Virgin Experience Days Hot Air Balloon Flight for 2

lisyloo

Yeah mine has gone sold out but the money has only been taken today, Im getting on the phone why take it if you know days in advance

It's automated.
The transaction was started on 4th. It may have taken until 6th to show up on your credit/debit card, but the transaction was already in progress and couldn't be stopped.

I understand why people are annoyed but these 35,000 orders went through automatically. There was no-one making a conscious decision about whether to take the money or not.
It can't be stopped and refunds will probably require some manual action even if they have a batch mechanism.

It's incomptetant and annoying but it's not a conspiracy.
If they wanted to harvest details/customers they would have been far better off running a competition for a single spa day and not hacking everyone off.

lynzpower

tonynz wrote: »

Did they offer some sort of good will gesture?

no but the guy said

"we shouldnt have taken the money if we knew it was out of stock"

I felt a bit sorry for the lad on the phone, so I resisted giving him hell, its hardly his fault.

Its just tricky for me with my own cashflow but no biggie I am not really that bothered.

tonynz

lynzpower wrote: »

no but the guy said

"we shouldnt have taken the money if we knew it was out of stock"

I felt a bit sorry for the lad on the phone, so I resisted giving him hell, its hardly his fault.

Its just tricky for me with my own cashflow but no biggie I am not really that bothered.

You are right in not giving the CSR crap, it's hardly their fault.

However the item is not out of stock at all....

I think that the law protects the retailer more than the consumer, in my opinion, they shouldn't take money out if they have no intention to honour - the law should protect us from that.

Joozymup

I haven't had any dealings with Very or any of the other catalogues and I read these posts with interest. Confirmed by a solicitor, my understanding is that once money has changed hands, the sale has been agreed and a contract signed. So basically, once the payment has been accepted and taken, to renege on the deal at this point is a breach of contract!! It would be interesting to take this further, I guess these companies just assume they can do what they like, who would go through the expense of challenging them legally? I believe that's why, when you read through the terms and conditions (ie. On Marks & Spencer website) they stipulate that they only take payment once the item has been despatched.

pepperoni_2

lynzpower wrote: »

just spoke to them , the monies are being turned around and we should get the cash backin the next few days. Have any of you used very before, how likely is it that the money will be back with me say by monday?

It only went out of my account this afternoon is the irony of it all .

Just make sure they put the post and packing back as well...that's a favourite trick with them.

sassyblue

My tuppence worth.... they've had to take advice on how to deal with this hence the delays and fiasco.

My friend couldn't book online so rang them and specifically asked if the price was correct she was told 'yes' - so they could hardly say misprice and cancel hers could they?

A blanket 'sold out' covers everyone even though we know it's lies.

I went on to buy a cardigan today on the grabbit board it said £2, by the time l got to checkout it was £5 so l'm ringing to cancel my account and l don't want another of their catalogues delivered.

Most things are vastly overpriced anyway!!

I hope the OP gets his, it's such a shame you wanted to spread the word Hamy because l reckon you'd have got that if you hadn't posted here.

tonynz

Joozymup wrote: »

I haven't had any dealings with Very or any of the other catalogues and I read these posts with interest. Confirmed by a solicitor, my understanding is that once money has changed hands, the sale has been agreed and a contract signed. So basically, once the payment has been accepted and taken, to renege on the deal at this point is a breach of contract!! It would be interesting to take this further, I guess these companies just assume they can do what they like, who would go through the expense of challenging them legally? I believe that's why, when you read through the terms and conditions (ie. On Marks & Spencer website) they stipulate that they only take payment once the item has been despatched.

As much as I would love that to be the case, you accepted the following conditions when you ordered:

2.2 When you submit an order to us on our website you will receive a 'bounce back' confirmatory email of this order saying that we are processing your order. You will then receive a second email from us acknowledging your order and giving you estimated timescales for delivery. You should check both emails for accuracy and let us know immediately if there are any errors. Neither of these emails constitute acceptance of the order by us. Your order will be accepted by us (and a contract will then be formed between us) when we despatch the goods to you. Title to the goods will pass to you on delivery.

Joozymup

Absolutely, payment (and despatch) constitutes a contract between both parties. From what I read, people have received despatch emails and have had their accounts debited!!! Still as I said before, who is really going to go through the hassle and cost of challenging them? I guess companies can suggest whatever t & c they like but ultimately have to follow a legal code of conduct regardless of their own terms and conditions.

lynzpower

pepperoni wrote: »

Just make sure they put the post and packing back as well...that's a favourite trick with them.

Actually he did specifically say, there are 2 amounts, one for the experience and one for the P&P

I will let you know when the money is back in my account and thanks for the tip.

lynzpower

tonynz wrote: »

As much as I would love that to be the case, you accepted the following conditions when you ordered:

2.2 When you submit an order to us on our website you will receive a 'bounce back' confirmatory email of this order saying that we are processing your order. You will then receive a second email from us acknowledging your order and giving you estimated timescales for delivery. You should check both emails for accuracy and let us know immediately if there are any errors. Neither of these emails constitute acceptance of the order by us. Your order will be accepted by us (and a contract will then be formed between us) when we despatch the goods to you. Title to the goods will pass to you on delivery.

I agree this sounds like it is not 100% right. How can any trader take the money without a contract being formed?