Deluxe Hire UK Steal your deposit - (nor hire out all of the agreed equipment, but keep the pre-paid money nevertheless) London, Internet

Rented via Bebe at Deluxe Hire 2 large coffee machines and 5 thermos pots for a school event in November 2012.  A deposit of 100 was made in addition to the hire cost plus VAT.  I am a thorough person and made sure to follow up a day or two before the event at which time I was told that they couldn't supply the coffee makers due to a previous client not returning them.  I therefore had to scurry around and find a replacement, pay more delivery charges/deposits and so on.  They did deliver the thermo pots as agreed. Directly after the event,  I took special care to wash, completely dry, pack in original packaging each one of those thermos pots myself.  I placed the large box with several large labels on it so it would not be difficult to locate,  in a front office adhering to the T&C's.  4 days after the event the box still hadn't been collected.  Not until I phoned and complained.  Bebe said they were having "logistics issues."

I followed up to chase a refund for the coffee pots (charged and never delivered) and VAT as well as the 100 deposit and also requested a refund of one of the two delivery charges since I had to hire the coffee machines from another vendor and Deluxe Hire caused inconvenience by not collecting on the agreed upon date.  All of my 4 emails have remained unanswered.  I did catch Bebe on the phone only once and in an exasperated tone, said she was standing in the middle of the street and couldn't discuss it.  It sounded as though it was not a one-off as she had no idea of which customer was calling to complain.  Since then I cannot get through to any phone number and it's now 3 moths after the event.  They owe me 139.60.

Do NOT do business with these people.