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If you live in a vibrant city like Cardiff, everything from stadiums to shopping is all within easy reach. Chris Whatley loved the buzz of city life and, in 2005, had just moved into his own flat in a busy suburb.

But, aged just 31, Chris collapsed in the street and became so ill he was forced to give up work and move back with his mum in a quiet Rhondda village. Chris, whose illness has never been diagnosed, has been left virtually housebound for three years.

Chris, who is registered disabled, said: "I'd prefer to be out in the public. Anything that gets me out of these walls which I've been enclosed in for years."

Chris Whatley speaking to Rachel

Chris decided to buy an electric wheelchair and specifically needed it to have a 25st user capacity due to an increase in his weight caused by his illness. He chose the Drive Mambo 363 and ordered it for Β£1,174 from Bridgend-based Easi Care Mobility.

Initially, Chris was sent someone else's chair by mistake so rejected it. A fortnight later, the correct Drive Mambo 363 arrived but the delivery men explained to Chris that there was a misprint in the owner's manual which said the user weight capacity was 21st. Later that day, Chris realised that a label on the chair also stated 136kg - or 21st.

Chris said: "I was gutted, absolutely devastated to know that again more summer months had been passing by without me being able to become more mobile."

Easi Care Mobility reassured Chris the chair could take up to 25st. However, Chris was confused because staff at the chair's manufacturers - Drive Medical - told Chris on three occasions that it was only designed to take up to 21st. To add to the confusion, Drive Medical's own website stated 25st.

A nervous Chris decided to try the chair but says it soon developed a motor problem. Easi Care Mobility sent out an independent engineer who was unable to find a fault, but by now Chris had lost confidence in the chair and just wanted his money back.

Photograph of the Drive Mambo wheelchair

X-Ray has finally got to the bottom of all this confusion and found out that there had been a manufacturer's misprint. The power chair's actual weight limitΜύis 25 stone. What a shame that the makers, Drive Medical, didn't give Chris the clear answer he needed when he contacted them.

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Chris said: "From a leading manufacturer in the world of mobility products that is a very, very poor mistake to make."

Both companies said they regretted the upheaval this has caused Chris and that their customer service in this instance hadn't been up to their usual high standards.

Chris has, however, now had a refund from Easi Care Mobility and Drive Medical will be crediting them.

SinceΜύX-Ray pointed out the errors to Drive Medical, they have promised that the misprint in the manual and on the chair will be corrected on Drive Mambo 363s made in future. They will also be rectifying the error in the catalogue.

In the meantime, all staff have been made aware of the issue and a note about the misprints will be sent out with all the remaining stock in the batch.

Chris, meanwhile, is now shopping for a new mobility scooter.