Customer Service?

I took my Mondaine watch in for a new battery, to an authorised dealer (Jago Jewellers, Market Place, St Albans) but when I collected the watch I was told it was still not working and was advised to send it to the UK service centre for repair under warranty.

The report came back: "Coil is scratched (rendering it useless - Full service now required), smudges on movement plate. This indicates an attempt to change the battery by an untrained individual. Regret damage to the movement by interference from an unauthorised third party invalidates the warranty".

I had to pay the full cost of the repair (£64.74) to get my watch returned. I went in to claim this money from the shop where the damage had allegedly been caused. The manager refused to accept the findings of the service centre, but grudgingly offered to pay half the bill. Obviously I was not happy with this and said I would post the facts regarding the matter on-line. He said, "Go ahead" and stormed off to the back of the shop, never to be seen again!