Warning: OCUK RMA / Customer Service

[Dee]

First off, I'm not sure where this should go, but I'm posting here anyway. Secondly, this is being posted for two reasons: to warn others about OCUK's atrocious customer service, and to ask for suggestions of where to go from here with a faulty motherboard.

Put simply, these guys are evil. My girlfriend and I have spent a heck of a lot of money at their shop over the last four years. I also recommended them to various friends who purchased parts and then had me build systems for them. Never again.

The problem started after we applied for an RMA. We were granted an RMA number and were very happy to get this faulty motherboard sent off to them, expecting it to be replaced with a new one. The issue is possibly something to do with the DIMM slot retention clips, as the board will only usually boot if pressure is applied to the clips. I have to push upwards on the lower clip of DIMM slot B2 (it's almost like the RAM isn't held in properly?). This has always been a problem since day one, and it took a number of weeks to figure out. Once it's booted up, it's usually OK for a while, but then randomly the system freezes up. It's not until the side of the case is removed and pressure is applied to the slot clips that it will boot again.

Anyway. The board was posted at the cost of £11 (ParcelFarce 48). We were without a PC for about one week, then I checked for any email on a friend's computer. There was a message from OCUK saying the board was being returned. Sure enough, two days later my faulty board arrived and here it is causing problems again.

Now they want us to send it back for further testing, and each time they do this and fail to find the fault, they charge us £21. So far it's cost £32 for them to tell us there isn't a problem. They are WRONG. This problem is causing some real headaches. After writing to them again and asking for a replacement, they ignore the emails. They will not replace it with a new board, despite it being under warranty. Should we involve trading standards?

PS: It's not RAM related, we tried 3 separate 2GB RAM kits and the same issue exists.

Also, after asking for advice on their official forums the thread was deleted literally within two minutes. Just who do these guys think they are?