Advice, order not delivered.

We made an ordar at a curtain shop in Central, for curtains to be made and an antique chair seat which we left with them to be recovered.

The lady in the shop checked there was enough material at the time for the order.

This order made on 19th February 2011.

The lady wanted half the payment up front, which was 7,000 hkd, which we paid by credit card.

The note on the invoice said 3-4 weeks for completion, after 4 weeks was up we emailed the shop owner, after a few days she replied saying that there wasn't enough of the material I ordered, and she would have to wait for a new consignment to come in.

Also another email stated the seat cushion was not complete, because the upholsterers she uses prefer to complete large orders first, like 3 piece suites.

On 1st April, we got an email stating the order would be complete within 2 weeks, we still have not heard from her.

Is there a small claims type court in Hk, where we could at least claim our money back (7.000 HKD), and of course get the seat back for the antique chair, this is getting very silly, and the service is very poor after 9 weeks of feeble excuses.

If they have lost or mislayed the seat for the antique chair, then that is another problem as it would cost a lot more to have a new one made to fit the chair.

How does the law stand in HK, if we had to hire a lawyer, who would be liable for the costs, as they are clearly at fault.

You could go to the small claims tribunal. But that is very hectic. Try threatening them with going to the court and giving them free publicity by going to the newspapers. That should work...

Thanks RA, but I would like to know if anybody else has had a similar experience, ie money handed over, goods not delivered.

I would like to know what can be done legally, and the proceedure, and who is liable for charges in HK.

I am getting very tired of waiting and the feeble excuses of this shop.

I purposefully have not included their name, in case we take proceedings.

I think due to the last email I sent the lady in the shop, asking in a stronger way for completion of the order has worked. She says it will be ready for collection on Saturday, we are just keeping our fingers crossed and hoping this is true.

If we make the journey there and for some reason don't get the 'goods', then we will give them 7 days, and sue if nothing turns up.

She - the shop owner may have seen this thread also, and realised it was her shop I was talking about, although I never mentioned any names.

Her shop will not get any recommendation from me in the future, indeed I will share my experience if asked.