Books Direct

Ihateconmen_2

Hi. I joined the site booksdirect.co.uk a few months ago, taking advantage of an introductory offer which ties you into buying at least 4 full price books in the first year of membership. They also have an 'Editor's Choice' selection each month which you can choose to reject. So far I've rejected the editor's choice every month, and twice now I've been sent the books anyway.

The first time after a few emails back and forth and getting nowhere I caved and ended up paying the £3 charge for returning the books, but this time I really don't want to give in. They have sent me these books, charging me £24 for them, despite me telling them that I did not want them, and then they are trying to charge me £3 to return them.

I told them I will not pay this when they should not have sent the books in the first place, and they're clearly trying to con people into paying for books they do not want, and I asked them to close my account, but as I've not yet bought 4 full priced books they just keep saying that my account will be closed when I've fulfilled my membership agreement with them. Surely as long as they are not fulfilling their duty of care to the customer by respecting their wishes and not trying to charge them for things they don't want then the customer should not be obliged to fulfill the membership agreement?

I'm trying to get them to pay for the postage so that I can send back these books that they've me knowing full well I didn't want them, ad to close my account. Does anybody know where I stand? I really feel like I should not give up on this one, it really annoys me when companies like this try to con people out of their money, but I just don't know if it's going to end up getting me in more trouble than it's worth.

If anyone can help I'd be so greatful.

cleo1299

I got stuck in one of these once. It can be really exasperating trying to escape. Here's my understanding of it but I am just going on my own experience:

You do have to buy the minimum number of books you agreed to. Since that's the whole basis for the introductory offer, I don't think you'd have a leg to stand on trying to exit without buying the minimum. Once you've bought four books, you can resign.

You don't have to return the books you didn't ask for. Write to them, stating that you told them you didn't want the books, and ask them to make arrangements to collect them. Stick them in a cupboard and forget about them.

Once you've bought your four books and resigned, if they have taken any money off your card for books you told them you didn't want, you have the usual rights to ask for a refund and if they don't comply take them to court.

These outfits can be a real hassle. To be fair, though, the intro books I got were very good value.

sandiep

This is one of those ones where do really need to read each and every word of the terms and conditions, and not just tick the box.

Ihateconmen_2

I didn't just 'tick a box'. I understand the contract is to buy 4 books, it's the fact that they're sending me things I've told them I don't want that I have a problem with!

DVardysShadow

Ihateconmen wrote: »

I didn't just 'tick a box'. I understand the contract is to buy 4 books, it's the fact that they're sending me things I've told them I don't want that I have a problem with!

Go with cleo's advice, then. It is not your problem, it is the bookclub's problem to collect them.

LittleVoice

When you reject the "Editor's choice", keep a screenshot confirming that you have done so - and the date you did so.

Personally I sometimes keep Outlook displaying the current date in the background (ie don't have the book club screen full page) when I do the screenprint. Even if you only keep a screenshot of the book club page, paste it into a new separate Word file which will itself log a time and date.

If you reject by post rather than online, get a certificate of posting - free. It's not quite as good as proof but better than simply saying you have sent the rejection.

Even when you have bought the four books, you are probably locked into receiving the book offers for the remainder of the first year. That will have been part of what is signed up to. I don't know the Books Direct t&c but usually it is only when you have both bought the minimum number of books and received a year's supply of offers that you can cancel membership.

cleo1299

LittleVoice wrote: »

Even when you have bought the four books, you are probably locked into receiving the book offers for the remainder of the first year. That will have been part of what is signed up to. I don't know the Books Direct t&c but usually it is only when you have both bought the minimum number of books and received a year's supply of offers that you can cancel membership.

The Books Direct website states that members can resign at any point after the minimum 4 books have been bought. http://www.booksdirect.co.uk/Tabs/Faq(NMCMS).aspx

It also says "Although we ask that you agree to buy 4 books in your first year of membership you are free to choose from all titles, across all genres and all clubs."

So if the OP wanted to, he could just choose 4 books now, from any of the books on their website, buy them, and resign.

1jim

This is a bit like Books On Line (bol.com/co.uk) that I used to use a few years ago although I dont remember having any problems like this with them (but I think they might have gone bust some time ago). What are the normal book prices for this club in comparison to Amazon or play etc

The_Pedant

Question to folks: If you have clear proof that you have not accepted the editor's choice, if you are then charged for the books, would this not fall foul of the unsolicited goods provisions of The Consumar Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000?

As they are in essence trying to charge you for something that you have explicitly stated you do not want, as I see it.

I belonged to one of these years ago. I too just simply bought the minimum & terminated as soon as I could.

cleo1299

The_Pedant wrote: »

Question to folks: If you have clear proof that you have not accepted the editor's choice, if you are then charged for the books, would this not fall foul of the unsolicited goods provisions of The Consumar Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000?

Yes and in practice even if you don't have actual proof that you said you didn't want the book, if the book club has got any sense they will refund the money when it is requested. They surely would know better than to ever let it get to court.

Book Club: "Your honour, the customer didn't tell us he didn't want the book."

Judge: "Oh yes, I remember that happened to my [brother/son/friend] when he made the mistake of joining one of these clubs. Judgment plus costs to the customer. Case dismissed."