very.co.uk

jami1n

I just made an order from very.co.uk using a discount code of £25. So the final order was reduced from £122.95 to £97.95. The final checkout amount stated £97.95. So I click submit and I see on the secure code page £122.95 flash up after I hit submit. I only authorised them to take £97.95 from my account but they took £122.95. I rang customer services and they stated that was the case, but they refund £25 once the item is despatched.

I was disgusted by this, as an e-commerce web developer I know something about credit card processing and checkout systems, and this is the most ridiculous system I have ever encountered. Surely it's illegal? I immediately cancelled my order and will never do any business with them again. To me it's irrelevant that they will refund the £25, I never gave them authority to take £122.95 from my account, regardless. What if I'd used my debit card and was close to my limit. That £25 could have taken me over and cost me bank fees.

So anyway I intend to bring this to the attention of trading standards and my credit card company. But I just wondered if anyone has any advice on the legality of what very.co.uk are doing, and whether I'm wasting my time pursuing this course of action.

Zinger549

I think most of the catalogue sites do that with discount codes. I think it might be to check if your allowed to use that code. I think some people use codes that are for first time customers and selected customers.

gwapenut

Completely agree with OP, it happened to me too and I also could see how someone shopping at very with a debit card close to their overdraft limit could easily incur significant unauthorised overdraft charges over the several weeks that they were overdrawn.

I just can't see how it's legal to state one charge and then debit your card with another. It takes weeks to refund, in the meantime you get a statement and need to pay the bill ...

ccotaxc

I once ordered a tv through very and it was an awful experience, would never used them again!

ThinkingOfLinking

Thanks for the warning OP. I agree with you and with Gwapenut. I often get emailed codes for Very and I've not yet (and probably now never will) ordered from them.

Enfieldian

Zinger549 wrote: »

I think most of the catalogue sites do that with discount codes. I think it might be to check if your allowed to use that code. I think some people use codes that are for first time customers and selected customers.

The JD williams group apply the codes at the checkout, so the price you see is the price you pay.

They may claim back against codes applied incorrectly though, but that is a different matter.

gwapenut

Enfieldian wrote: »

The JD williams group apply the codes at the checkout, so the price you see is the price you pay.

They may claim back against codes applied incorrectly though, but that is a different matter.

That's fair enough