A BARROW man has been left in ‘extreme distress’ after an incident at an Argos store.

Andrew Fullard had tried to return a faulty Samsung phone which was purchased during lockdown to Argos, Walney Road, when he got into a disagreement with store management.

He said: “I have had extreme distress and inconvenience trying to return a Samsung Phone to Argos bought during lockdown. It was faulty when it was delivered.

“During the lockdown the website advised there was nothing I could do but wait for the stores to re-open and then return my faulty item for a refund.

“I had to buy another phone in the meanwhile.”

The Argos website states that if an item is faulty, it should be returned to any open Argos store, or Argos store within a Sainsbury’s, and they will process it in accordance with their refund policy.

On the first day of the Argos reopening, June 15, Andrew visited the store to return the faulty phone where he alleges he encountered a male member of staff who wouldn’t take the phone for a refund, and told Andrew he would need to contact Samsung himself to arrange a repair.

Andrew said: “My time is precious and I should not be paying to fix their mistakes.

“I asked him if I could speak to a manager, he said he is the manager and there is no one else. I have to organise my own repair.”

Andrew left the store with the intention to return the next day with a witness, and to record video footage for evidence.

Andrew said: “A different store manager was there on the second day, she blocked my entrance to the store and once again insisted it was up to me to get everything done.

“I started recording at this point. They called the police on me.

“While waiting for the police the manager continued to be unhelpful, refusing to contact her manager for advice, or provide me with any further help phone numbers for Argos.

“Instead of having a hassle free return, Argos publicly embarrassed myself and my parents by calling the police on us, to have us removed from the premises.

“Once back home I tried contacting Argos through various methods and eventually got through to another unhelpful manager who also told me the phone needed to be repaired according to their return policy. Once again going against their own website.

“I asked to see a copy of their refund policy or any of their policy’s showing me where it states the phone has to go for repair. They were unable to do this, instead the manager sent me to the same page - the very same page I have been questioning this whole time, the same page that says it should have been a refund.

“After pointing this out several times and getting no answer back the manager told me they were no longer dealing with my issue and I have to contact a third party.”

Cumbria Police said: “At approximately 12.14pm on Tuesday 16th June, police were called to a report of a verbal altercation inside the Argos store on Walney Road, Barrow.

"Advice was given to both parties involved and no further action was taken by police.

An Argos spokesperson said: “We will not tolerate aggressive and abusive behaviour towards our colleagues and can confirm police were called to an incident at our Barrow-in-Furness store.

“Our colleagues will be happy to resolve Andrew’s issue when he can calmly return to the store.”