Hillarys Blinds
reviews and complaints

Just wanting to air my views tried to get an appointment around my work commitments, but unfortunately they only do certain days and no evening appointments so couldn't even get a quote for conservatory blinds, what does it take to measure about 10minutes not much to ask is it, will not recommend hillarys to anyone, will take my business else where, i am based in norfolk

A sales man visited my home in 2016 and again in 2017.
The 2016 eylet curtains were fine but the kitchen blind never hung properly. It broke last week and the salesman was called to fix it. The kitchen blind still does not hang properly and looks like it wasn't cut on the' straight grain'. There are ripples in the fabric which needs replacing.

The bedroom vertical blinds were put up last week. I originally asked for a Roman blind or Roller blind x 4 to fit over each window. The blinds were to match the bathroom blind which was fitted in 2016 by Hillary's. The reason for a blind over each window was to hide a brick wall which is visible from the master bedroom to the left.
The salesman coerced me in to having vertical blinds. . I agreed so long as each vertical blind would operate independently of the other. What I got were two vertical blinds which meet in the centre and which don't operate independently of each other. The vertical blinds also take up too much space and want my original request to be agreed which is to have Roman or Roller Blinds.
I complained to Head office immediately after the salesman left.
I phoned customer services without any support and will now take this to the CEO of Hillarys blinds.
I would also like compensation for the distress caused. If Hillarys will not agree to my original request, the blinds can be removed and all plaster work and paint at each window remediated.

I would most certainly not recommend using this company to anyone, as they have had the most appalling and disorganised customer service I have ever experienced. I wanted to order a blackout blind for my 1 year old's bedroom - it has been over two months since I first contacted Hillarys and nothing has been sorted, due to a ridiculous number of confusions with appointments, lack of record keeping, differences between the website and reality and crossed wires between their staff. I have decided to go with a local blind company, even though the blinds are twice as expensive.

I paid a fortune to have blinds and curtains, I think the service rep got bored when he put up my bedroom ones, the pole and curtains came crashing down 2 nights ago leaving creased curtains, holes in the wall, plaster on the floor. When speaking to customer service for a urgent repair, they told me I had to wait 2 days. They didn't care, they take your money and sod the aftercare. I've been emailing them, told a manager would contact me back this morning to talk to me about my claim and to get someone here quicker. Oh look it's 15.47 no call, what a surprise. I have now emailed the CEO in the hope things get taken seriously. I doubt it. Believe me if you have problems seriously report it. Their prices are extortionate as well.

Hillarys have given me the worst and most upsetting customer experience in my life. I still tremble thinking about it, and to top it off, they don't even care. To put it simply, I had booked and paid for a blind. But I called one day with a concern. After the first adviser said he would help, he was lovely (and a Welsh lady called Jenny was lovely aswell and really understanding) they were looking into a resolution for me, I was happy, and then I got disconnected (probably completely accidentally) so I called back, the next guy that answered was just horrible! I felt really belittled and bullied all of a sudden! He wouldn't even listen to what I had to say! It all came out of nowhere. He didn't care, even when I explained the other guy was trying to help me so I just wanted to know where that was going as I had been disconnected, that's all, but he just wanted me gone. He was really domineering, I was shaking. So, I felt that I then had to complain about him, by email I think it was, someone (a manager I think) called me regarding the complaint, said she disagreed entirely that he was rude (she was just as domineering, speaking down to me, uninterested in what I had to say) and said they would be 'refunding me and closing my account'. I said so basically you don't want me as a customer anymore because I complained? She wouldn't say those words, like a politician, she would only say we are refunding you and closing your account, changing the words around...but the meaning was the same, basically to any simple minded person it means that I was dropped as a customer because I complained about an adviser that was rude to me. But of course she refused to say those words. Ridiculous. Sneaky. Domineering. I just didn't matter.All they had to do was apologise and try to move forward but they were incapable of any actual 'customer service'. There was no procedure. I was honestly shocked, shaking and really upset by the way I was spoken to. At the end I admit I lost it a bit and I swore at her, which in hindsight was wrong, I apologise. Because I am able to admit my wrongs, unlike Hillarys. I also wrote an email explaining my experience to the managing executive, or whomever he was, the man at the top, with no reply of course, also on Facebook they blocked me from commenting and deleted my post where I explained my experience. I have no idea how it even came to this! I was being understood and helped one minute and then the next minute this other guy came along! I was happy, I'm not one to complain and cause problems, I'm very understanding and reasonable, so I don't know why this guy suddenly started on me! Quite frankly I have never in my life come across such an awful service, I had been warned Hillarys weren't so good but I thought I'd try for myself, I'm sorry that I did! I used to be a manager for a telephone customer services dept, for 12 years, and I am fully aware of what it's like at the other end of the phone. As a result, as a customer I have never complained or lost my cool ever to anyone until that experience. Because that was completely out of order. With decent customer service that issue could have been resolved easily, just an apology, instead they tell you off, say you are wrong (even if she did disagree with me, we still could have moved forward, I said I was happy to) with a stern and dominating voice verging on bullying they then 'resolve' the issue by telling you you aren't welcome as a customer anymore. Just because you complained about the way you had been spoken to for no reason. Nice! Do you think that's right?I'll make sure that nobody I know ever goes to Hillarys for anything, it's just not worth being talked down to and upset over a pair of blinds!Sort out the customer services. There are some bully's and really overly dominating characters there that don't know how to give any kind of service. It's a blind shop not a team of bully bailiffs! They have never heard of being kind and amicable, understanding, listening, talking over problems and resolving issues calmly. Being stern is of course required in certain situations but being dictators, bully's, talking down to people is not on. Sometimes the customer is wrong as well, but that doesn't mean you speak to them in that way! Worst company there is. I am signing up to and posting on all review sites so that nobody else has the same horrible experience. Not that they will listen.Jenny O'Hara

I placed an order with Hillary's at the beginning of this year 2016, having looked at other companies. The Sales Rep visited, took relevant measurements, was very helpful and understanding, and assured me I would receive excellent service, and follow up calls. The blinds were fitted (without checking dates) around the end of March/beginning April 16. I noticed that there were damages to the edges/ends of the blinds where they had been made to measure. I took photographs and emailed them to Hillary's, I received no response at all, and was told when I called that the photos and emails had not been received, even though I had not received any email to say that the files were too big etc., etc.. it was confirmed that the photos had arrived, and that replacement blinds would be made and sent out. This took ages because the account manager appeared to be on vacation for a month, and it appeared that no other member of staff was covering her work/orders. There were no follow up calls on the part of Hillarys to advise this, I made all the calls, sent all the emails to get to the bottom of the problem. At long last a second set of blinds arrived MID JUNE 16, fitted and discovered they were also damaged. I advised Hillary's, the fitter advised the company. The Account Manager called to say sorry she had been on holiday (again) and could not understand why this had happened. I asked about quality control, which clearly is not apparent at the factory where they are produced and packed. A third set of blinds were ordered. More emails, more silence. A third blinds arrived for installation on Saturday 25th June 2016, to my amazement WERE DAMAGED. The fitter reported this and removed the blinds. To date I have received no further communication from Hillary's blinds, therefore I am intending to pursue a full refund. Liz Curzon - can be reached at [protected]@hotmail.com if you are also a customer that has had very poor service, quality of goods and no contact from Hillary's Blinds. Thanks for reading this complaint.

have had my bedroom roller blinds replaced 3 times as each time the blind has perforated badly on the left hand side. I have just been told that they will not be dealing with this issue.

I am extremely upset that with this decision and totally convinced this is down to the poor installation. The blinds are only used twice daily and I have been very careful in slowly opening & closing these blinds over time. The blinds inevitably get perforated on the left side.

I placed a reasonably sized order of vertical blinds + roller blind on the initial order & expected a quality installation. This decision is very upsetting & I am adamant that there is has been no issue with the quality of the blinds or in the usage of them but purely down to the installation where these blinds are cutting into the roller itself.

Will definitely not be recommending Hillarys to anyone as they are unwilling to resolve

I ordered my blinds with lovely rep - the fitter turned up with the blinds after one month of trying to organise a convenient date(not returning my calls, changes to dates etc.) I opened my door to the fitter how then flicked his cigarette in my front garden, stated he could not fit the shutters as he did not have enough time that day. He was rude, aggressive in his tone when i said i was not happy. He made me feel intimidated in my own home. I called customer service who whilst on the phone, heard him talking to me and instructed me to close the door on him. Hilary's then sent another fitter who was lovely but the upstairs bay window shutter has been measured incorrectly and the louvers do not open as they hit the window frames. I was told i would then need to wait another 3 months whilst another set of blinds are made up. that was in November 2015, i have been contacted by 6 different people within Hilary's to say that a fitter will arranged since then - It is now the end of March 2016- I am still awaiting a replacement. I have not heard anything in the past three weeks. DO NOT USE this company as all their fitters are NOT employed by Hilary's and they are all sub-contractors and can not be held accountable. I am now going to make a formal complaint to CEO for a complete refund - as i paid 2K 5 months ago...

Having had someone out in December to give me quotes, I ordered and paid for three Roman blinds and wooden shutters. I took the day off last Tuesday as they were to be fitted mid morning. By 11:30, I'd heard nothing so called to find out what was happening to be told they hadn't arrived at the warehouse so wouldn't be fitted that day. I complained about a wasted days holiday taken from work and that 'Graham' would call within a couple of days to discuss a new fitting date and a gesture of goodwill for time I had wasted. The call never came and today (Monday 7th March), I called to find out why Graham hadn't called me back and, believe it or not, got straight through to Graham who was not sympathetic to my plight and offered no gesture of goodwill or apology for my wasted time the previous week. When I asked for order to be cancelled and my business would be taken elsewhere, he told me that wouldn't be possible. It also wasn't possible to escalate my complaint. I am now communicating with my bank and lodging a grievance to try and get money back for goods not received. Do not use Hillarys blinds, they are dishonest and unreliable.

I placed an order with this company for shutters and blinds on 8th August 2015 due for fitting on 9th November, I was told that the shutters and blind were delayed due to bad weather in the South China Seas! and the new delivery date would be 8th December 2015, it is now 13th December and no communication from Hillary's blinds. The customer service department I am convinced does not exist, the person managing my order named Peter promised to write to me on 25th November to explain why I wouldn't be getting a refund of the deposit which I had paid on 8th August, and I am still waiting for this letter. Communication with this company is non-existent and the excuses for the delays are frankly laughable.

Please ask them to stop calling, they call regularly, sometimes two/three times daily. Recently I was sitting in hospice with my mum who has now passed away, I explained to them where I was and asked them nicely to remove my number from calling list. Calls stopped for approximately two days, since then they have started again. They should not be allowed to continue with this type of call

I ordered venetian blinds for new house rep from hillarys was nice so ordered venetian blinds. Fitted on time fitter was well mannered polite and blinds looked lovely. That evening when it got dark closed blinds all was well until i received a visitor and they told me you can see right into your hall when these are closed and true enough they do not close properly what is the point of having blinds that do not close properly. Complained gentleman came out to look and said wrong clips have been fitted and he will order correct ones but will take a couple of weeks but we can use holes already drilled they will be fine glad about that brand new house just moved into do not want holes all over it. Three weeks pass no one appears so phone again got call back sorry have not been in touch have men off sick one in hosp with septicemia but will come out sat. A different gentleman came out no that is the right clips on them so he fixed whatever was wrong and they still do not close and he has just drilled more holes into door. Easy enough to fix hole you might say but as im disabled i cant get down to fix them. Have just phoned again saying i want refund blinds are no good if they dont CLOSE

We ordered wooden Venetian blinds over 2/3 months ago now. The original fitter arrived to take measurements etc. He put all the necessary information into his machine and left, informing us the blinds would take 3/4 weeks. After 3/4 weeks after hearing nothing from the company, we contacted them only to be informed they had no knowledge of the order. Apparently, the fitters machine was broken and he faxed the order through, which in turn was lost. We have had the run around since, taken days off work for their imaginary 'engineer' to complete the fitting measurements before final fitting. No-one has turned up on the designated day after arranging time off.. It is a rental property and we have had to deal with the tenents fury of being without blinds for 3/4 weeks, to the point money has had to be deducted from their rent, all due to Hillarys incompetence. We are constantly contacting the company from mobiles at 14p per minute which angers me even further to find out when they are being fitted. We are now being told the material which the blind is made from is not in stock, with more ordered, but yet to be passed through their quality control. Excuse after excuse and still no blinds 3/4 months on. The windows themselves are 10ft tall and 6ft wide so the tenents anger is justified, no privacy whatsoever. We have also been passed onto one manager after the other to no avail. I wish we had never ordered anything from them let alone what we have. Their customer service is shoddy and incompetent. BTW still waiting for blinds to be fitted! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. I hear APPOLLO BLINDS are far superior.!

We have recently purchesed a considerable number of Hilarys 15mm Venitain Blinds. The product looks fine and the fitter was ok butr when we questioned about cleaning them, they could not provide us witrh any tool to do so.

I tried to speak to a manager to suggest that they consider how they can be effectively cleaned and they refusewd to hear me.

I regret to say that their customer service is so poor that had I known what I know nowe, I would not have placed our order with them. If it were my business, I'd listen to the customers needsa and provide the simple tool to clean between the blinds. What a disgrace they are.

I scheduled to have my blinds fitting on june 5th between 3pm and 5pm. We just bought a new house and our apartment lease was about to expire so we had two weeks to move out and move in.

No one showed up on june 5th. I called hillarys blinds to find out what happened to my appontment, and also to reschedule but they were not able to locate my order.

I already paid the deposit and still hoped they will fix the situation. But that didn't happened. I would not recommend this company.

We have recently purchesed a considerable number of hilarys 15mm venitain blinds. The product looks fine and the fitter was ok butr when we asked about cleaning them, they could not provide us witrh any tool to do so.

I tried to speak to a mananger to suggest that they consider how they can be effectively cleaned and they refusewd to hear me.

I regert to say that their customer service is so poor that had I known what I know nowe, I would not have placed our order with them. If it were my business, i'd listen to the customers needsa and provide the simple tool to clean between the blinds. What a duisgarace they are.

I have asked local advisor which country the headrails for vertical blinds are manufactured.

I was told they are made in nottingham.
I was told the blinds are made to measure.

Both statements are wrong and mis-leading!

The vertical blind headrails are made in china (very cheaply!) and are delivered in pre set widths. They are certainly not made to measure!

I arranged for Hillarys blinds to come out and give me an estimate for blinds. I ordered in November 2007, after hundreds of telephone calls, the blind arrived in first of week of Jan 2008. This is totally against their advertising which states they fit before Christmas or within 14 days of order. On the day the the blind arrived, the fitter realized just before fitting, that the blinds are of wrong size. This would mean the correct ones would have to be sent for fitting. The fitter had trouble getting through to the company on his mobile. Another week had gone by, I then phoned Hillary's, the telephonist was Wain, he was unhelpful and rude and said that no replacement has been ordered, and suggested whether I want to cancel the order. After waiting all this time he suggests that I cancel the order. I telephoned the fitter, he said he has discussed this with Hillary's and a replacement was ordered.

After many calls to Hillary's almost every day, the fitter arrived with the replacement blind on Jan 31st 2008, and susprise surprise they have sent the same incorrect size blind back. The fitter was furious, he phoned Hillary's straight away, again they were not helpful to him. He was told to contact his area manager to solve this problem. This means further delay for us.

The Company which advertises to fit blinds before Christmas or within 14 days could not fit one blind in 3 months. The service is extremely substandard, I strongly urge people not to get involved with Hillary's Blinds.

I have been let down by Hillarys not fulfilling the order correctly, by the fitter not contacting responding to my calls, and at Hillary's no one returns your calls. Wrong size blind received twice. We are once again waiting for the blind and the fitter to arrive. Will it be the correct size, correct color, will it fit?

Hillary's Blinds advertising is completely misleading and false. What can the consumers do, with this kind of poor service.