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Sofa cancellation rights

anna42hmr
Posts: 2,897 Forumite


Hello all
can you confirm if i have the correct understanding of SCS's sofa cancellation rights for ordering online
http://www.scs.co.uk/cancellation-and-returns/lib_cs_returns.html
essentially I am in the process of buying a ground floor flat (no chain etc), the completion should be done within the next 5-6 weeks, now the problem comes as i am a first time buyer all furniture (bar beds as taking the one from my parents house) need to be bought new. I have seen a few sofa's i like and would fit the shape and size of the room, but we would be reluctant to wait till we have the keys to order them as would mean 6 weeks or so without any seating etc.
clearly we cannot order in store, as are obligated to buy, but looking at SCS website it looks like if you order on line you can cancel and change your mind any time up to 14 days after delivery. Am i reading this right, as that way I could order online and in the unlikely ( hopefully) event that the flat sale falls through at the last stage or is delayed then the order can be cancelled before delivery at no cost.
Am i reading the distance selling regs and scs's terms correctly??
can you confirm if i have the correct understanding of SCS's sofa cancellation rights for ordering online
http://www.scs.co.uk/cancellation-and-returns/lib_cs_returns.html
essentially I am in the process of buying a ground floor flat (no chain etc), the completion should be done within the next 5-6 weeks, now the problem comes as i am a first time buyer all furniture (bar beds as taking the one from my parents house) need to be bought new. I have seen a few sofa's i like and would fit the shape and size of the room, but we would be reluctant to wait till we have the keys to order them as would mean 6 weeks or so without any seating etc.
clearly we cannot order in store, as are obligated to buy, but looking at SCS website it looks like if you order on line you can cancel and change your mind any time up to 14 days after delivery. Am i reading this right, as that way I could order online and in the unlikely ( hopefully) event that the flat sale falls through at the last stage or is delayed then the order can be cancelled before delivery at no cost.
Am i reading the distance selling regs and scs's terms correctly??
MFW#105 - 2015 Overpaid £8095 / 2016 Overpaid £6983.24 / 2017 Overpaid £3583.12 / 2018 Overpaid £2583.12 / 2019 Overpaid £2583.12 / 2020 Overpaid £2583.12/ 2021 overpaid £1506.82 /2022 Overpaid £2975.28 / 2023 Overpaid £2677.30 / 2024 Overpaid £2173.61 Total OP since mortgage started in 2015 = £37,286.86 2025 MFW target £1700, payments to date at April 2025 - £1712.07..
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Comments
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Wait till the flat is sorted before ordering.0
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I'd wait. You can sit on boxes or beanbags or find something cheap on eBay to tide you over once you have the flat. People have been doing this for years!0
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They talk about deducting 25% if used. The fact that you've had it at all might be enough for them to consider it used, so you will lose 25%.
It'd be better to wait until you have the flat. You can look on gumtree or free cycling sites to find a sofa to tide you over, people are often giving them away just to get someone to take it off their hands, so you could sit on this while waiting for the new sofa to be delivered.
Although, if you know the size of the room and doorways now, there's no reason you should be cancelling the sofa when it arrives? Unless of course completion falls through. But if you're willing to lose 25% if worse come to worse, then go for it.0 -
Yes, if you order online you will have a right to a full refund up to 14 days after delivery (you will need to pay return costs for the sofa).
So if it falls through and not been delivered then no reason you cannot cancel.
Not sure though, why you need to buy new because you're first time buyers??0 -
They talk about deducting 25% if used. The fact that you've had it at all might be enough for them to consider it used, so you will lose 25%.
It'd be better to wait until you have the flat. You can look on gumtree or free cycling sites to find a sofa to tide you over, people are often giving them away just to get someone to take it off their hands, so you could sit on this while waiting for the new sofa to be delivered.
Although, if you know the size of the room and doorways now, there's no reason you should be cancelling the sofa when it arrives? Unless of course completion falls through. But if you're willing to lose 25% if worse come to worse, then go for it.
While I agree its best waiting and while it may also be possible the retailer would say that, thankfully the law doesnt agree with them.(9) If (in the case of a sales contract) the value of the goods is diminished by any amount as a result of handling of the goods by the consumer beyond what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods, the trader may recover that amount from the consumer, up to the contract price.
(10) An amount that may be recovered under paragraph (9)—
(a)may be deducted from the amount to be reimbursed under paragraph (1);
(b)otherwise, must be paid by the consumer to the trader.
(11) Paragraph (9) does not apply if the trader has failed to provide the consumer with the information on the right to cancel required by paragraph (l) of Schedule 2, in accordance with Part 2.
(12) For the purposes of paragraph (9) handling is beyond what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods if, in particular, it goes beyond the sort of handling that might reasonably be allowed in a shop.
It does not say they are allowed to deduct any diminished value. It states they are allowed to deduct only if the handling goes beyond what is reasonable and only if they provide the necessary information.
Your post is essentially saying that accepting delivery goes beyond what is reasonable. I'm sure you can agree it would be ludicrous for a retailer to try taking that view.You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride0 -
They talk about deducting 25% if used. The fact that you've had it at all might be enough for them to consider it used, so you will lose 25%.
It'd be better to wait until you have the flat. You can look on gumtree or free cycling sites to find a sofa to tide you over, people are often giving them away just to get someone to take it off their hands, so you could sit on this while waiting for the new sofa to be delivered.
Although, if you know the size of the room and doorways now, there's no reason you should be cancelling the sofa when it arrives? Unless of course completion falls through. But if you're willing to lose 25% if worse come to worse, then go for it.
Sadly to them that looks unlawful to me.0 -
deckchairs.
We used them for a year after we got married as we couldn't afford to buy0 -
Bump to kick the SPAM off the first page.0
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Thanks for the replies every one I appreciste it. Going to hold off ordering for now I think to be on the safe sideMFW#105 - 2015 Overpaid £8095 / 2016 Overpaid £6983.24 / 2017 Overpaid £3583.12 / 2018 Overpaid £2583.12 / 2019 Overpaid £2583.12 / 2020 Overpaid £2583.12/ 2021 overpaid £1506.82 /2022 Overpaid £2975.28 / 2023 Overpaid £2677.30 / 2024 Overpaid £2173.61 Total OP since mortgage started in 2015 = £37,286.86 2025 MFW target £1700, payments to date at April 2025 - £1712.07..0
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If you really wanted a sofa as soon as you move in you can always try your local Freecycle/Freegle get one free and use it until your new one arrives then pass it on to someone else in need. Or try ebay, you can probably get a sofa for £50ish just to keep you going for a few weeks.0
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