A Cheadle cleaner is offering his services to help solve disputes over damaged items.
“Cleaners often end up having to pay the customer for the damage, knowing it is not their fault. They may have to take the item back to the retailer, which takes time or may have to send the item off to a laboratory in the hope that the report will be in their favour,” said Mr Malcolm Berger of Harry Berger Dyers & Cleaners, based in Cheshire.
Mr Berger, who has been in the business for 40 years, decided to put his experience of cleaning for the top end of the market to wider use. After having several dispute cases passed on to him by his local Trading Standards Office, he hit upon the idea of offering a professional analysis service for customers and cleaners who have been blamed for problems which are not their fault.
“We found we could produce reports, which in most cases, would satisfy all parties as to who was the cause of the problem,” Mr Berger said. “Because we are not a laboratory, our findings are based on observation.
“As we are also dyers, a lot of the problems of colour movement are easy for us to identify and solve—whether it is due to wear or tear, light degradation, gas fumes, shrinkage or delamination.” Confronted with a written report most customers will accept what is said, he explained. “If, however, the cleaner is at fault, they will have to bite the bullet and accept the blame,” Mr Berger said.
Most results can be obtained on average within a fortnight. Urgent replies can be provided over the phone within a few days.
Mr Berger estimates that 65% of problems are manufacturer-based, the other 25-30% are the fault of the cleaner.
He does not believe other cleaners will resent the service he is providing, saying his work is akin to a social service to the industry.
