Worst Experience Ever
I rarely leave reviews, but I felt compelled to share this in the hope it saves someone else from going through what I have with Fantastic Blinds and Shutters. This has been the most frustrating and unprofessional experience I’ve ever had with a company.
For context, I arranged plantation shutters for a tenanted investment property. I made it clear I don’t live there and travel frequently, and was assured they could coordinate directly with the tenants and agent while communicating with me remotely.
The measure and quote process went smoothly, and I proceeded with the job. After installation I received photos, which looked fine initially. However, during a routine inspection, my agent reported mould issues due to poor ventilation. I assumed the windows could simply be opened, but was then sent a video showing the shutters had been installed behind pelmets, severely restricting access. The tenants could barely open the windows.
This was the first time I had even heard the term “pelmet.” My agent had to explain it to me whet they were. When I raised the issue, the company initially seemed helpful, but after repeated follow-ups, their tone changed. I was told the installer had discussed the pelmet issue with me beforehand and that I had said it didn’t matter as I would remove them. This is completely untrue. I had no knowledge of pelmets and never had that conversation.
Although pelmets were briefly mentioned in an earlier quote, they were never explained or discussed, and were not included in the revised quote that I accepted. Despite this, the company refused to take responsibility and became increasingly dismissive.
I was eventually told the issue was my fault for not being present during installation, despite their earlier assurance they could manage everything. At this point I lost my cool and swore at the company rep. I'm not proud of my actions but her attitude and gaslighting had pushed me too far. From here, she only wanted to communicate via email and they declared the matter 'closed'.
I ended up having to pay to remove the pelmets and repair and repaint the walls which was a very costly experience. I thought about taking them to small claims court but this experience had already cost me so much.
Unfortunately, it didn’t end there. During a later inspection, the shutters had come apart. When contacted, I was told that because it had been over 3 months, I needed to pay a $180 service fee—despite their website stating a 7-year warranty covering structural issues.
I paid the fee in December 2025 so repairs could be scheduled before Christmas, but from December to March nothing was organised. They refused to give my agent the fitter’s contact details and said he would “be in touch when he was in the area.” One time he just showed up unannounced when no one was home so he couldn't access the apartment.
After further delays, they then claimed they could only deal with me directly, despite knowing I wasn’t local and didn't have access to the apartment. In the end, they once again dodged any responsibility, offered to refund the $180 and told my agent to find someone else to do the repairs.
Overall, this has been a costly and stressful experience. The lack of accountability, poor communication, and refusal to resolve clear issues has been unacceptable. I strongly recommend thinking twice before using this company. What may seem like a good deal upfront can quickly become far more expensive in the long run.