Edenhabitats Avis 

Con man, promised this that and the next thing and then asked for refund claimed it was a problem with his bank and soon as we included the authorities he got all scared and it got sorted out l

I have always tried to do my due diligence to avoid being scammed, and it's something I really fear. Alex's work seemed high-quality and legitimate as I checked social media, watched a webinar he joined, and he came highly recommended by other reptile organisations. So, I ordered a custom vivarium for my royal python in early March after great, efficient communication with him regarding the specifications.

This all changed once the order went through. Since then, I have received a response to only two of my many messages and emails asking for updates, which stated that there was a supplier delay, and then that delivery would be in a week - that was in mid-June, and no such delivery was made. Because of this, at the end of July I requested a refund from Alex given that the item was 14 weeks overdue. He has still not responded to this. I have tried getting in touch on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, phone and email. No response for over 2 months now. Because of the lack of evidence that there was or has ever been any intent to supply the vivarium (which may not even exist), I have been informed that this constitutes a scam. This has been escalated with the bank in hopes of receiving a refund since there is no sign that the vivarium exists, let alone that I'll be receiving it, and I have now had to make other plans.

I'm so disappointed since this was to be a huge upgrade for my royal, who was meant to be in his small temporary home for only the 4-6 weeks lead time on this vivarium build. To keep my snake happy, I am now nearly £600 out of pocket and having to purchase another vivarium second-hand and do the work to decorate for myself because I cannot afford to make another custom order elsewhere.

Do not order from Eden Habitats.

We are fighting for our refund and we will get it. Don’t let this man steal your money.

I ordered and paid about £800 for a 4x2x4 enclosure for my royal python in January and was told that it’d be delivered in about 2-4 weeks so I’d arranged to collect my snake shortly after then. After six weeks passed and I’d had no further info I began to chase for an update. When enquiring placing an order the responses were prompt, when asking where the product was it was like he vanished. My snake ended up in a tub whilst I waited. Several deliveries were arranged and on delivery day there was no contact until a few days later when each time to say his bank account had been frozen and he couldn’t do anything until it was sorted, this was end of Feb. I’d paid a deposit for another vivarium by this point.

It finally came mid April however the clean up crew I’d ordered was missing as were the heating bulbs, cage guards and thermostats; the later of the three I asked he ordered online direct to my address so I had to wait longer to get my snake in there. I’d noticed the glass was chipped too but honestly it was the least of my worries. Where he’s friends with people I trust and respect I’d trusted his story about the bank freezing his account by accident and so I ordered him a load of topsoil too as he couldn’t access funds; he assured me he’d pay it back.

Within two weeks, the background began cracking and peeling and a branch broke off. I was offered repairs which never happened and then it was “I’ll post you the stuff to repair it yourself” which also never happened so I asked for my refund on the other enclosure back a telling him I was going to build a walk in instead and he said it was fine, never happened. The clean up crew he promised to send never came. The uvb kit it turns out is a cheap awful thing from eBay and its output is for a bearded dragon - far far too high for my royal python! It’s now July; the handle has since dropped off the doors, I’ve had to buy my own clean up crew and replace the UVB when id paid him for them already and the door tracks are coming off.

He owes me £139, doesn’t respond and admitted he doesn’t use any sealant on background grouting “because it’s waterproof and safe” - he doesn’t care one bit about the animal that has to live with his shoddy workmanship.

His work looks beautiful but it’s not durable; he doesn’t communicate beyond excuses and takes advantage of people’s patience, kindness and love of their animals. Absolute conman.

At the start we had good communication and the picture updates looked fine, Delivery was very disappointing, due to insufficient packaging the whole background was smashed, it only had kitchen roll to protect it.
He offered me a partial refund which I refused and had to bombard him with threats to report to trading standards.
He then wanted me to pay the postage to return, again I refused, In the end I started leaving comments on people public enquiry questions and he got annoyed as it was affecting business, I said once I have my refund i will stop.
So He paid me in two halves but Got there in the end, I would not recommend them at all, it's far too much hassle for basic customer rights.

Ordered a 6 foot Viv from Alex when he was known as Bio-viv...we never received the Viv and after months chasing a refund we ended up going to small claims...AVOID AT ALL COST

Why isn't there a 0 stars option.
False promises. Over and over again.
£750 lost... Basically fraud, scam and a liar!

I would give 0 stars if I could DO NOT give your money to this person!

Company would leave me on delivered for days and days at a time when trying to chase my order. He told me it would be ready within the week (It actually took 9 and a half weeks!!!) in that time he sneakily changed his websites T&C including. 50% non refundable deposit… because of the amount of people he owes money too due to demand for refunds for poor craftsmanship &products arriving damaged. I requested a refund after 9 weeks as it was way outside the period of time he said it should be delivered. Only then did he send me a photo and post my item. However, it arrived in awful packaging, damaged and unsafe to use with reptiles. I requested a refund and stated I’d be happy to post it back so he can see the damage so long as he arranged collection. After a lot of back and forth of me reminding him of the law surrounding damaged products & returns, he agreed to arrange collection. This was over 2 weeks ago. I’ve messaged multiple times since asking about the collection and he refuses to respond to me on two separate forms of social media. It’s so upsetting as the work looked promising but the quality was awful and rushed and completely unusable- all the paint had already chipped off either during transit or due to rushed work. When placing your order communication is instant but once the moneys gone through they’ll go radio silent. My bank can’t help either as you have to pay via direct bank transfer which was already a red flag. 1/10. I have lost out on a lot of money especially as I now have had to go elsewhere and pay again. Honestly unless you like throwing money down an empty pit, don’t buy through them.

Service okay up till money was had!
Kept messaging weekly during build period to be told going well each time.
Then bam 2/3 days before "awaiting wood"
"Received wrong colour wood"
Blah blah excuse after excuse.

Came 1 week late to fit the bottom of my enclosures and was told come back the Sunday.
We were away in London Friday Saturday Sunday but made sure we came back Saturday night to then be let down for the Sunday.
Then 10 days later he came and "sorted" the rest.
Day after I sent him a snagging list as it was a big job I expected a few issues.
4 months later nothing was done about the snagging
Excuse excuse excuse.
Con man really as all my 7 enclosures have issues.
My cupboard doors are cut with a curve and the handles aren't straight
Enclosure 1 - misaligned panels
No edge banding on side panels and back
Pond liner has not been secured
Enclosure 2 - misaligned plinths causing movement in enclosure and glass.
Pond liner no secured well
No edge banding on side and back
Enclosure 3 - same as 2
Enclosure 4 - 2ft was a large gap on the top of the higher plinth causing an escaped risk as loose.
Plinth no secured well and doesn't have a band a sealing so ingress was made and swelling of boards.
Had to seal myself.
Asked for no pond liner on this one but would of still liked it to be sealed
Enclosure 4 - 8ft
Pond liner not fit to expectations. Support in adequate and can't open glass without difficulty.
Misaligned panels causing the chipboard to be exposed.
Enclosure 5 - 6ft
Paid for pond liner. Didn't use pond liner was weed barrier which allows water through!
Inadequate support so glass unable to open.
Misaligned panels causing chip board to be exposed and swell
Enclosure 7 same as 5

Cupboard 1 - small cupboard
Door cut with a curve.
Handle not straight no edging on LHS and top
Cupboard 2 - door James when closing and opening due to poor fitment.
Door has old holes for hinges where mistake was made when fitting.
No edging on hinge side.
Missaligned and gaps

This is the issue with each individual enclosure.

Can we give negative stars?
Can I give negative stars to bio Viv and stone Scape services?
ANYTHING RELATED TO ALEX DOWNEY AVOID LIKE THE PLAUGE!

If I could give negative stars I would. After waiting for well over 4 months now, I was told it will be done by the end of June at the beginning of June when I chased it all up getting frustrated…. Now being ignored completely! Do not give him your money!!!

Please please avoid at ALLLLL COSTS

Was promised a certain lead time , after 9 weeks I still didn't receive my vivarium to which I had to go through my banks fraud team for a return.
I know im not the only person to have problems and know of atleast 10 other people who have either had their orders unfulfilled or products arriving damaged or not being fit for us after a few weeks.
If I could give 0 stars I would