H & M Credit without permission

buster1312

Hi I just wanted to know other people's thoughts/advise on this as I am feeling a little aggrieved!

At Christmas I purchased 2 t shirts online from H and M at the cost of £25. I paid on my debit card and received my goods.

Today I received a 'Monthly Statement' from H and M saying that I have a credit limit of £200 and a debit balance of £25. I phoned them to ask what this was about and was told that my card was declined at payment (have checked my account and was over a £1000 in the account at the time so may have been a technical error) I asked them why they sent me the goods and they said it is their policy to issue 'credit' for goods up to the value of £100 if a card is declined (they have told me that no credit check has taken place which seems a pretty irresponsible lending policy to me!)

They have now asked me for payment which I feel reticent to pay as I feel that as far as I was aware the goods were paid for in a transaction that took place 3 months ago.

I just feel very angry that they have created a credit account without my permission, supposedly they sent a letter but I haven't received this and why did they not email/put the letter with the goods!

Just wanted to know people's thoughts...

dmg24

So you think you should be able to keep the items and not pay?

buster1312

From my point of view I had paid. Since when do companies send goods without payment or a credit agreement?

gnaril

Your point of view is wrong sorry.

You have goods that you havent paid for.

IT aint worth the hassle to ignore their request for payment ie. potential debt collection etc etc.

The whole scenario seems a little messed up granted, seems silly for them to do this.

buster1312

My point of view is not wrong I believed that I had paid - how can this be wrong?? I think that it is extremely wrong that a company can open a credit account without your permission. Surely there must be some protection for this? What is to stop an unscrupulous company saying a card has been 'declined' and then opening a credit account to which payment charges and interest can be added (which I have been told will happen with this account)? I paid for items in good faith and now have an account, with a credit limit that I did not want or give permission for.

dmg24

Whilst they should not have opened a credit account without your consent, it is pretty clear that they thought they were doing you a favour. The simple fact is that you have not paid. The simple answer is pay up or return the unused goods. Not difficult is it?

Foggster

When you checked your statements were you not surprised/concerned that payment hadnt been taken? Did you not call them to ask them when they would be debiting your account? I am afraid you are wrong and there are many examples of where goods are sent without payment up front i.e. most catalogue companies.

buster1312

No it's not difficult, however as a consumer you have a right to know what is happening within your transaction. If they had emailed to say 'your card has declined' I could have called the bank to find out why and then accepted their 'favour' if I had wanted to from there. However the choice was not mine. The 'put up or shut up' attitude is why we have such terrible customer service in this country.

peachyprice

You seem to be clouding the two issues.

Yes, they were wrong to open a credit account without your permission. You should pursue them for this.

But you haven't paid for the goods, the money hasn't come out of your bank account, but you didn't notice? Why do you believe you don't have to pay for the goods?

The best thing you can do is pay the bill in full and close the account.

buster1312

In placing a catalogue order you are entering in to a credit agreement.

buster1312

It's not that I don't think I should pay for them, it's that I thought I had and 3 months later I am being pursued for it. I can not believe that there is no protection for consumers from this.