But Are They A REAL Company?

There is more to life than the new kitchen, and I am not going to let this project dominate the blog. But already there have been things which have made us smile. So to brighten up your day too I share this...

Paying for it - well, I figured out that if we consolidated all the various savings pots into one, and paid them into the main bank account, that would work. But if we paid with the M&S Card we'd have 'protection' and also lots of loyalty vouchers [and we'd pay the card balance promptly from the bank account]
Step One, up the credit limit a little bit to ensure we could do this. We always pay off the bill each month, but in case of the unexpected [like last week's £400 garage bill because Bob's car locks weren't working] we wanted to be sure we were not going to incur extra interest charges. This is relatively straightforward. You send M&S an application for the increase, and say what it is for [if you say "guns and drugs", presumably, they refuse. But "kitchen renovation" is OK] and you have to send details of your earnings or pension. The moment the approval came through, Bob contacted our Online Designer to confirm our order and pay Only she was off sick!

Step Two, contact IKEA Customer Services, and point out the Spring 10% offer runs out on 1st March. No problem, they said, because you are at the point of ordering you will still have a 28 day 'grace period' to pay up. But we want to get on with it, please! The guy was very helpful - explaining he would send the bill, plus a security code, which would be valid till midnight. A two part bill - worktops, and everything else.

Step Three, go online, input the code. Pay Bill 1, then Bill 2. So Bob paid Bill 1, then tried in vain to pay Billl 2. My phone pinged [I am the primary cardholder] "Your card has been blocked due to suspicious activity". I telephoned M&S and had the most surreal conversation....

Why has my card been blocked?

    Just the second card, suspicious activity. £742 at 11.15am

Yes, my husband was paying for our new kitchen

    That's a lot of money for a new kitchen [what?! This bloke hasn't bought a kitchen lately]

That is just the first part of the bill. You know we are doing this, it was in our application for n increased credit limit. Which you have already approved. 

    Are you sure this isn't a scam? 

Of course I am sure, we are buying from IKEA

    But are they a REAL company? [where does he live? I know they have no stores in Norfolk, but...] 

Yes, I am sure - they are a huge Swedish company, with outlets across the globe [I decided against saying that allegedly 50% of European children are conceived in IKEA beds!]

    But have you used them before?

Yes, since 1988 when they opened their first UK store in Wembley. You have cancelled my husband's card and I think you should not have done so.

    We have to be careful about suspicious transactions. He will get a new card within 5 working days. 

But we have to pay the second part of the bill before midnight tonight. Can I use my card for that

    Well OK, but only if you are completely sure IKEA is a real company and this is not a scam.

YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP, COULD YOU? 

The work goes on, the game of Tetris continues in the back bedroom as I hunt for random kitchen tools and food items which I know are in a box somewhere in there. Julian WhatsApped me

"Dear Lord and Lady Kitchener, your cousin wants to see you, would you have an available bed?"

I cheerfully replied that the sofabed in the lounge was clear for him this week.

I think he may get a more comfortable bed with Lord and Lady Kitchener-Fellowes [another Julian] but possibly have less fun!