my grandad needs help

spuds69

my 90 year old grandad bought some commerative coins from an advert in a magazine. he was happy with the coin but then they sent him the next 2 in the series. when he saw the bill he phone the company and they instructed him to send the items back with a covering letter. he did this. he was then sent a letter from a debt collecting agency. when he contacted the company they said they recieved the package from him but it was incomplete. they have given him a bit of time to find but he does not have it. where can he go for help to avoid court?

sporedude

Where is the missing bit?

spuds69

he believes he sent everything back in one parcel

dreamypuma

spuds69 wrote: »

he believes he sent everything back in one parcel

I think first of all before considering any action, you need to get straight, whether he "believes" or knows without doubt.

flossy_splodge

spuds69 wrote: »

my 90 year old grandad bought some commerative coins from an advert in a magazine. he was happy with the coin but then they sent him the next 2 in the series. when he saw the bill he phone the company and they instructed him to send the items back with a covering letter. he did this. he was then sent a letter from a debt collecting agency. when he contacted the company they said they recieved the package from him but it was incomplete. they have given him a bit of time to find but he does not have it. where can he go for help to avoid court?

What is the bit that's missing?
What value does it have?
If it's just part of the packaging it should be easy to sort.

spuds69

it is a commemerative bank note. not sure what it is worth but they are charging him for the note and the coin at £111. he says he sent it back but because the company says he hasnt, it has got him confused. he has turned his house over but cant find it. he is 90 and i feel that their action has got him doubting himself.

rl290

Is it only the "next two items" that he didn't want and sent back? If so, doesn't this fall under the legislation regarding unsolicited gifts? (Someone else will know infinitely more about this than me)

spuds69

rl290 wrote: »

Is it only the "next two items" that he didn't want and sent back? If so, doesn't this fall under the legislation regarding unsolicited gifts? (Someone else will know infinitely more about this than me)

that is correct. they are claiming that he only sent back one of the items

flossy_splodge

I had much the same with my 88 year old father.
He sent off for a commemorative RAF coin but didn't realise they would keep sending them.
I had to get involved when the threatening letters started.
Luckily he hadn't even tried to send the unwanted ones back so I phoned them, explained, said they were taking advantage of those who are not up to speed on these things and when they didn't get the money for the second one they should have stopped sending anymore.
I said the subsequent ones were unsolicited (he paid for the first one) and so they were free to collect the other three, I would keep them safe for 28 days and after that i would deem them to be a gift.
They agreed, said they couldn't be bothered to collect so for him to keep them anyway.
No more 'unsolicited' items since, I'm pleased to say.
Good luck.:T

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Tell them he's returned the items. He will not be paying the money for something he has returned, he is 90 and getting very upset. Tell this to a supervisor. And if they threaten debt collection, remind them of his age and say that everything should be directed to you as he is in no fit state to enter into contracts, something they should be aware of - none of this is lying, but they could decide that this is one that it is not worth fighting over.