The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has withdrawn its association with online tack store Horseloverz.co.uk after receiving a high volume of complaints from customers.
BETA general director Claire Williams told H&H: “Their membership expired in December and we haven’t renewed it.
“We have written asking them to remove the BETA logo from their website, but it has not been done yet.”
Horseloverz.co.uk is still taking orders from customers — despite alleged financial problems.
The Hereford-based company lost a lot of stock during the flooding last year and the owner told BETA she had “got behind” after she suffered a bereavement.
“I understand some orders are getting through after a very long time. But I felt unhappy with the level of orders that were not being processed,” added Ms Williams.
“Our advice is that if you have an order, ask for a refund and buy elsewhere.”
One H&H forum member who placed an order in February wrote: “I have contacted advice service Consumer Direct which told me that after 30 days, if the company hasn’t sent the goods, then they are in breach of the Distance Selling Regulations and the contract is deemed to have been cancelled.”
Another says she has finally managed to obtain a refund after weeks of failed efforts.
• Horseloverz.co.uk has failed to return H&H’s emails.
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (8 April, ’10)
