, you wont reply, you’re good at that. Let’s see if you do it when you receive a summons.

Treatwell is excellent for finding and booking numerous hard-to-find beauty/hair treatments (e.g. Dry Hair Cut) in a particular locale. Before I found them, it would take me ages to call and find an appropriate salon. This way, I have found some really talented people.

Have always found APC a reliable delivery firm. Drivers are courteous, polite, timely and intuitive - which sets the company above the others.

I have had deliveries from APC for some years now. Excellent delivery company. Very reliable. Friendly and efficient drivers.

I am one of the dual fuel customers forced to transfer to EDF from Utilita with very little notice. I am sure that EDF rubbed their hands thinking that they could extract new imposed standing charges (with bills at least 3x higher) from customers who had previously been on a zero standing charge account with when they dud this deal. EDF have proved deceptive and dishonest during this process. Even if we take the dual fuel handover which they informed their new influx of reluctant customers had taken place in their letters, this was not the case. Electricity was sold to EDF but gas (mine and no doubt many others’) was sold to the defunct company London Power. EDF then chose to deceive customers in their correspondence with incorrect representation, saying the handover was complete and attempting to charge them for a fuel they were not demonstrably not providing, with no explanation given. This has been a nasty, underhand deal from the outset with only profits in mind. No respect for customers shown at all. Who wants to be dumped with a company that are dishonest from the start.

Despite their incredibly (outside UK) unhelpful call centre, I had been a satisfied customer of Utilita for several years due to the reasonable no-standing-charge monthly credit tariff which suited my requirements. Due to a misguided, brutal decision in October 2025, all credit customers like myself were unceremoniously and with little notice, dumped on standing-charge tariffs we did not want with EDF, thus massively increasing our bills. I tried to remain with Utilita’s no-standing-charge, conceding to booking a PAYG smart meter to be fitted, this fitting was then cancelled by very late, forcing me against my wishes to transfer to EDF to whom Utilita passed my private bank details. Customers have been treated like dumb commodities to be bought and sold between these companies and it is a disgrace that Ofgem allowed this deal to be brokered in the first place. I hope heads roll at both companies due to the misery and hardship they have caused. Note: Call as much as you like. In typical Utilita inefficiency, you have the wrong number.

I used checkatrade for years, Since the sale of the company there has been a marked deterioration. Vetting is meaningless, the Guarantee is hard work, and the site is now full of cowboys, upsellers, and amateurs who damage property whilst quoting to justify unnecessary work. Before I finally called it a day with checkatrade, I asked for a guttering expert to quote and a window cleaner turned up and that was only one in a series of time-wasting exercises. It is no longer a safe or reputable place to find a tradesperson. I will never use Checkatrade again and strongly advise others to look elsewhere, be they genuine tradesmen or homeowners.

Interesting, varied surveys and a fair rewards system.

I believe that Central Tickets has a good variety of shows to choose from and has the edge on other agencies. I’ve seen and enjoyed many shows at London venues that otherwise I would not have been able to afford to go to.

Edited Review: The “price promise” does not apply to weightloss medications. Simple Online charge whatever they like under the guise that their elusive discount vouchers will attract customers. Truth is, other bona fide online pharmacies are selling at significantly cheaper prices, even after Simple’s vouchers are applied. I was recently sent a pen which was inexplicably detained by the courier DPD and delivered after any cooling had failed. After several complaints, I eventually received a response offering me a replacement but not before having the phone put down on me on one occasion, in a ridiculous attempt to pretend the line had died. They did used to be good but I presume the business just became too big and the dangerous lack of monitoring is apparent. I’m sorry Simple Online, I can’t edit my review to be glowing but I hope this helps to address issues that are redeemable. N.B. As you appear to respond the best through these reviews, how about refunding the £19 I overpaid last time, when I was duped into thinking your discount voucher and price promise made you the cheapest?

I booked an appointment with TLS Solicitors in Hanover Square via Free Wills Month and travelled in from Kent, arriving on time with ID and all paperwork completed. I reported to reception, where the (very helpful) receptionist sent two messages to TLS to let them know I had arrived. When there was no response, he even went up to their office in person.

Despite this, no one came to meet me or made any effort to apologise or explain. I was left sitting in the shared reception area for 30 minutes and eventually gave up and left—angry, upset, and feeling completely disrespected.

I later received a voicemail—after I had already gone. Their excuse? That both staff were in a meeting together which “overran.” They didn’t prioritise a client who had travelled and waited patiently, and even with multiple messages and a personal visit from reception, they failed to respond. It’s hard not to wonder whether this would have happened if I hadn’t been using the Free Wills scheme.

Utterly unprofessional. Based on my experience, I would never trust them with anything, free or paid.

I booked a pick-up for return of goods for a Monday. Waited in all day only to find the liar of a driver had claimed attempt to pick-up was made around middle of the day, providing zero proof an attempt had been made, other than “creating” a time he had tried. Absolutely useless company.

Unfortunately, Debenhams, who had a fairly good reputation, has deteriorated to nothing more than a bad drop-shipping company. Here’s how it works. They sell various other company’s goods but advertise them on their site to give a veneer of respectability. The other company send you their inferior, overpriced wares with no packing note and you are lumbered. When you try to contact Debenhams (contrary to your consumer rights) they will say they are contacting the third party and awaiting a reply. And they hope you will get so fed up that you go away. Result: You’re lumbered with nothing like what you would have purchased in the first place and Debenhams have got away with it and your hard earned cash. What a lamentable epitaph for a company that once had physical stores and has now been reduced to this.

Have now read response: nothing like suggesting your customers are alcoholics or drug addicts (of which I am neither) to win customers over, is there.

The “Our Story” section of Sentia’s website makes the involvement of Prof. David Nutt high on the list. I’m very surprised that, with his reputation, he would put his name to this product. But perhaps I was wrong about him. Other than having an efficient courier service, I can say little for this company, or their product, other than the fact that it’s a complete rip-off in an attractive, well-packaged bottle. Reading the list of ingredients (I purchased the “Gold”) it’s fundamentally a combination of herbal products that can easily be bought for a much lower price in a health shop. I was duped by the fact that no actual strengths are included and I hoped that the recipe formed some sort of “winning combination” alcohol substitute with an “effect”, as customers are led to believe. It isn’t. The taste is bitter and Sentia advise you to use 25ml per serving. I mixed this with two zero alcohol mixers and the taste was still bitter “meh”. As for the effect for your £32 - there is none. The only reason I went ahead and purchased Sentia’s product were the credentials of the professionals associated with it, because I believed they had integrity. What a waste of money. Next time I feel like splashing out for an occasion, I’ll go to a reputable supermarket and spend my hard-earned cash on a few bottles of a reliable drink and consume it responsibly. No more snake oil for me, thank you.

This is a basic-enough experience but it shows why John Lewis should exist in perpetuity. I visited their Oxford St. store last week. Simple enough mission: to buy a replacement for a glass for a JL one I had broken the week before. That assistant made me feel really relevant, really special. That is what good retail is all about.

I am updating this post on 6/2/2025. Do not use this company the PAYG 1p advertised on MSE for SMS/Data/Calls Package is a COMPLETE FRAUD. In addition, I have never been able to gain internet access. Calls are randomly charged at varying prices but are never 1p a minute. I have now been with them for two months and for 3 short (average 20min) calls they have disposed of £9.

Previously posted: This company just got worse and worse. They omit to tell you that the conditions of the 1p per minute/text/data only lasts for one month. As I just needed the most basic PAYG plan, I didn’t use the sim in the first month, after which, calls became wildly expensive. Then, I topped up with £10, made no activity in the following 4 days, only to discover the balance had reduced to £6.48. DO NOT USE this MSE recommended company.

TalkHome company was recommended by Money Saving Expert as a top pick. It may have been cheap in their rating but you do get what you pay for and the service is bad. Having requested my port in many days before and my agreement to start on 2 December, I signed in to top up to see that they hadn’t been arsed to do the port in and I was told (by chat) that it wouldn’t begin until the third. Having seen the other negative reviews on this website, I do wish MoneySavingExpert would check these services out and just not say “top pick” when they have no customer perspective on how the companies they recommend actually behave or treat their customers. 3/12 Update: Now on 2nd day of not porting in and these idiots have asked Trustpilot for verification. Obviously they’re more concerned by what they look like than helping customers.