Credit card refund

marks87

I bought an item last Monday using my RBS Student Mastercard.

I was told I'd receive an e-mail to confirm stock and that the payment had been taken; three days later, I'd heard nothing, so e-mailed to find out what was happening. After another 48 hours, I'd still had nothing, so sent an e-mail to cancel and ordered the item from somewhere else (it's something that's been discontinued and this other place only had one and I didn't want to miss out).

However, just yesterday I received an e-mail saying the item had been despatched and that if I'm not happy, I can just return it for a full refund. The payment has also been taken from my card.

Now my view is that this was an unauthorised taking of funds and, when the item arrives, they are unsolicited goods. Plus, it will cost quite a bit to post and their returns policy is such that I would need to pay these costs.

So is it possible for me to claim back the money from the bank, then follow the usual procedure for unsolicited goods -- notify the company I have them and give 30 days for them to arrange for them to be returned?

jd87

It'll be best to just deal with the company itself instead of bringing the bank into it. Call the company up, explain that you sent an email to cancel within plenty of time and that it is their fault you are going to have to send it back now. Demand that they send you a paid for envelope for you to return it in, or that they send you a cheque for the postage or something. I had exactly the same problem with Partmaster (an online company that sells computer accessories). This course of action worked.

marks87

My only concern is the potential for stalemate:

Me: I won't send you the item until you send me an envelope/cheque
Them: We don't care, we have your money.

So if I send the item, there's no incentive for them reimburse me for the postage costs.

I will, of course, try but I suspect I will have to involve the bank if I'm to stand any chance of avoiding the postage cost.