sneaky bordering on fraud

k1984

Hi there im looking for a bit of advice (hopefully posting in the right area).

I had prepared a thread there but lost it all :mad: so ill make this a cut down short version.lol

Went into a large electrical retailer to buy a laptop with the OH. Laptop was for her so I took a back seat admiring the goodies I could dream of buying. Salesman was trying to sell her all sorts she didn’t want or need. I explained we knew what laptop we wanted so he went to get it. OH went to till to pay for it and I heard salesman saying “ill give you the first month free” I asked what this was for and he said it was for insurance. I said we didn’t want any insurance so he said “fine, it’s a month free anyway you don’t need to take it after that”

So OH hands notices the price is wrong so that’s changed, she hands over her debit card (account number + Sortcode on the front), and the salesman types away and prints off lots of receipts, gives a copy to my OH and tells her to just sign it and says hes going to photocopy the other one. While he is away I notice one of the receipts is for a direct debit mandate for £8 complete with my OH’s personal details, account number and sortcode. When he returns I asked him why he had taken the details from the card (as I see him slip the photocopies into his pocket). He explains it is for insurance and because we are getting a month free all we need to do is cancel the D/D if we don’t want it. I told him i didnt want insurance and that he had no right taking those details from the card. The manager comes over and seemed disinterested so asked for the photocopy from the salesman which he reluctantly gave me. The manager said that he’d ‘refund/resale’ the goods and take the direct debit off. I only realised that he had put the new receipt in the middle and had bloody put the insurance back on!! I know its not a biggie as ill just phone the bank telling them to cancel the d/d but i really shouldnt have to be doing this.

Now correct me if im wrong and im going only from my knowledge of law but in my opinion the salesman has committed a fraud by taking the account number and sortcode from the card without our knowledge with the intent of gaining the payment for the insurance? What is the legality of this?

Im lookin for a bit of advice on my next step – ive prepared a letter to the company head office however I actually feel so strongly about this I don’t think that’s enough. I know people will be reading this thinking “give it a break, its not a big deal” but the way I see it is – if it happened here, then its happened before and will happen again. Whos to say that this salesman isn’t taking a note of bank details to sell on?

Thanks for reading

K J

dacouch

Also worth reporting it to the Financial Services Authority, they are very very consumer focused and see it as very important that customers are sold policies they understand, want and are treated fairly. They even have a "Treating Customers Fairly Code".

They will not be happy about this at all and have the powers to act.

This is caused by bonuses being paid for selling the add ons.

You could also try reporting to the police although they will probably not be interested but its worth a try. You could even cc the complaint letter to them as it might make the H.O realise the seriousness of what they have done

The local press may also be interested and it might prompt other people to check their statements etc as I doubt this is the first time this has been done

I assume this is PC World, am I right?

GonzoAston

I agree with dacouch,

The assistant is probably on commision for up-selling and I dont believe they should of taken your account details without your permission.

Good thing you were there IMO

gettingbetter

k1984 wrote: »

Hi there im looking for a bit of advice (hopefully posting in the right area).

I had prepared a thread there but lost it all :mad: so ill make this a cut down short version.lol

Went into a large electrical retailer to buy a laptop with the OH. Laptop was for her so I took a back seat admiring the goodies I could dream of buying. Salesman was trying to sell her all sorts she didn’t want or need. I explained we knew what laptop we wanted so he went to get it. OH went to till to pay for it and I heard salesman saying “ill give you the first month free” I asked what this was for and he said it was for insurance. I said we didn’t want any insurance so he said “fine, it’s a month free anyway you don’t need to take it after that”

So OH hands notices the price is wrong so that’s changed, she hands over her debit card (account number + Sortcode on the front), and the salesman types away and prints off lots of receipts, gives a copy to my OH and tells her to just sign it and says hes going to photocopy the other one. While he is away I notice one of the receipts is for a direct debit mandate for £8 complete with my OH’s personal details, account number and sortcode. When he returns I asked him why he had taken the details from the card (as I see him slip the photocopies into his pocket). He explains it is for insurance and because we are getting a month free all we need to do is cancel the D/D if we don’t want it. I told him i didnt want insurance and that he had no right taking those details from the card. The manager comes over and seemed disinterested so asked for the photocopy from the salesman which he reluctantly gave me. The manager said that he’d ‘refund/resale’ the goods and take the direct debit off. I only realised that he had put the new receipt in the middle and had bloody put the insurance back on!! I know its not a biggie as ill just phone the bank telling them to cancel the d/d but i really shouldnt have to be doing this.

Now correct me if im wrong and im going only from my knowledge of law but in my opinion the salesman has committed a fraud by taking the account number and sortcode from the card without our knowledge with the intent of gaining the payment for the insurance? What is the legality of this?

Im lookin for a bit of advice on my next step – ive prepared a letter to the company head office however I actually feel so strongly about this I don’t think that’s enough. I know people will be reading this thinking “give it a break, its not a big deal” but the way I see it is – if it happened here, then its happened before and will happen again. Whos to say that this salesman isn’t taking a note of bank details to sell on?

Thanks for reading

K J

hi

think i would be more worried
about copies he put in his pocket

what is the reason for that

kas xx

nullogik

gettingbetter wrote: »

hi

think i would be more worried
about copies he put in his pocket

what is the reason for that

kas xx

Indeed...very suspicious putting those copies in his pocket. :huh:

Ice_2

keep a check on your bank account for small amounts going out.
I had on for £24 for national express in Birmingham, I am in North yorkshire.
so dont know how that happened but I had been shopping that week in afew shops I used my card.
so go figure.
:mad:

k1984

Hi folks thanks for the replies. Im going to copy the financial services authority. Ive also had a look in a sunday paper who run a consumer section so i'll also copy them into it.

Ive went to the bank to cancel the d/d if it was set up but ill need to wait a few days to do this.

When i think back i dont think there was anything sinister with the salesman putting the copy in his pocket (i hope). Ive seen myself folding important bits of paper and putting them in my pocket ifd i go to speak to someone.

Dacouch - it was indeed Pc World. Im assuming they are 'regulars' at stunts like these?

K:)

dacouch

PC World are struggling so are really really pushing their staff to sell and increase the profitibility of PC World. http://www.bitterwallet.com/category/insider-rumours (There is plenty more on PC World on bitterwallet, they have a mole or moles and are reguarly fed inside information. In fact they will be very interested in your case if you report it to them)

I suspect they retained the receipt so they could fill out the bank details for the direct debit.

Have a word with the FSA as they will not be happy with PC World and will want them to investigate to see if this is an isolated incident from one employee, a who branch or the whole company. Either way what they have done is wrong and should not happen so needs to be nipped in the bud

cabbage

contact watchdog too.