MSE News: Missing cash fears after Focus DIY administration

Welsh_Totster

Does this also cover the No Frills DIY stores too, as they sell Focus stuff?

Anon

I may be being thick, but why should customers have to contact them with proof of order - they have an ordering system that knows fine rightly who has ordered what and when it is due (unless someone has maliciously wiped the computer system)!

For stacyjmann it appears to be a different situation - it wasn't ordered for delivery, it was simply left there for safekeeping and therefore "ownership" had already passed to the customer?

Anon

innocent_girl

My colleague ordered an item from them on Tuesday and they had difficulty puting the payment through. In the end the guy told my colleague that he was going to send the goods anyway and he would call back the next day to take payment. The next day we saw that they had gone in to administration and wondered if she would still receive the item. She did receive it but she didnt pay so she got it free.

corbyboy

innocent_girl wrote: »

My colleague ordered an item from them on Tuesday and they had difficulty puting the payment through. In the end the guy told my colleague that he was going to send the goods anyway and he would call back the next day to take payment. The next day we saw that they had gone in to administration and wondered if she would still receive the item. She did receive it but she didnt pay so she got it free.

I doubt that. The administrators can still chase debts.

tifo

ormus wrote: »

the administrators will sort that problem out.

There will probably be large fees charged by the administrators. This money has to come from somewhere ..... after fees etc there may not be much left to refund to customers who are entitled to a refund. I've had this a few times over the years and only once was I offered around £30 out of £250. Other times no money was left to refund customers.

Alan_M_2

If your partners debit card is a VISA debit then he needs to contact his bank immediately and claim under Section 75 of the consumer credit act. The bank are obliged to refund the lost money and they then take it up with the stores administrators.

If the Debit card is non VISA (i.e maestro or solo etc this won't apply).

see here:-

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases

Chargeback information here:-

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/sale-of-goods/your-rights-when-paying-by-credit-card/chargeback-on-credit-and-debit-cards

tifo

Alan_M wrote: »

If your partners debit card is a VISA debit then he needs to contact his bank immediately and claim under Section 75 of the consumer credit act. The bank are obliged to refund the lost money and they then take it up with the stores administrators.

From your link:

Just to clear this up, this protection only applies to credit and store cards, NOT debit cards, cash spending, using cheques or charge cards. Therefore you have to use a credit card to be protected.

However, many bank's subscribe to the voluntary Visa debit card chargeback scheme and should process a refund.

Section 75 of the CCA 1974 has no relevance to debit card because there is NO CREDIT. The money comes from your own funds.

innocent_girl

corbyboy wrote: »

I doubt that. The administrators can still chase debts.

Ahh but how can they cos there is no delivery note or receipt and it was delivered to her work address and it even had the wrong name on it. Nobody took her payment details either.
Anyway shes willing to pay for it thats not a problem. She was just desperate for the item as it was out of stock everywhere. (Fiskars weed puller.)

aldredd

Aside from the orders - they are also altering their returns policy..

http://www.focusdiy.co.uk/

Customer returns

* Goods purchased prior to 5 May 2011 are only eligible for a like for like exchange, up to the value of the goods.

It's not clear if this applies to faulty items, where surely the sale of goods act must still apply and you're entitled to a refund?

Alan_M_2

tifo wrote: »

From your link:



However, many bank's subscribe to the voluntary Visa debit card chargeback scheme and should process a refund.

Section 75 of the CCA 1974 has no relevance to debit card because there is NO CREDIT. The money comes from your own funds.

Correct, but VISA operate their Debit card guarantee in the same way as section 75 for Credit cards. It's a requirements of accepting payment in this manner that you understand that as a retailer.