Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

jwil

Noella wrote: »

From never posting on here at all I'm in danger of wearing out my welcome:o. Apologies but I just felt the need for a moan and a bit of advice please.

I bought an item of clothing online from a small business that I've dealt with happily over about 12 years. I haven't bought much because of my debts but I used to buy from them with birthday/Christmas money. Their quality has certainly dropped since I bought anything last and the latest item I received a few weeks ago was really shoddy, almost like 'second' or 'substandard' item:eek:.


I returned it at my own expense and by recorded delivery which is what they insisted on for returns and what they charge for delivery when buying from them. That means a total of about £9 for getting the item in the first place and returning it. Extortionate IMO:mad:. I checked on the Royal Mail website and they received and signed for it the day after I sent it about 10 days ago.


Since I bought mine they have reduced the price of this item on the website and although they have refunded me via Paypal they have only sent the reduced price that it is now and not the price I paid. It's a difference of £9.50


I emailed them to complain but didn't get a response so I bit the bullet this morning and phoned. The owner of the business gave me the sob story that they're a very small business finding it hard to compete in difficult trading conditions and as they need to resell the garment they can't afford to lose any more money on it.


What does anyone think of that? I'm gobsmacked. The garment was returned in unworn condition and carefully packaged. It's just as saleable as it was when they sent it to me in the first place. Should I just accept that I'm on a loser and never buy from them again or should I persist with demanding the correct refund? I suspect I'll get no joy but I hate being cheated which is how I see it.


I only became debt-free last year and treating myself is still a novelty to me (as it is to you HHOD). It was such a lovely feeling to buy something new to wear instead of charity shop garments. I know it's under £10 that I'm quibbling about but I haven't any spare money to 'throw away'.

If you paid by paypal, open a case in paypal for not as described, input your tracking details for the return and you should hopefully get the rest of your money back from your original payment. You won't get the return money back though.

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

What would you do in our position, would you risk signing it?

Not in a million years! I'm a long way from that, but I'll know to read very carefully should we ever be in that situation!

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks everyone for your replies and useful information . We've just got home and I'm shattered but I'll reply to everyone tomorrow .

enthusiasticsaver

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Thanks Milann . I hope my savings enthusiasm lasts but I feel like the savings force is strong in me at the moment :rotfl:. I'm interested to see just how much I can save by not frittering and putting little amounts away frequently. I have a theory that if I save what I used to fritter, then little amounts could add up to staggering totals :money:.

That is absolutely the right thing to do. I object to frittering because of the waste and even a small purchase is considered carefully and I have done this for many years not only for financial reasons but environmental ones. I don't buy cheap if I won't wear something or use it and I often even now we can afford it will take coffee from home in my thermos rather than buy out. Lunches too, unless it is a treat with a friend or relative I take my own even on my walks I do now. I do occasionally buy a drink at the end with my walking group but that is for social reasons more than anything. It has saved us thousands.

arsenalbarnie

redofromstart wrote: »

Maybe have a look at guarantor insurance?

See here for an advertorial: https://thenegotiator.co.uk/at-last-insurance-for-student-sharers-guarantor-insure/

https://onlymyshare.com/
https://www.guarantorinsure.co.uk/

£99 for peace of mind if you do have to sign it?

I didn’t know about this. think I will take it out thanks.

teafor2

Morning HHD Hope all is well with you and your men. I didn't know about guarantor insurance either so I'm going to point that out to hubby for him to look at. Thanks for posting about it Redo. xx

HairyHandofDartmoor

@Elizabeth @badmemory @Arsenalbarnie @Noella @teafor2 @foxgloves @Redo @Jwil

Thank you so much for your useful comments and advice with regard to the guarantor issue. I'm really grateful and I do love this forum .

HairyHandofDartmoor

arsenalbarnie wrote: »

I agree re these contracts. It is commonplace with student tenancies unfortunately. Have had 3 go through uni on these contracts with no problems tho. I might add I am also a landlord for a student property. I however do not have one of these tenancies. The parents act as guarantors for the individual. Have never had a problem getting the rent in ten years. I also don’t ask for the rent from July like many landlords do. I think it is very unfair to ask for rent two to three months before the loan comes in. My students pay the rent from September to June. They can still move in from July. It makes the headline figure higher as rent is over 10 instead of 12 months, but it also includes all the bills, tv licence and tv/ broadband. They can tumble dry their clothes to their hearts content! I never have a problem letting this property.

Have just checked dS3 agreement. He is in London doing a PHd and in a house share, not all students. His tenancy is joint and severally liable and as he is a student I am the guarantor, holy moly. DS1 is in a house share too and his is the same, but he’s guaranteeing as is in well paid job. I hope they let you pay up front. We were told when DS1 started uni that it is extremely rare for them to go after the other guarantors and is a last resort. That doesn’t help you worrying about it tho. If I have a student drop out then they are made aware they are liable for the rent until they or we can find another person to step in and take over their room.

Good luck, agents/ landlords do love getting the rent up front.

I agree that Martin should be looking at this sort of tenancy.

Thanks Aresenalbarnie . It's very interesting to see things from the landlord's perspective.

HairyHandofDartmoor

redofromstart wrote: »

Maybe have a look at guarantor insurance?

See here for an advertorial: https://thenegotiator.co.uk/at-last-insurance-for-student-sharers-guarantor-insure/

https://onlymyshare.com/
https://www.guarantorinsure.co.uk/

£99 for peace of mind if you do have to sign it?

Thank you very much Redo that is incredibl useful information :T. We did wonder about insurance but a google search didn't seem to bring anything up. Those links are really useful :T.

We've decided in fact to go for guarantor insurance so that we don't have to lend DS3 half of our EF.

HairyHandofDartmoor

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

That is absolutely the right thing to do. I object to frittering because of the waste and even a small purchase is considered carefully and I have done this for many years not only for financial reasons but environmental ones. I don't buy cheap if I won't wear something or use it and I often even now we can afford it will take coffee from home in my thermos rather than buy out. Lunches too, unless it is a treat with a friend or relative I take my own even on my walks I do now. I do occasionally buy a drink at the end with my walking group but that is for social reasons more than anything. It has saved us thousands.

Thanks ES . It's going to be an interesting experiment to see how much I can build up in my savings account through this sort of small frugality .

teafor2

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

We've decided in fact to go for guarantor insurance so that we don't have to lend DS3 half of our EF.

Glad you've decided what you're going to do and I think the insurance is a good way forward for you. I know it would definitely give me peace of mind.

Hope you've had a lovely Saturday. xx