Company went bust before refund. Bank won't refund me.

CheeseSlices

I hope you guys can help.

Some background info first.
Back in July I ordered a graphics card from imperialprice.com. Once they informed me of 'stock delays' (one of their scams it seems) I cancelled and ordered a refund. Their refund terms meant a wait of 30 days from cancellation which I reluctantly agreed to. After this date I tried to contact them but they appeared to have stopped trading. At this point I applied for a refund from my bank - Santander.

I didn't receive their reply in the mail but on calling them today they initially said that I had a contract and no refund was forthcoming. On correcting them and explaining it was unreceived goods they then said that the company had gone in to administration and that they would not offer a refund on my DEBIT CARD purchase. Instead it was up to me to go sort it out with the administrators directly, no assistance on how to do this or find out who they are was forthcoming despite requests.

So what to do?
So I now realise my first mistake (beyond not checking out the company) was not paying with a credit card. I wanted to use my business account for a business purchase and to keep it simple.

I'm in discussions with Santander about how they can help me out after a VERY poor initial response. Assuming that I get nothing what do I do about getting my money back from the administrators? I don't even know the name of the parent company that owned imperialprice.com.

Any help is appreciated! :-)

Hintza

CheeseSlices wrote: »

I wanted to use my business account for a business purchase

I very very much doubt you will get anything back.

This is a B2B transaction so you need to join the queue of creditors.

arcon5

Unfortunately, a chargeback, unlike section 75 is basically a system which can seek to recover money paid from the merchants bank (their merchant account bank that is)... a company in administration will most likely have frozen accounts, having of course being subjected to the 'off setting' rule by the bank to recover some of their losses (and probably clearing any remaining cash) with the administrators having access.

So yes, you are at the mercy of the administrator.

One thing to note though, being in administration is very different to being placed in liquidation. The latter being formal proceedings to close down a company - the former merely offering certain protections to the company whilst a formal process is followed to try to sell the business as a going concern or secure funding to take the company out of insolvency and create a realistic plan for the company to trade through their problems.
So there is still a chance the company could survive - equally it could lead to being liquidated.

earthstorm

imperialprice.com dont seem to be in administration

their site says

Imperialprice.com

This website has been closed down due to the request made from the owner of the B&F Solutions Limited.

Please note: If you wish receive information about pending orders or for other enquiries, send an email to [EMAIL="info@imperialprice.com"]info@imperialprice.com[/EMAIL]

but B&F Solutions Limited trades as imperialprice.com and B&F Solutions Limited is still active according to Companies House

Name & Registered Office:
B&F SOLUTIONS LIMITED
145-157 ST. JOHN STREET
LONDON
ENGLAND
EC1V 4PW
Company No. 07612393


Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 21/04/2011

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC):
46510 - Wholesale of computers, computer peripheral equipment and software
46520 - Wholesale of electronic and telecommunications equipment and parts
Accounting Reference Date: 30/04
Last Accounts Made Up To: 30/04/2012 (TOTAL EXEMPTION SMALL)
Next Accounts Due: 31/01/2014
Last Return Made Up To: 13/08/2013
Next Return Due: 10/09/2014

the reg address is just a paid postal address used by many companies.

check these

www.hotukdeals.com/ask/anyone-tried-imperialprice-com-1517587

www.reviewcentre.com/Online-Electronic-Shops/Imperial-Price-www-imperialprice-com-reviews_2018980

more strange, on their site if you click the contact link it brings up a form with an address that according to Google maps is a Indian Restaurant which is next to London Offshore Consultants Ltd

Coopdivi

They haven't gone bust and they're not in administration. The scammers behind the site have merely shut it down and reopened as Awsome Price.com.

Earthstorm's post prompted me to investigate both these websites and put my findings on Web of Trust.

http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/awsomeprice.com

http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/imperialprice.com

So CheeseSlices, you need to go back to your bank and tell them they're talking rollocks.

CheeseSlices

Update.
Since my contact with Santander late yesterday afternoon where they basically said "no refund, it's your problem mate", there has been a development.

After requesting one, I got a call back from a customer service manager where I explained my position in a calm and rational manner, while making it clear I felt abandoned and rather upset by how I had been treated. The response was sympathetic and helpful with a promise to escalate internally the next day. I may also have mentioned that I "will hold off on the twitter storm" until I hear back.

Well as of lunchtime today I received an 'account adjustment' payment of £200 (marginally more than I lost) as a good will gesture. I got my money back and all is well. I have learned my lesson about dodgy internet retailers and payment methods too!

Thanks you MSE bods, and thank you Santander!!! (round of applause for good customer service deserved!) :T

earthstorm

good you got a refund.

in future for computer components use somewhere like Amazon.

we use redstore.com and have never had any problems

arcon5

Always good to read some praise about a bank, good on Santander.