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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Big_Al on 27 May 2011, 18:36:00

Title: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Big_Al on 27 May 2011, 18:36:00
Hi everyone,  views on the following please.

This concerns A vauxhall main dealer.  Neighbour of mine has located a 2nd hand oil cooler rad for his astra van, but breaker said it has no pipes connected.

Neighbour rang VX stealers at Southend yesterday,  they said these pipes are not in stock but we can get them for you overnight or by sat at latest.  Around £75.00. OK says neighbour , VX then asked for his credit card details.

On collecting the oil rad this morning from breaker, neighbour finds that all the pipes are included & in place.

He then rings VX to cancel, they said you can't cancel - you ordered them - we had to get them in especially for you.

How does he stand on this issue? :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/

sounds like they are going to charge him even if he does not collect -- is that right ? :-/ :-/ :-/

  I would have thought a handling charge was reasonable - but not the full cost :-/ :-/ :-/
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: sandune on 27 May 2011, 18:53:01
Hi Al have been reading the small print on one of their "Sale Invoice"and there  is a 20% handling charge on specially ordered goods.
 If goods are returned in original packing within 7 days for credit must be clean.
So handling  charge or credit. :-/
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Big_Al on 27 May 2011, 19:16:16
Quote
Hi Al have been reading the small print on one of their "Sale Invoice"and there  is a 20% handling charge on specially ordered goods.
 If goods are returned in original packing within 7 days for credit must be clean.
So handling  charge or credit. :-/


Sandune - just looked on one of my VX southend sales invoices as well -- & although he does not have the items yet -  it says "goods specially ordered will not be accepted for credit "

not looking good one thinks :( :( :(
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Turk on 27 May 2011, 19:40:03
Quote
Hi everyone,  views on the following please.

This concerns A vauxhall main dealer.  Neighbour of mine has located a 2nd hand oil cooler rad for his astra van, but breaker said it has no pipes connected.

Neighbour rang VX stealers at Southend yesterday,  they said these pipes are not in stock but we can get them for you overnight or by sat at latest.  Around £75.00. OK says neighbour , VX then asked for his credit card details.

On collecting the oil rad this morning from breaker, neighbour finds that all the pipes are included & in place.

He then rings VX to cancel, they said you can't cancel - you ordered them - we had to get them in especially for you.

How does he stand on this issue? :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/

sounds like they are going to charge him even if he does not collect -- is that right ? :-/ :-/ :-/

  I would have thought a handling charge was reasonable - but not the full cost :-/ :-/ :-/

Worth asking if they can mail the pipes to him to him, then when he gets them, return them within 7 working days for a full refund, including the postage charge out to him, but not the cost of returning them.

By ordering via phone/internet etc and having the goods delivered it falls under the DSR's (Distance Selling Regulations). They MUST refund the FULL amount, including outgoing p&p, and can NOT charge a re-stock fee.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft698.pdf
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: tonyyeb on 27 May 2011, 20:30:38
A commitment to purchase has been made courtesy of the credit card transaction. Unless the goods are defective or otherwise than described, I don't think he's got a case, sadly.
That said, the VX dealer is playing super hard-ball, and they ought to be named and shamed..... 8-)
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Turk on 27 May 2011, 20:41:14
Quote
A commitment to purchase has been made courtesy of the credit card transaction. Unless the goods are defective or otherwise than described, I don't think he's got a case,.  sadly.
That said, the VX dealer is playing super hard-ball, and they ought to be named and shamed..... 8-)

That's incorrect. Click the link and read the DSR's.  :y

Goods can be returned for a full refund, even if it's simply because the buyer has changed their mind.
In fact as long as the buyer has notified the seller of their intent to cancel, in writing/e-mail within seven working days, the seller must refund all monies payed within 30 days...even if the goods have NOT been returned.  :o

Some of the DSR's are bonkers if you're a mail order business.  

Also, by taking a card payment over the phone they must mail the goods out to an address. If they are taking card payment over the phone and charging the card without the customers signature or PIN and allowing the goods to be collected at a later date, then they are in the wrong and Visa etc will not be happy about that. 
   
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Big_Al on 27 May 2011, 21:24:58
Quote
Hi everyone,  views on the following please.

This concerns A vauxhall main dealer.  Neighbour of mine has located a 2nd hand oil cooler rad for his astra van, but breaker said it has no pipes connected.

Neighbour rang VX stealers at Southend yesterday,  they said these pipes are not in stock but we can get them for you overnight or by sat at latest.  Around £75.00. OK says neighbour , VX then asked for his credit card details.

On collecting the oil rad this morning from breaker, neighbour finds that all the pipes are included & in place.

He then rings VX to cancel, they said you can't cancel - you ordered them - we had to get them in especially for you.

How does he stand on this issue? :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/

sounds like they are going to charge him even if he does not collect -- is that right ? :-/ :-/ :-/

  I would have thought a handling charge was reasonable - but not the full cost :-/ :-/ :-/

Just trying to cover this from all angles - if the parts have not arrived at the dealers by Sat morning  as they said

Would that give him the right to cancel? :-/ :-/ :-/
 
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Turk on 27 May 2011, 21:32:17
Quote
Quote
Hi everyone,  views on the following please.

This concerns A vauxhall main dealer.  Neighbour of mine has located a 2nd hand oil cooler rad for his astra van, but breaker said it has no pipes connected.

Neighbour rang VX stealers at Southend yesterday,  they said these pipes are not in stock but we can get them for you overnight or by sat at latest.  Around £75.00. OK says neighbour , VX then asked for his credit card details.

On collecting the oil rad this morning from breaker, neighbour finds that all the pipes are included & in place.

He then rings VX to cancel, they said you can't cancel - you ordered them - we had to get them in especially for you.

How does he stand on this issue? :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/

sounds like they are going to charge him even if he does not collect -- is that right ? :-/ :-/ :-/

  I would have thought a handling charge was reasonable - but not the full cost :-/ :-/ :-/

Just trying to cover this from all angles - if the parts have not arrived at the dealers by Sat morning  as they said

Would that give him the right to cancel? :-/ :-/ :-/
 

Should think so, but I don't know for certain. I can only advise for defo on mailed goods.
Best bet would be to phone them on Saturday and if the pipes have arrived, ask for them to be mailed out. It'll then fall under the DSR's.   :y
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: STMO123 on 27 May 2011, 21:55:17
He could go round to the breakers and shove the non-existant pipes up his arse. When the breaker complains he could say' What pipes, dickbrain?'.
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Lazydocker on 27 May 2011, 23:47:24
Unfortunate situation really... The parts have been specially ordered so no refund ;)

But... Have they been Mail Ordered? :-/ :-/ Tricky one that ;) ;)

Depends how much he wants to be able to use the stealers in the future IMO ;) ;)
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: TheBoy on 28 May 2011, 00:03:00
DSR wouldn't apply, as ordered from, and will be collected from local shop.

The seller has every right not to offer refunds, partial or full, in such cases because the buyer has changed their minds.

Remember, businesses need some level of certainty/protection as well.
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Turk on 28 May 2011, 00:36:40
Quote
DSR wouldn't apply, as ordered from, and will be collected from local shop.The seller has every right not to offer refunds, partial or full, in such cases because the buyer has changed their minds.

Remember, businesses need some level of certainty/protection as well.

Order and card details were given over phone so, as previously advised, just ask for the order to be mailed out and DSR's WILL apply.  :y 
The words 'distance selling' don't actually mean any great distance. The customer could be right next door, but if the order and payment is completed by phone/internet/letter and the goods mailed out then DSR's apply.


A ‘distance contract’ is one:   
For the sale of goods or the provision of services;
•Concluded between a supplier and a consumer (note that business to business distance selling is not caught by the Regulations);
•Under an organised distance sales or service provision scheme run by the supplier (this covers, for example, sales made through a call centre or from a web site; however one-off contracts concluded by email are not relevant);
Where the supplier communicates with the consumer without ever coming face to face with the consumer up to and including the moment at which the contract is concluded (i.e. by 'distance communication').

Right to cancel:   
Under Regulation 10, a consumer can cancel a distance contract at any time during the "cancellation period" by notifying this intention to the supplier in writing. A contract which is cancelled must be treated as if it had never been entered into by the consumer.



If card details are given over the phone and funds are taken with the PDQ unit set to 'Cardholder Not Present' (no signature or PIN required), the goods 'should' be mailed to an address, so the stealers are in the wrong there for starters.

As for the quote 'businesses need some level of certainty/protection as well'...correct, they do, but with the DSR's they get very little.
Click the link and read them, you'll probably wonder why anyone in their right mind would ever get into the mail order business in the first place.
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Stallion on 28 May 2011, 03:25:12
Turk has a good point with the DSR in place, i would say give it a try?  ;)
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: 51M0N on 28 May 2011, 12:09:47
I've not read all the replies.

However. If parts are specially ordered, A retailer can refuse the right to refund IF they are correct for application and not faulty.
Most WILL charge a handling charge. I do. Mainly because it puts timewasters off and in some cases suppliers will adopt the same policy.

So to be fair the guy in question is at fault but its just unfortunate. As for the breaker. well.................
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Turk on 29 May 2011, 00:10:37
Quote
I've not read all the replies.

However. If parts are specially ordered, A retailer can refuse the right to refund IF they are correct for application and not faulty.
Most WILL charge a handling charge. I do. Mainly because it puts timewasters off and in some cases suppliers will adopt the same policy.

So to be fair the guy in question is at fault but its just unfortunate. As for the breaker. well.................

Goods made to the customers own specifications do not fall under the DSR's, but standard items ordered in specifically for the customer are covered by the DSR's and can be cancelled for a full refund.

Section 3.55:
"You are not allowed to make any further charges, such as a restocking charge or an administration charge."

If you are a business seller that takes orders over the phone/internet and mails out the goods, if the situation arises, you cannot refuse a refund. (Section 2.9: Compliance with the DSRs is a legal requirement.)

Obviously this ONLY applies to goods ordered by phone/internet etc. and mailed out, but a business seller CANNOT refuse a refund no matter why or in what condition the goods were returned, as mad as it sounds, the goods DO NOT even have to be returned prior to a refund being issued.
Even if the goods are returned damaged, the seller still cannot refuse a refund (see section 3.44).
All they can do, is take action against the consumer for breach of the statutory duty to take reasonable care of the goods, but a full refund MUST be given.

For mail order timewasters the DSR's are a dream come true.  >:(

DSR's do not apply to private sellers.
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Big_Al on 29 May 2011, 10:16:30
Update on this situation.

Unfortunatley my neighbour is a quiet natured person, not one to have a stand up argument with anyone.

Yesterday  after we had fitted the 2nd hand oil rad complete with it's original pipes & fittings. VX still had not called as arranged to say the new pipes were in.

At midday neighbour rings them, hoping that the pipes are not in yet , thinking he can  cancel as they said they would be there for Saturday at latest.

Surprise surprise-   VX say" oh yes they came in YESTERDAY - oh has no one phoned you"
My neighbour then after  VX again refused to cancel the order or take a handling charge went to collect them.

Now it gets worse . .    Neighbour asked for the full set of pipes from the rad to the oil filter housing -on ordering( by phone) VX explained exactly what parts were required. Vx even said to him make sure you put washers each side of the bolts that secure the pipes to the oil filter housing.

All that was supplied was the  two short metal pipes at the rad end AND  4 washers to go at the oil filter housing end.  £75.00

Should have been 2 metal pipes for each end & 2 rubber pipes for the middle. Bearing in mind VX had already said it comes complete .

My neighbour  then says "but thats not what I ordered & thats no good for what I required."


VX said " it is what was ordered ,the parts are correct & we have already charged it to your credit card. Sorry -no returns on specially ordered goods"

What can be done about it I don't know - my neighbour is resigned to the fact he 's got something he does not need , but is also fed up with all the hastle & is just gonna leave it at that.

What worries me is that he had no paperwork or proof of what was ordered - as it was a phone conversation - what they got him was not everything he need to do the job - but they can & have -  still charged him.

No wonder they're called STEALERS -- VX service is crap ! >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 29 May 2011, 10:34:30
He wouldn't have had a leg to stand on if they'd been correctly supplied, but:

Sounds like he needs to talk to his credit card company now, TBH.

The goods are not as ordered, he wasn't advised when they came in and they refuse a refund. Meanwhile, he's had to make other arrangements to get the vehicle back on the road, so supplying the correct parts won't help. ;)

Kevin
Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Turk on 29 May 2011, 14:03:32
If the goods are mailed out, use this https://consumer-tools.direct.gov.uk/consumer-advice/template_letters/dsr_letter
The Stealers will be up the creek without a paddle, no matter what the reason for wanting a refund.   

I've dealt with Distance Selling Regulations issues every day since 2000 and have been PCI compliant since 2006.
For traders, PCI compliance makes sense, but some of the DSR's are a plain bonkers. :o   (but great for the consumer. :y)   

Title: Re: Consumer rights question ?
Post by: Turk on 29 May 2011, 14:07:26
Ah right, just noticed that the goods have been collected,  :(
Ok, now all he can do is, as Kevin says, speak to the card company. Especially as the Stealers took card payment by phone and allowed the goods to be collected, which contravens PCI compliance guidelines.
A call from Trading Standards should also get the dealers re-thinking the situation.