I've reminded myself why I try never to do business with Currys/PC World.

Spur of the moment thing I decided to get an iPad, PCW do finance and are the nearest stockist. Firstly they had an offer where you get a free sim card with 1Gb data, only the branch didn't have any three sims in stock. Not a problem I'll take one of the other mobile providers sims instead, no I can't do that as the offer is for a three sim. A bit of haggling later and they agreed I could have a different sim - only they didn't have ANY payg sims at all just contract ones. OK I'll have to come back for the sim when you get them in. No you can't, they have to be sold as part of the package, but if you don't have any then I'll have to come back, can you not give me a credit note or something ? NO. Well perhaps you can knock the value of the sim (£14.99) off the price, no we can't because it's 'free'. Which leads to the next part.

I also needed a case for the iPad, there was a cheap one for about £25. Seeing as I'm spending nearly £600 could they throw it in gratis, no, we're not allowed to discount Apple products. But it's not an Apple product, doesn't matter as it's being sold as part of a package which includes an Apple product. Again, not a problem, sell them seperately. No we can't do that. Why not ? Err, it's just something we can't do. Listen, I'm losing out on the sim card so why don't you give me the case as compensation, or knock a bit off the price ? 'Apple prevent us from doing deals'. But it's not an Apple product AARGH.

So being a bit disgruntled at losing out on the sim and not being able to do a deal I proceed to purchase, on finance. All goes well until I'm asked to provide a bank account for the direct debit, I was going to do it on a credit card but apparantly I can only pay the deposit on a card the rest of the payments have to come from a bank account. I've done DD's on credit cards before so I don't know what the problem was. I dont have those details with me so I'll have to come back, but before I do I don't have to bring all my proof of address and phone number back do I ? No you don't, it's all parked on the system and we'll just recall your details when you return.

A few hours later I go back. 'Have you got your phone bill to prove your number' ? No, you told me I didn't have to bring it back. 'We need the reference number off the bill'. But you already have it, I gave it you earlier and you stored it on the system. 'No, we just stored the items you wanted to buy, this is a new credit application'. At that I told them to just forget the whole thing and Ill go somewhere else where they're more organised, and mentioned that there was no wonder PCW's in such a state and the business is going down the pan.

It was a long time since I was last in a PCW store and it'll be even longer before I go back.

>> 've done DD's on credit cards before so I don't know what the problem was

No you haven't.

And silly you for a) buying an iPad from B) PCWorld on c) credit.

(If you must get a fondle slab on tick, Dabs and Ebuyer both do credit I think.)

                                                
                                                
                                                
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DD, continuous payment, whatever it's called - I just meant taking a regular amount each month. Can't see why that can't be done by PCW, I've got several companies that take a monthly payment by CC.

What really pisses me off is the total inflexibility of not getting a deal or discount. The sim card was a minor issue, but as the advertised deal was unavailable there was no offer to compensate me by reducing the price or throwing in something else gratis. I had to ask if they would consider it and the response was an outright NO. You'd have thought that in order to secure a £600 sale they would have offered some sort of sweetener, especially if asked.