Is it true what they say about Tiny Computers?

Tiny.com

28th Febuary 2005

Tiny.com is an online company that says it can provide you with the latest technology, from plasma screens to computers. Since November last year, approximately 200 viewers have written to Watchdog to tell us that this tiny company has caused them enormous problems.

John Mitchell ordered a £2000 Tiny.com plasma screen but on arrival saw that the screen was cracked all the way round. He phoned and demanded a replacement, only to be sent another cracked screen 6 weeks later. It's now 20 weeks down the line, John still has a broken product and Tiny.com still have his money.

David Hall, another viewer, was watching football on his Tiny.com plasma screen when his TV blew up. His room was filled with smoke, but Tiny.com's answer to this problem was to ask him to plug it in and see if it would do it again. David is now too scared to touch it and Tiny.com haven't come to take it away, although he has been offered a refund.

Peter Ager ordered a Tiny.com computer, but on arrival it didn't work. He took it to a computer engineer who found 105 viruses and 350 spyware problems. In the opinion of the engineer, this brand new computer was in fact a second-hand machine. Peter is now considering legal action, which is exactly what Philip Hendry had to do.

The problem with Mr Hendry's computer lay in its DVD drive and monitor. He sent it back for Tiny.com to repair. When it was finally returned, it was still in the same packaging he had sent it in. It appeared that Tiny.com hadn't even opened the box - so he took them to court. He was awarded £300 but Tiny.com haven't paid up.

David Hotson, Head of Customer Care at Tiny.com, was interviewed on the programme. He said the company has taken steps to rectify the complaints of everyone featured in the Watchdog report. He also apologised to all Tiny.com customers who had similar experiences. He said the company strives for complete customer service.

He added that Tiny.com's returns rate for faulty televisions is less than half a per cent, which is better than the industry average.

Mr Hotson said David Hall should not have been instructed to turn on a television for a second time after it had broken down in smoke. Tiny.com is now addressing that issue.