The DFS 'Nothing to Pay for a year' Trick

chair217

Can you help???

My wife and I ordered a 3pc suite from DFS, in June, as they are advertising 4yrs free credit with nothing to pay for the first year.

This was delivered a couple of weeks ago.

Then on Friday we received a letter from the credit company informing us that the first payment is due in a couple of weeks.

We went back to the store to question the request for payment. We were told that the year free only applies with certain payment options and as we took the full 4yr option then we would have to pay the first installment now or redo the agreement. :mad:

I was wondering if the Trading Standards Office would be interested as there is nothing on any of their posters informing the potential customer that thay may be rquired to pay the first insallment a couple of weeks after delivery and this was not drawn to our attention at the point of sale?

Dustangle

chair217 wrote: »

I was wondering if the Trading Standards Office would be interested as there is nothing on any of their posters informing the potential customer that thay may be rquired to pay the first insallment a couple of weeks after delivery and this was not drawn to our attention at the point of sale?

I think you should ask them, not unqualified people off the internet.

Dustangle

But a quick look at their website makes it pretty clear that these are the options -

Q: I've seen a sofa I really like but I want to take advantage of your interest free credit. How does it work?

A: No problem - we take your details in store and arrange finance on your behalf.

You can pay nothing for the first 12 months then either settle in full

or

take 36 months to pay the remainder (4 years free credit from date of order),

or

start paying one month after delivery of your furniture and pay over 48 months.

Whatever you decide you won't need to pay any deposit or any interest at all - ever. Typical 0% APR. Credit subject to acceptance.

Presumably you signed a document and would have had the chance to read it first. However, the law does seem to look after people who take out debt, as you have, so no doubt you will get a second chance.

Sid_Harper

wot - no grabbit?

keith99_2

Sid_Harper wrote: »

wot - no grabbit?

Posted in the wrong place, so hang the OP, alternatively, get a life and wait for someone to move it.

LittleVoice

chair217 wrote: »

and as we took the full 4yr option then we would have to pay the first installment now or redo the agreement. :mad:

And, of course, you will be paying every month for 4 years. But it is interest free, you are paying only the price of suite.

milliemonster

It is misleading but the options are flexible with DFS, 4 years free credit, but if you pay nothing for the first year then your payments are over 3 years (and therefore higher)

Besides, even if you had opted for the 'no payments for the first year' it's not actually a full year from when you get your suite, its from order as we found out with a suite we bought from them 5 years ago, I ordered it in April on this free for the first year thing, it came in August and my payments started the following April, so I didn't actually have the suite free for the first year, hmmmm

Anyway I bought one from them earlier this year and just paid cash upfront, much less hassle