Moral Dilemma...WWYD?

Jessica29

I was offered an upgrade back in May by my contract provider and decided to upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S4 in white. When it arrived, I decided I'd prefer it in black so contacted my provider who agreed to send a black one the next day and I was to give the white one to the delivery driver. As I was at work the delivery of the new one was handled by our reception staff, and the delivery driver said he'd come back round and pick up the other one in the afternoon to give the receptionist chance to get the white one off me (we work in quite a big building!!). Anyway it turns out that the driver never came back and the receptionist returned the white one to me about a month later, and it's been sat under my bed since.

At the end of September, I called my provider and told them that I still had the white one and did they want to collect it. The guy at the call centre seemed almost confused at the question but thanked me for my honesty (it happens alot - apparently!) and said they'd send a bag out for me to return it in. Fast forward two months (and 6 months since they originally delivered it) and no sign of a bag and no contact from my provider for the phone to be returned. I feel like I've done my bit to try and have it collected but they don't appear to be that bothered and the phones obviously cost them tuppence!

Everyone is telling me to sell the phone (and I could really do with the money for the work on our house!) but I'm a big believer in karma...:embarasse

z3phyr04

The only sensible thing to do would be to ensure that you do not sell it on as you will only cause problems further down the line. It is not your property at the end of the day.

Send a recorded letter (keeping a copy and the proof that it was sent) to notify them that they have not retrieved it and request they set up a means to return it (so you're not put out of pocket beyond a letter). Explain that you have previously contacted them but have not received the promised collection of the phone nor the bag the customer service agent suggested would be dispatched so that you could return it.

Keep it safe and await their reply. Then you have done your due diligence in getting it back to them. They cannot then later turn around and suggest that you intended to keep it if/when they have a stock audit or something similar.

anotheruser

I would sell it.
The supplier obviously isn't that bothered, especially if it has been with you for a good while!

I had a similar problem with Amazon.

Bought a phone, but it had a problem.
Amazon sent a new one.
Old phone was supposed to be picked up but driver "could not find address"
A few weeks later, Amazon sent me an email saying they'd not received the old phone and I would be charged for the new one.
Sent Amazon an email explaining driver did not pick up old phone.
Amazon replied and said it didn't matter and keep both.

So I was left with two phones worth ~£500 each.
This is why I continue to shop with Amazon as their customer service is definitely on my side - rare n a company these days.

gjchester

Jessica29 wrote: »

Everyone is telling me to sell the phone (and I could really do with the money for the work on our house!) but I'm a big believer in karma...:embarasse

You have to live with it and I think you've answered your own question.


Plus there's the possibility (although unlikely now) they will come after you for it at some point.

JJ_Egan

gjchester wrote: »

You have to live with it and I think you've answered your own question.


Plus there's the possibility (although unlikely now) they will come after you for it at some point.

That can be a fair way down the line i know from experience that all of a sudden someone in accounts will find x is missing and start to chase it down .

Jessica29

Thanks all. I also think I answered my own question so I will hold on to it for now and write to them!

MillicentBystander

JJ_Egan wrote: »

That can be a fair way down the line i know from experience that all of a sudden someone in accounts will find x is missing and start to chase it down .

This is true, and can also become evident on an office audit. Personally I would try and return it AGAIN. Selling it could be construed as an illegal act as it isn't technically yours to sell. Although i know people who would have no qualms about doing such a thing and never seem to suffer any consequences. It all boils down to the sort of person you are, I guess.

anotheruser

If the guy completes his contract then it will be his.
I would have thought even if 50% of the contract is paid for, the phone would be his.

I'll bet my next months wages you won't get hunted down in a few months/years time.

But good on you for being safe... I guess.

gjchester

anotheruser wrote: »

If the guy completes his contract then it will be his.
I would have thought even if 50% of the contract is paid for, the phone would be his.

I'll bet my next months wages you won't get hunted down in a few months/years time.

But good on you for being safe... I guess.

The OP knows its got to be returned so cannot claim it's theirs that way and they cannot even claim they are unsolicited as its clearly not. Its a logistics screw up not un solicited.


The OP may be able to write to the company again stating the issue and giving them a timeline, or saying it will be disposed of, however remember that needs to go by a signed for mechanism so it's traceable later of the company comes chasing their goods back.


I doubt it will be chased, but there is the possibility and so best to do it by the book so to speak.