COURT UP IN A CON-TRACT; Cancellation fees snare homes show punters: INVESTIGATE.

Byline: Penman; Sommerlad

TAKING a customer to court is usually a last resort - so why has Richard Wood done it more than 150 times?

He's director of The Jumbrolly Company which exhibits fancy thatched summer houses at shows around the country.

Jeanette O'Kane met Wood at last year's Ideal Home Show. Their versions of what happened are very different.

She says Wood convinced her to sign a piece of paper to "secure" a price of pounds 7,000 - a pounds 2,000 discount - promising if she changed her mind she could phone to cancel.

"He also said I should not worry if I couldn't get hold of him as he was busy at the show and we could leave a message," Jeanette told us. When she found the summer house wouldn't fit in her Fareham, Hants, garden Jeanette claims she left a message cancelling.

"I heard nothing until three months later when I received a message telling me the summer house was ready for delivery."

UNHAPPY Jeanette's now being sued by Wood, who told the court: "They were definite they wanted a summer house and I went through a full specification with them."

He says he told Jeanette to "read carefully" the form she signed which explained she could cancel within 14 days in writing.

Other unhappy homeowners include Debbie Rock, of Salisbury, Wilts, who met Wood at the 2006 Ideal Home Show.

She says: "We were hoping to move house and Mr Wood told us that we could sign a form to secure the show price without a commitment to buy.

"One week later, the house sale fell through and we wrote and emailed telling him we didn't need the summer house."

They're now being sued for just under pounds 6,000.

Police officer David Mason was also tempted in 2007 but said he explained he couldn't afford it at the time. He says Wood offered an option to purchase the summer house the following year.

Instead, when 2008 came around he was told that the summer house was ready for delivery. He says he was was threatened with court action, though in his case this was never started.

According to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, Jumbrolly has summoned at least 154 parties to the county court since 2003.

Richard Wood insisted customers signed a clear order form and said that court action is taken to recover costs on summer houses.

"Only when customers won't pay a 10 or 15% cancellation fee and after we offer interest-free credit and putting off the work for a year do we issue proceedings."

He added that following a visit from Hampshire Trading Standards the company changed its terms and conditions and there have been no complaints since.

Trading Standards said: "We're keen to hear from anyone who feels they were misled into signing a contract. Call 08454 040506.""He said I should not worry if I couldn't get hold of him and to leave a message"

CAPTION(S):

PATTER Wood at homes show