Undercharged for item

melliec

Last week my partner and I went to a bed store to order a mattress which is a wedding present from my Dad who is disabled. He gave me his bank card so I could pay for it in store. The total price was £394 including delivery and delivery is booked for Friday. Today I had a call from the bed shop and they said that I owe them money as they had accidently entered the amount as 349 instead of 394 and had only taken that amount and could I pay the money now! I said I couldn't as I don't have it and they said they can't deliver until I pay. I said it was a wedding present and that I can't afford to pay the extra and it would be difficult to ask my Dad for the extra when he thinks he has bought the present! They asked what I suggested so I said I suggest they deliver the bed as planned as it was not my error. Then I said I'd contact head office to see what they suggest. After this he said he will speak to the finance dept and get back to me but I'm still waiting. Any ideas of where I stand here?

stugib

melliec wrote: »

The total price was £394 including delivery and delivery is booked for Friday. Today I had a call from the bed shop and they said that I owe them money as they had accidently entered the amount as 349 instead of 394

You agreed and were happy to pay £394 and presumably have an invoice stating this amount? You've not paid them £394. You still owe the difference.

cono1717

It comes under the offer and acceptance - ultimately you agreed to pay £394 - you haven't paid that yet so are in breach of the contract - the seller can refuse to deliver it to you and refund the rest of the money.

I'm not sure how you could afford it last week but not now they have queried it though?
Surely if you explain to your dad and show him the receipt he will understand the mistake made? He never had a problem paying 394 below - the amount hasn't changed he just hasn't paid it yet.

Johnnytwostep

melliec wrote: »

Last week my partner and I went to a bed store to order a mattress which is a wedding present from my Dad who is disabled. He gave me his bank card so I could pay for it in store. The total price was £394 including delivery and delivery is booked for Friday. Today I had a call from the bed shop and they said that I owe them money as they had accidently entered the amount as 349 instead of 394 and had only taken that amount and could I pay the money now! I said I couldn't as I don't have it and they said they can't deliver until I pay. I said it was a wedding present and that I can't afford to pay the extra and it would be difficult to ask my Dad for the extra when he thinks he has bought the present! They asked what I suggested so I said I suggest they deliver the bed as planned as it was not my error. Then I said I'd contact head office to see what they suggest. After this he said he will speak to the finance dept and get back to me but I'm still waiting. Any ideas of where I stand here?

I would imagine you stand next to the empty space in the bedroom until you pay the rest of the money owed for the bed.

bris

It's just an unfortunate mistake, you have no rights to the price you actually paid, your contract is for the correct amount.

melliec

Thanks for the replies.

BlueEyedGirl

Incompetent staff in the shop make an error and customer is expected to put it right. I would make a complaint to head office and explain what you have here. It is not your fault staff in the shop are useless!

cono1717

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

Incompetent staff in the shop make an error and customer is expected to put it right. I would make a complaint to head office and explain what you have here. It is not your fault staff in the shop are useless!

Incompetence does not a debt settle. Irrespective of the staff's actions this debt was not paid in full, and needs to be.

powerful_Rogue

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

Incompetent staff in the shop make an error and customer is expected to put it right. I would make a complaint to head office and explain what you have here. It is not your fault staff in the shop are useless!

Wow, thats a bit harsh. Im guessing you never make a mistake.

Imagine the complaints if a customer took something back to the shop as they purchased the wrong size/colour etc and the shop staff said "Its not our fault you was incompetent and useless, go complain to someone else"

ThumbRemote

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Wow, thats a bit harsh. Im guessing you never make a mistake.

Imagine the complaints if a customer took something back to the shop as they purchased the wrong size/colour etc and the shop staff said "Its not our fault you was incompetent and useless, go complain to someone else"

But if a shopper is incompetent and useless and buys the wrong item, then they don't have any rights and are completely reliant on the goodwill of the store to put it right.

cono1717

But again, this goes back to the basic offer acceptance.

If stupidconsumerA goes into a store and buys Product A instead of Product B he is offering to purchase ProductA and the store is accepting the offer thus the contract is formed. If StupidConsumer picked up ProductA as well as ProductC and got to the till to realise the error of their ways in that they only wanted A they would not be expected to pay for C as no contract has been formed.

On the same token say a consumer goes to the till and pays with a £10 note for a £5 item. Its not right for the store to say "Well it's your incompetence you gave the wrong denomination I'm keeping this fiver".


Personally I feel it's because of stores good will gestures we have so many people making these silly mistakes. If a shop flat out refused to refund something you'd certainly look twice before purchasing.