[MrsJ]

We ordered some hurdles through what looked like a reputable company on the web, transfered our money to their bank account and were assured that the hurdles would be delivered last Saturday.  Needless to say, they have not arrived and the person we ordered from is not returning phone calls or emails, although she managed to return an email from another enquirer (me in disguise) within 20 minutes!  We are currently talking to Trading Standards about what to do next regarding recovering our money and may have to consider the small claims court.
The problem is, we need the hurdles urgently to build temporary lambing pens.  We are a small group and do not have a lot of spare cash (especially when people rip us off!) so, does anyone in south Worcestershire have any spare hurdles that they could lend us please?  or some that we could buy at a reasonable price?  thanks

[Hassle]

Phone your bank as well, admittedly you have stated you transferred but they might take pity, and see if the money can be recalled.

Sorry cant help with hurdles though

[littlelugs]

Just a thought, have you thought about collecting pallets? This is what we use in emergencys and they can be collected free from most industrial estates. With a bit of work the can also be made into all sorts of useful things. Hope this helps a little. Sorry to hear you were ripped off, and i hope you recover your money. 

[Blackbird]

Sorry you were ripped off you get your money back. Agree with littlelugs that it's amazing what you can put together with pallets and baler twine. Depending on how much you can spend to buy some hurdles, Countrywide have some in our local branch for around £20 each - there's a branch in Gloucester I believe. Otherwise, they sometimes come up on Preloved, but I appreciate you need them quick. Hope you get sorted.

[wellies]

I can't believe the cheek of some people, I'm angry for you  We ordered ours off a company on ebay and they were really helpful and alot cheaper than other places. Did you pay through the bank or through paypal. With Paypal I think you can recall the money quite easily. The company we used are based in S-O-T I think but delivered them to us and we paid on delivery. Really lovely people. We also often use pallets for lots of things and they would be a really good option for you as an alternative. I really hope your hurdles get sorted     

[MrsJ]

Thanks for the sympathy.  We have used pallets/baler twine in the past and this is what we will resort to if no hurdles are available, but I always worry that something will fall over or get caught in the twine if we dont use the proper stuff!  Unfortunately, we transferred the money direct into their account.  Will get my OH to contact the bank when he gets home to see if they can help.

[Marches Farmer]

If you have to resort to pallets try to have something really solid, like breeze blocks, on each side of every other pen, for stability. 

[littlelugs]

I always cut my pallets in half through the blocks to seperate each half (so you have two full size sections) so its lighter then tie the baler twine to one wall, using the wall for stability then run the rest of them off that, I also put a couple of house bricks every metre or so to help. I have in the past used fencing posts (tree steaks) through the whole pallets for strength and also some vertically to the rafters, however we are lucky in that our sheds are pretty low roofed.

[feldar]

We've run out of hurdles too and are using pallets with great success at least you can burn them in the fire afterwards! my hubby cuts them in half and they make really good tempoary pens

[SteveHants]

When are you lambing? If it stays mild you could lamb outside. I've lambed in worse weather than we have at the moment.

[MrsJ]

Cutting the pallets in half is a great idea.  We're due to lamb anytime from 18th March but a couple of them look fit to pop any moment (or they're expecting quads!  I do hope not).  They lamb outside but we bring them in for bonding.  Just hope the rain stops.

[toaster]

See if you can get hold of some pallet lids, these are effectively just to top part of a pallet, no blocks and no sawing required
 
Local industrial estates would be a good bet, they usually hold on to pallets but the lids are normally binned
 
I have a load, they look like little wooden hurdles - very useful. I join mine with cable ties

[MrsJ]

I've just heard that we can have some pallets from a local engineering company.  So that solves the problem for the moment.  Now we just have to get our money back!

[Pedwardine]

What buggers to leave you high and dry at such a crucial time. Pallets are a great standby though. Glad you've sourced some.

[Penninehillbilly]

perhaps you could name them (or at last the town, area code?) so our friends on TAS don't get caught the same way?