Paintball? Has my son been done? UPDATE AT END

elisebutt65

I had a phone call from my son earlier today as I'd said that I would pay for paintballing for him and upto10 friends. Apparently someone came to the shop where he works and sold him 10 tickets for 61.99 and this was to include 1000 free balls from here http://www.ipgvip.com/how-it-works/
Anyway it turns out that there is a further 9.99 per person to be paid up front before booking. I can't bloody afford another £100 on top of the £62 alread paid!!! This was not made clear when he paid for the package at all!

Now to get a refund, I have to send back the pack at my cost (obviously recorded as I don't want them to go missing)within 7 days and then they take £5.00 off for an admin fee!

He's only flipping 17 and they've taken advantage by not explaining all this properly to him! I am soo mad!

elisebutt65

Further to this I see there's been several complaints already on here abut IPG so I'm going to see if I can get my son to do a Visa Debit Chargeback .

Angry_Fanboy

Could the cost per person some sort of deposit for all the equipment necessary for paint-balling that gets refunded afterwards?

Might be worth reinforcing to your son that random people walking into the shop and offering what seems like a good deal are rarely legitimate - a more grown up version of the old 'don't accept sweets from strangers' conversation might be worthwhile.

elisebutt65

Angry_Fanboy wrote: »

Could the cost per person some sort of deposit for all the equipment necessary for paint-balling that gets refunded afterwards?

Might be worth reinforcing to your son that random people walking into the shop and offering what seems like a good deal are rarely legitimate - a more grown up version of the old 'don't accept sweets from strangers' conversation might be worthwhile.

Yeah - Believe me we've just had that conversation:o

I was originally going to book this via DeltaForce direct - it's the same venue and the cost was going to be 9.99 each for a paint-balling party, including equipment hire and 100 balls. IPG have basically charged him £62 for what is normally free!

Angry_Fanboy

Well I hope you get a good result anyway.

elisebutt65

Well I've scanned all documentation and am posting it recorded tomorrow and have also stated in the letter that I expect the money back within 21 days(in son's name) or they will be receiving a letter before action.

Then I'll send a letter giving them another 7 days and then onto MoneyClaim.

Who knows, they may pay up, but going from previous posts on here, that's unlikely.

Fire_Fox

He is old enough to get married, so he is old enough to ask questions. You don't know what was and was not said, so you don't know for sure he was 'taken advantage' of or misled. For all we know he got overexcited and didn't listen properly.

tamiami

Don't you have to be 18 before you can legally enter into a contract? If so then the paintball company didn't ask his age so surely the contract is void and he is entitled to a refund.

Techhead_2

tamiami wrote: »

Don't you have to be 18 before you can legally enter into a contract? If so then the paintball company didn't ask his age so surely the contract is void and he is entitled to a refund.

No, it's a bit of an urban myth that children can't enter into contracts.

What is true is that the contract can't be enforced. In practice this means that unless the contract is one which is going to be concluded almost straight away; something like buying a magazine; then the other party is unlikely to want to enter into the contract.

It's actually quite an interesting area for discussion. Few companies would have a problem with a thirteen year old buying a tee shirt. But what if they decided to change the tariff on their Pay and Go phone to one that asks for a regular top up?

SuperHan

Were these tickets £62 in total, as in for all 10 people!? Because that seems like a good deal... DeltaForce is £9.99 for entry and equipment, but no paintballs. Paintballs are around £7 for 100, so that's about £17 each, or £170. For £162, you're getting 1000 balls each?? I don't understand what the issue is here...

elisebutt65

SuperHan wrote: »

Were these tickets £62 in total, as in for all 10 people!? Because that seems like a good deal... DeltaForce is £9.99 for entry and equipment, but no paintballs. Paintballs are around £7 for 100, so that's about £17 each, or £170. For £162, you're getting 1000 balls each?? I don't understand what the issue is here...

Delta force had already quoted me a party price that included 3 games with 200 balls each for £9.99 per head inclusive of everything. I just hadn't gotten around to booking it & DS thought he was doing me a favour by getting it for 62. They did not explain about the further 9.99 per head.

Anyway it's moot now as I've sent it all back fully trackable with a letter explains that I expect the money back within 21 days as stated on their website or further action will be taken. Spoke to bank and they are happy to do a visa debit charge back if I have no success.