Problems with Rathwood Garden Furniture and firewood

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Des Pondent said:
They are still taking full payment for goods and not delivering. There are many who have paid for their winter fuel and are not getting it and might not be able to buy elsewhere as they cannot get a refund from Rathwood. This has been going on since at least the start of this year and nothing has changed. It is inexcusable to knowingly treat their customers like this.
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They're just not giving refunds without excessive calls. I've called twice, got through, got promised the refund and nothing. I've already initiated a chargeback request which the bank said they'll do soon.
 
A few people who ordered and waited it out have had deliveries. I wouldn't trust them again though, I'm gone.
 
I ordered from Rathwood a loft bed on dec 26 two weeks no update on the delivery and asked for refund and again two weeks telling me it’s pending and no sign off my refund onto 3 weeks now and still no refund absolute disgrace with no bed no money they should not be allowed run a business !
 
ciarab19 said:
I ordered from Rathwood a loft bed on dec 26 two weeks no update on the delivery and asked for refund and again two weeks telling me it’s pending
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Their reviews are appalling and its now a tirade of what seem to be very genuine one star reviews from extremely frustrated customers. I'd guess that they use a 3rd party answering service for queries due to the numerous different names mentioned and always first name and then first letter of surname. Similarly, replies on their Trustpilot reviews are a copy and paste job in most cases.

https://ie.trustpilot.com/review/www.rathwood.com

I would go the chargeback route on this as that will get the funds back to you more quickly and simply
 
m.independent.ie

Rathwood ordered to refund customers for undelivered goods after consumer watchdog investigation

The consumer watchdog has ordered Rathwood Home and Garden World to refund customers who cancelled their orders after their goods were not delivered.
m.independent.ie m.independent.ie
In order to avoid further enforcement action from the CCPC, Rathwood was forced to sign a legally binding commitment promising to refund all customers who purchased goods between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, cancelled as a result of non-delivery, and had still not been refunded by March 5, 2026 – except those already refunded through chargeback.

The refunds had to be issued by Rathwood by no later than April 2, 2026.

Rathwood also promised to provide the CCPC with a full list of customers impacted by these issues by no later than April 9, 2026.

The CCPC said they formally accepted Rathwood’s legally binding written promise on March 5, 2026.
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The CCPC when faced with plenty of evidence of contempt for consumers accepted a written undertaking instead of using their more considerable powers. Very poor from the regulator. I would not call them a watchdog. A lapdog more like.
 
www.irishtimes.com

Ryanair and Rathwood are the most complained about companies in Ireland

Currys, Sky and Eir also drew ire of customers who contacted State body for help
www.irishtimes.com www.irishtimes.com

Rathwood by contrast is a much smaller operator. It has been in business from premises on the Wicklow-Carlow border for just over 30 years and attracted 565 complaints, up from just 14 in 2024.

Last year it emerged that customers who bought products, including garden furniture and firewood, through Rathwood’s website were left waiting months for orders to be delivered, with many rescheduled on multiple occasions.

It blamed delivery issues on the closure of a key supplier and said it was restructuring its supply chain. However, the problems continued throughout last winter with many affected customers contacting the CCPC to highlight delays and difficulties in making contact with the company.

Last week the CCPC said Rathwood had signed legally binding commitments and agreed to issue refunds to consumers who bought products on its website before cancelling the orders over delivery delays.
 
DeeKie said:
The CCPC when faced with plenty of evidence of contempt for consumers accepted a written undertaking instead of using their more considerable powers. Very poor from the regulator. I would not call them a watchdog. A lapdog more like.
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I think a legally binding agreement to refund everyone who has not been refunded within 30 days (of March 2nd) is a good outcome.

Details of all customers affected are also to be supplied and that will likely see reference checks by the CCPC.

At the end of the day, getting refunds to customers is the priority and that has been done.

The only other option is to go the very expensive legal route that is very unlikely to result in any further penalties if the company could show that all refund had been completed. The exceptionally bad publicity they are getting from these reports is massive punishment in itself - without the tax payer funding the legal bill of court action. Win Win
 
Arnotts used to supply Garden Furniture using Rathwood but have switched to Caseys Furniture.

I bought garden furniture from Arnotts/Rathwood 2 years ago and had no problems with delivery.
 
peemac said:
think a legally binding agreement to refund everyone who has not been refunded within 30 days (of March 2nd) is a good outcome.
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It’s certainly a cheap way of getting credit. I wonder would the CCPC pursue the undertaking legally. Rathwood have not honoured consumer contracts but the CCPC thinks it will honour a contractual undertaking to the regulator?! We shall see. And we shall judge if the CCPC does not any further action.
 
A representative of Rathwood was on the RTÉ TV News earlier trying to reassure people.
 
The commentary on Rathwood on Liveline over the past two days and the testimonies of a whole slew of people still waiting on refunds doesn't bode good. Definitely doesn't sound like they have abided by the CCPC ruling in any case

Sounds like they have a Filipinio call centre handling their "customer service" queries at the moment and the only hope of getting a refund is to either threaten that you are going on Liveline or go down in person to Rathwood (One caller went down and got her refund in cash, right down to the change in coins handed to her. She also demanded the cost of her fuel to get there but was refused, but she did get a token for a cup of coffee!!!)

Their appalling business model over the past two years seems to have been a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul and now in spite of their proclamations that they have secured sufficient funding earlier this year to meet all refund obligations, but even that doesn't strike one as good business acumen to be so indebited as to have to throw a huge chunk of new financing at historical refunds.

Also seems their website is still offering considerable discounts and buy now pay later deals and also their PR claims that they have handed out thousands of vouchers for next Christmas's Santa spectacular, which very much smacks of more kicking the can further down the road. One wouldn't have too much faith of them even being around next Dec, especially if one takes on the online hearsay reporting that staff have been already told they expect to go into liquidation in the near future.
 
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Have just put in chargeback claim with revolut. They accepted my claim within minutes and have started dispute..Hoping they get my money back before it goes into liquidation.
 
Continued here

Examiners appointed to Rathwood

Rathwood goes into examinership, says it is ‘not in a position’ to issue customer refunds https://www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2026/04/25/rathwood-goes-into-examinership-says-it-is-not-in-a-position-to-issue-customer-refunds/ The statement went on to say that “at this time, we regret that we...
www.askaboutmoney.com
 
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