Coloured Linen Hire

One of the trickiest things to find for our wedding was round coloured table cloths - this company was the only one I found with large enough round table cloths (our tables were 5' diameter and we wanted blue cloths).

Price - Very comparable to other linen hire companies, and includes all laundry charges. Delivery is free on orders over £250 but under £30 otherwise.

Quality - The table cloths and napkins were all good quality (thick linen), and were uncreased and clean when they arrived.

Delivery and collection - Prompt - no problems at all. You do need someone to be there to sign for the cloths.

Choice - They have 27 different linen colours in lots of sizes and they seem to have plenty of each item.

Service - Both the people I spoke to on the phone were very friendly and helpful and they were willing to send out swatch cards to show us the colour before we placed our order.

Overall: This is the only company we found that provides this service and they are very good.

Website - Coloured Linen Hire

SAYNOTO0870.COM

A very useful web page for all consumers living in the UK. Many companies use premium rate help lines, but also have 'normal' landline phone numbers that go to the same place. On this site you can search for a company or phone number to see if there is a cheaper alternative available.

Reliability - Every number we have tried from the 'main database' has proved successful, but we have our doubts about many entries in the 'unverified numbers database'. We have found a cheaper alternative for most companies we have needed to phone up.

Cost - Free.

Scope - Covers many 0800, 0808, 0844, 0845, 0870 and 0871 numbers.

Overall: Since it costs nothing to look up the phone number and it can provide huge savings in phone bills we would highly recommend giving this site a go.

Website - SayNoTo0870.com.

Townends

Although they were helpful when showing us around houses, Townends were extremely impersonal as soon as we'd paid our deposit. Between us, we have had two contracts with Townends, and their customer service has been appalling both times.

The first problem, which has affected everyone we know who has used them, is that they share your details with other Townends branches. This wouldn't be a problem, except that they do this even if you specifically ask them not to (and tick a box stating that you wouldn't like to hear from other branches). It is very annoying to have three or four conversations where someone is trying to book a time for you to see houses in an area you don't want to live. Often they phone you even after you've found a house (from Townends).

On one occasion our bank transferred our rent a day late (something which most banks say they may do in their small print), and Townends insisted on us paying a fine of an amount which they made up!

On another occasion the landlord did not send back the deposit for well over three months, and Townends refused to do anything about it, stating that once the letting time ends it is up to you to get your money returned.

Before you even obtain a contract it is necessary to pay them to "professionally" prepare a contract. This takes an inordinate length of time, and what comes back looks like a generic contract with the names and addresses changed. However, their contracts are also riddled with spelling and typing mistakes. One such mistake was (or presumably still is) "...upon the determination of the tenancy." which should have read "...upon the termination of the tenancy." Clearly this dramatically changes the meaning of the sentence. Another sentence, in bold and in a section entitled "IMPORTANT", refers to the "Citizens Advise Bureau". We enquired about them correcting these mistakes, and were told that we would have to pay for them to be professionally rewritten, and that it would take a long time.

We have found Townends extremely slow to pay money back, but very quick to raise fines.

We have also had contracts with different estate agents that were fine (for example Runnymede Residential Letting Services).

Dreams

Our initial impressions of Dreams were good. We were served quickly and courteously while in the shop, and found a bed we liked fairly quickly. However the bed slats arrived damaged, and so we were forced to use Dreams' helpline.

The process of getting replacement slats was long and difficult. They did not arrive on the day specified, which is particularly annoying since they can only deliver during work hours. When they did turn up the replacements were the wrong size.

We were forced back to the helpline, and were given a new date when new slats (third set) would be delivered. These did not turn up on the given day, so we phoned up again. We were given a new delivery date, and this time they did arrive on the right day.

Product - Good quality, comfortable mattress. Solid and nice looking bed frame, once we got decent slats. It was ok to put together.

Price - Very good, partly because we bought ex-display models.

Service - Great in the shop, terrible once we'd paid and left.

Overall: The complete bed was therefore half a month later than advertised, we had to wait for deliveries on five days (only three of which they delivered on), and we had to spend a long time on the phone to Dreams. We were given no compensation for our troubles.

The Morlan Hotel - Aberporth

We had a lovely stay in a little seaside hotel run by two of the friendliest people you're likely to meet. Graham and Annette were only too happy to provide us with anything we wanted from extra tea and coffee supplies to advice about the local area (and life in general!)

Room - En suite with four poster bed. Plenty of storage space, TV and sofa.

Food - Excellent food in very generous portions. There is also the option of having smaller 'take-away' meals brought up to the rooms, which were also very good.

Location - Very close to the beach, which is sandy and generally not too crowded. The view from the room was of the town. Very good for rambling, and a short car journey from such local attractions as the New Quay Honey Farm (which we found very interesting).

Service - Although the service was very friendly and personal, it can be slow in the restaurant at times because there are only two members of staff.

Cost - Very reasonable at £70 per night for bed and breakfast. Dinner is extra but well worth it.

Overall - We would definitely consider going back again, and would especially recommend a visit to those who haven't seen the area.

Website - The Morlan Hotel.