Trading standards investigates St Albans florist (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Trading standards investigates St Albans florist

4:50pm Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

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HERTFORDSHIRE Trading Standards has admitted it is investigating a St Albans florist following a litany of complaints about the service by unhappy customers.

Kenny Crouch, director of The Flower People Ltd, based in Waddington Road, has denied the allegations by dissatisfied customers.

Grieving widow Barbara Wright wants to see the company shut down after she claims it delivered dead flowers and an inappropriate message three days after her husband died.

Instead of words of condolence attached to the bouquet, Mrs Wright was confronted with the message: "To my darling sexy chick, love always and forever. Your tall dark handsome fiance."

Mr Crouch has since apologised to Mrs Wright and sent a fresh bouquet of flowers as a token of amends, but the pensioner says "the damage has been done".

The 85-year-old from Teignmouth, Devon, is among dozens of irate customers from across the globe who claim to have experienced problems with the firm.

It appears the florist has traded under several names, all of which have copped a barrage of criticism on the internet.

Many claim money is debited from their bank accounts, but the flowers fail to turn up. Other dissatisfied users say the bouquets were delivered in a poor state and some complain of orders arriving late. The company, customers also say, fail to respond to their grievances.

Defending his business, Mr Crouch said: "One of the major challenges with all flower delivery companies, is that 50 per cent of recipients are out, which often means a resend of flowers.

"As in most cases the flower gift is of a sensitive nature, birthdays, and anniversaries, so forums are a common place to place a complaint.

"This does not mean that flowers are not delivered or refunds are not made.

"Trading standards are working with us, we hope to achieve the fewest complaints for an online flower company.

"As the review centre suggests we are achieving this goal."

Hertfordshire Trading Standards say they have received several complaints about the service and officers have been working with the firm to improve its practices. The number of complaints, trading standards say, has reduced in the last couple of months as a result.