can they do this??

wardy1985

hi all,
right my question is this-
i dropped my spectacles into a local manufacturing opticians where i live and asked them to re-coat my existing lenses. the cost was £25 which i said i'd pay when i picked them up. I returned to pick the spectacles up 6 months later as i had a family problem abroad to find out that the company had disposed of them after 4 months. they said they tried to contact me, but i never got a message. now these spectacles cost me £1200. where do i stand??? any and all info is greatly appreciated. many thanks

mattyprice4004

You really should have contacted them to let them know you were going to pick them up, I'm sure you could find 30 seconds to give them a quick call.

I don't think you'll get anywhere with this one, you can't expect someone to store something of yours for 6 months.

somethingcorporate

I can see this from both sides. I would go and see a solicitor for a free 30 minute session to see if there is anything you can do. They do have a duty of care but I am not sure how long this extends for.

steveE2

Have a read here
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/keeping_lost_found_and_uncollected_goods.htm

Procedure for obtaining the right to sell uncollected or abandoned goods

If you want to sell the goods you must take reasonable steps to trace the original owner if they, or their whereabouts, is unknown. This depends on the circumstances, but might include placing advertisements in local newspapers, notices on local community notice boards or contacting a trade association if the owner has a business.
If you have taken reasonable steps to trace the owner, but have not been successful, you can sell the goods. It is worth keeping a note of what you did to trace the owner.
If you trace the original owner, you must send two written notices to the owner before you sell the goods.
You must give the owner of the goods, a first written notice personally or by post stating:

• that the owner is responsible for collecting the goods
• the details of the goods and where they are
• your name and address
• how much money is owed, if any, for the goods when the notice is sent, for example, the cost of the repair or reasonable storage charges.

You must send the owner of the goods, by recorded delivery or registered post, a second written notice stating:

• you intend to sell the goods if they are not collected by a date given in the notice
• the details of the goods and where they are
• your name and address
• how much money is owed, if any, for the goods, when the notice is sent.

If the owner of the goods owes you money, the period between the second notice and the sale of the goods must be at least three months.

What happens to the money from the sale

If you are the person selling the goods, you must be able to show the original owner that the sale was handled properly to get a fair price for the goods. Apart from the expenses of selling the goods, for example, storage charges or auction fees, the original owner must be given the money from the sale if their address is known. If the goods had been left for repair and were then not collected, the cost of the repair work can also be deducted. If not, the money must be kept for the original owner. However, after six years the owner cannot claim, or sue, for the money.

McKneff

wardy1985 wrote: »

hi all,
right my question is this-
i dropped my spectacles into a local manufacturing opticians where i live and asked them to re-coat my existing lenses. the cost was £25 which i said i'd pay when i picked them up. I returned to pick the spectacles up 6 months later as i had a family problem abroad to find out that the company had disposed of them after 4 months. they said they tried to contact me, but i never got a message. now these spectacles cost me £1200. where do i stand??? any and all info is greatly appreciated. many thanks

£1,200 for a pair of specs:eek:

surely a typo.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

steveE2 wrote: »

Have a read here
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/keeping_lost_found_and_uncollected_goods.htm

All well and good but the OP didnt say they had sold them - just disposed of them.

steveE2

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

All well and good but the OP didnt say they had sold them - just disposed of them.

Sorry missed a bit when i copied

What happens if the owner does not collect the goods

If the owner does not collect the goods by the date given in the notice, and you are sure that the goods belong to the person who has been sent the notices, then you may:

• keep the goods
• sell the goods
• get rid of the goods.

If the goods are sold they will then legally belong to the person who has bought them.