Dear Claudienne,

I purchased a sofa from Singer Company (Portmore branch) in December 2012. It appeared fine for some

time. However, by November/December 2013 I noticed that the section where you rest your back had started to crack up. By this time I had completed the payment on it. I reported the matter to the manager of the branch in December 2013, only to be told that there was nothing that they could do about it.

I think this is grossly unfair as this sofa was relatively expensive to me and was not used excessively. The rest of it, including the seats, seems intact and is still relatively new. It seems to me that the sections that are cracking up, peeling and further deteriorating were defective from the factory. It is very unsightly and I have to be using cushions to cover up the damaged areas.

The manager at the Portmore Singer branch referred me to an upholstery man who does work for the company, but I cannot afford that at the moment.

Could you kindly look into the matter for me?

AC

Dear AC

Tell Claudienne contacted the Singer head office in Kingston and spoke to the general manager.

After researching your complaint, the general manager advised us by e-mail on February 4 that she had written to Ashley Industries in the USA and “requested that they assist us in resolving the matter. We have asked that they respond within

24-48 hours”.

On February 10, Singer told us that Ashley had responded and said the company would be given a credit note for

the product.

We note that Singer has contacted you and assured you that they would replace the sofa. We see that you have spoken with the general manager and that you are in the process of choosing

a replacement.

Good luck.

Dear Claudienne

My son died last year and although I had difficulty in finding the money to bury him, the funeral home was paid the money that they charged for the burial expenses. In December I got assistance from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for the burial via a funeral grant of $25,000, but a condition was that the cheque had to be made payable to the funeral home. Since I did not owe the funeral home any money they agreed to refund me the $25,000, but even though they got the cheque and changed it I have not been paid the money. Several promises for payment have been made to me, but so far I have not received the money.

Could you please help me as I desperately need the money.

DR

Dear DR

Tell Claudienne contacted the funeral home and we note that you received the $25,000 cash on Wednesday

February 5.

Good luck.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com.