Intimidated into purchasing over £200 of goods I didn't want.

lucy03

ryouga wrote: »

What can I do? I am on benefits and been saving all year for a 3 day trip (£15 a night) to relax me, whilst I was there I was pestered by a guy in shopping centre to buy his products and he wouldnt take no for an answer, I am a anxious person at best of times and After 20 minutes of his hard sell I agreed to take the items at a cost of £210.

Bearing in mind my benefits are £70 a week! I paid by credit card.

What can I do? I don't think I will be able to confront the person due to anxiety again.

There is some protection in the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations depending on what was said. I'd ask to speak to the manager of the shopping centre, they might help.

lucy03

Sicard wrote: »

You've made me anxious just reading this thread... I can't go on... got to go...

Anxiety can be very stressful for some people and it's incredibly easy to mock those people.

daytona0

ryouga wrote: »

You don't understand mental health or that I have a disability (autism) and severe anxiety.

I did pick up that on your previous posts...

BUT I'd just like to point out that you seem capable of performing such tasks as:


- Eating a 3 course meal in a restaurant on Elm Row.

- Going to subway to order a snack.

- Organising hotels + reimbursement (you have to hand in the hotel receipt to claim expenses when visiting the prison).

- Organising, and travelling on, a train to Edingburgh (I believe you even did a multi-leg journey!)

- Visiting a prison! (that's one of the few places which would make ME anxious!)

- Living with other people (even if it sounded like a hellhole)


Sorry but your autism and anxiety does not seem to be severe enough to be hindering your ability to function normally! That's why your situation is really 50-50 here, because it is hard to relate to you! If you were an old man/woman, or someone with SEVERE autistm/anxiety (to the point where you could not plan journeys, or use public transport), then 100% on your side. But you're not! I've worked with autistic children previously and I tell you what but they couldn't even begin to write a post as coherently as yours! Many of them were learning "basic life skills" as part of their education!

You are perfectly capable of contracting with food/transportation/accomodation companies, and you cope with using their services. Why should it be different with a cosmetic trader/company who did a bit of a hard sell on you? You seem sufficiently capable of walking away, or adopting a coping strategy, based on your previous posts!

Be careful about using disability as a way of eliminating personal responsibility in situations like this! Once you start doing that, it throws questions into the mix such as:

- Should you be doing trips without supervision?
- Do you need a carer?
- Are you of sound mind to be planning your own trips?
- Should you be going to the doctor/on meds?
- Are you capable of contracting with other companies?

Lots of questions which could end up reducing your own independence! SOD THAT!

Hermia

PasturesNew wrote: »

For the future you need to have some stock answers to get out of things. Really bad stock answers; I use them when I get cold calls. I told one the other day that I've only got 3 months to live.

For a street stopper I'd say "I've not even eaten for 2 days, I can't afford that".


Just OTT stuff that stops them in their tracks.

Normal protestations don't stop these people... you have to go WAY over what's reasonable/expected for them to take on board that you really can't be persuaded.

I just say "sorry, no" and keep walking. I can't see the point in even giving them silly excuses as you are still engaging in conversation with them. If one stands in front of me I just loudly say "excuse me" and push past. TBH, it is more about your body language than what you say. I march past them with a stony face and most don't even approach me!

Adereterial

What's done is done, OP. The best you can probably hope for at this point is to learn from th experience.

If you encounter a salesperson like this again, the best thing to do is say 'No, thank you,' and keep walking. Don't respond to them otherwise, just keep walking. You'll notice lots of people neatly avoiding them if you watch for a bit.

If you feel you need an extra buffer then wear a pair of headphones. They don't need to be playing anything. Lots of them will assume you can't hear them and the rest can be safely ignored.

Polmop

Can you get in touch with the management company of the shopping centre and inform them of what happened
You could even ask them to try to get your money back

Bogalot

I'd put money on it being Tresor Rare/ Oro Gold ...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5470277

Sorry OP, chances of you getting your money back are very low.

[Deleted User]

ryouga wrote: »

Have you ever heard of things like credit building, and for emergencies?

Yes, but your "credit building" has not been successful if you've spent £200 you don't have. You've just ended up in debt.

For the fourth time, I think you should just cut up the card (and pay off the bill).

The state of your mental health will be irrelevant if you have no card to pay such intimidatory individuals.

"I'm on benefits and so I can't afford it. I have no credit card" is a statement (when true) which will deter even the most predatory salesman, I believe.

steampowered

Sorry to hear about this.

I agree with the others - I'm not sure there is an awful lot you can do to get about this, other than trying to sell the goods somewhere like ebay.

I think you have to just walk away in this situation. You don't need to say anything. You don't need the salesman to understand. You don't need to worry about being rude. You don't need to apologise. You don't need to deter the salesman. You don't need to explain yourself.

You literally just walk away.

I would suggest leaving your credit card at home when you go shopping. It is fine to have one for emergencies, but it doesn't sound to me like you should be using a credit card in your financial situation.

arcon5

Referring to a number of comments along the lines of should you have a credit card if on benefits.... a ridiculous blanket statement, surely a person reliant on benefits is MORE likely to need access to additional funds, especially at this particularly expensive time of year.

Contrary to believe benefits don't make you rich or leave masses of surplus.

Don't believe everything you read in the times