Kent's Tailoring, Cookham Arcade needs your help!

Thank you wonderful community! We have now reached the required target for Norman and he is hugely grateful for your support. Please send him any support messages to let him know you are thinking of him, and how much he is valued in our village. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. Bless you all xxx

Hi, I would like to draw your attention to a valued member of our community in desperate need of our help.

Poor Norman Kent, of Kent's Tailoring Services in Cookham Arcade, is in fear of losing his business, after a rather unscrupulous customer (not from our community thankfully!) took him to the small claims court, in the hope of being compensated for a dress they purchased and didn't like. Unfortunately, due to Norman's ill health, the claim was successful by default, as it wasn't defended in time. He is now fending off bailiffs who are threatening to remove his machinery to the value of £2500. As the machinery is his livelihood, he will likely have to close his business.

The customer brought a dress to him asking him to alter it, which he did to her specification. She tried the changed dress and made no complaint. She later returned and asked him to make further alterations which he said he wouldn't as in his professional opinion would change the shape of the dress, so he didn't charge her for the original work.

It then transpires that the customer was never happy with her original purchase and tried to return the dress to the shop where she bought it, which they wouldn't accept as it has been altered. Seeking a scapegoat for her £800 mistake in purchasing the dress, the customer decided to sue and sought compensation from poor Norman, which then escalated as he had not responded in time due to his ill health.

Poor Norman is devastated. In the 25 years he has been in business in Cookham he has never had a single complaint about his workmanship. He is a Savile Row tailor who has provided a fantastic service to our community, and this would be a dreadful loss to Cookham should we lose his business. He has not been in good health over the last few months and the worry about this has not helping matters.

Although Norman knows this is unjust, he wants to settle the claim and carry on with his life. He has considered a loan, but the CCJ now means that his credit history is decimated.

I hope that all those who are reading this feel as angry as I do that this can happen to somebody who was just trying to help a customer.

It would be great if the Cookham community could hopefully assist in correcting a wrong, by helping Norman keep his valued business for many years to come.