Handling fee on returns?

Keldin

I was shopping around for the cheapest price on some items today and found an internet shop with free delivery. Now it's a few pounds more for the goods than the next cheapest but it has free delivery which makes it the cheapest.
However when I looked at the returns policy it has the usual 7 day Distance Selling returns bit in it but also adds in a £3 fee for any returns to cover admin, credit card fees and postage.
Now I thought the Distance Selling regs allow you a full refund of the purchase price but not postage. How can they withold £3 of the purchase price?

K

Savvy_Sue

I think it would be because a fee is charged by the credit card processing bods, and there is certainly admin involved. We have just ordered a sofa online (we have tried it first!) and if we change our minds we don't get the £5 credit charge back.

So if you are right about what the Distance Selling regs allow, then the company is within its rights not to refund all of what you are regarding as the entire purchase price. Because within that selling price they are allowing a small amount for admin, card fees and postage. Other sites add it on as an extra, this one doesn't, but clearly they have incurred such charges. Others may disagree with me, of course ...

treacle

The OFT have ruled that under the Consumer Protection Distance Selling Regs all of the outward carriage charges should be refunded. If not complain to your local Trading Standards. They cannot justify any other charges under these Regs.