Mac Allister Petrol Brush Cutter 25.44cc

I purchased this Machine - (a B&Q own brand "MacAllister Petrol Brush cutter 25.44cc")in the summer of 2012 to clear an overgrown garden area. Although overgrown it was a flat area and the machine, using the 3 point solid blade did a good job. For the rest of the year I was able to keep it maintained with a lawn mower so after cleaning it I put the Brush Cutter into my dry secure garage until needed. In Spring of 2013 the area had become to overgrown to use a lawn mower so I decided to use the Brush Cutter, but after just 5 mins it gave a bit of a cough & splutter and cut out. I checked and double checked everything but simply could not start it again. I contacted B&Q where I purchased the machine less than 12 months prior but as I could unfortunately not find the receipt, they did not want to know. I had to take the machine to a local reputable Mower center (Newton Mowers) who advised me that the "coil" was broken and would need a new one. Unlike most makes of Brush Cutter the part required was not readily available and they had to order it and it had to be shipped from Italy. I had to wait 3 months for the repair which cost me £80.00 and I had to hire a machine to cut my grass in the mean time. We now move forward to Spring 2014 and I got the machine out of the garage prepared it and started it. About 30 mins later when I was about half way through the job in hand the Handlebar which has the throttle mechanism on it came away from the rest of the machine which meant that I was unable to use it. When I stopped the motor and looked at the machine I could see that the bracket that held the handlebar on to the main shaft had literally fallen apart and 4 metal lugs that fitted into the plastic section of the bracket had actually snapped off. Again I contacted B&Q and it was the same story, I had no receipt so they did not want to know. I asked them if I could purchase a new bracket to enable me to repair it and I was told that they "did not supply parts for this machine" despite the fact that it is marketed as their own brand machine. I wrote several emails to B&Q Customer Services and got replies from several Customer Service employees who all said the same thing in slightly different ways - Unless I could show them proof of: "The store in which the purchase was made.

The date of the purchase.

The total amount spent in the transaction.

The last four digits of the card number used in the transaction."

I told them the following in reply :

"In relation to your latest questions, here are the replies:

The Card I used to make the purchase was a Barclays Visa Debit Card. As this card is used on a daily basis for groceries, fuel, etc..etc.., I have had 2 Cards issued since 2012 and each card when issued has a different Card Number, so I am unable to provide this information.

I Did not keep the receipt and did not make a note of the date in my diary, so I am unable to provide this information.

Again, as I did not keep the receipt I am unable to provide this information.

Not that it will do me any good, but all I can tell you is what I have already told you, and I can assure you that it is correct and truthful. - The machine was purchased in mid/late 2012 at the Bridgend B&Q Store and cost in the region of £130.00"

In response to yet another similar email from B&Q, as they don't appear to read the case history of what other Customer Service operators said to me and what my reply was, I said "Thank you for your email. First of all - Have you actually read my emails/complaints? Judging by what you are now requesting it would appear not. This is one extract from what I have already provided - "It's a shame that I had enough confidence in the machine not to keep the receipt etc.., because it would at this moment in time be within that 2 Year Warranty/guarantee period". In the circumstances I am therefore obviously unable to provide a copy of my original receipt as you have now requested. If I had it I would obviously have provided it by now, but I can assure you that it was purchased in 2012 from the Bridgend B&Q Store."

In the end I told them it was to stressful and that I would fix the machine using brackets available on ebay for other makes of Brush Cutter and that if they were not even prepared to apologise for selling me what was in effect a use twice throw away machine which was "Not fit for purpose" I did not want any further stressful emails. I did however advise them that I would be writing full reviews of the product and their total lack of Customer Service on various Review sites to try and stop other people buying the same dreadful machine.