ARGOS - Accidental refund now asking me to pay again - is this a scam?

jebbied

Hi there, I had a call seemingly from Argos customer services saying they wrongly refunded me for a product I bought and collected more than a week ago and asking if I can re-pay over the phone. Sounded really dodgy. I said I would check my bank account and call them back. They said I didn't need to call them, they would call me again. I would have said that was a scam as they would not give me a number to call, but right enough there is a refund in my bank from last night for the amount I paid for the item. I am still a bit wary as it seems really irregular. What's your thoughts? See if they call back? I am not really happy paying over the phone if it is a genuine error. They could be anyone. Hmm.

MattMattMattUK

jebbied said:

Hi there, I had a call seemingly from Argos customer services saying they wrongly refunded me for a product I bought and collected more than a week ago and asking if I can re-pay over the phone. Sounded really dodgy. I said I would check my bank account and call them back. They said I didn't need to call them, they would call me again. I would have said that was a scam as they would not give me a number to call, but right enough there is a refund in my bank from last night for the amount I paid for the item. I am still a bit wary as it seems really irregular. What's your thoughts? See if they call back? I am not really happy paying over the phone if it is a genuine error. They could be anyone. Hmm.

Call their customer service number, it is on their website, but if the money was refunded to your bank account it does sound like a genuine error. 

TadleyBaggie

You bought an item from Argos, you currently haven't paid for it, Argos is calling you. What's the confusion? How would anyone but the real Argos know the item needs paying for?

boobyd

Have you checked your bank account to see if it has been refunded?
If yes then you owe the money?
If no if they call ask for the ref number for you to check ?

jebbied

TadleyBaggie said:

You bought an item from Argos, you currently haven't paid for it, Argos is calling you. What's the confusion? How would anyone but the real Argos know the item needs paying for?

The confusion was that the transaction was completed over a week ago when I had paid and received the item. It seemed odd. Apologies if you feel I should have handed over my card details to a random person on a withheld number without checking. I should have gone straight to Argos and not bothered you with such trivia. Thanks for taking the time to reply. But I think this will be my first and last post here. 

David713

Contact your bank and ask them if it's possible for the transaction for the refund that you received to be cancelled and for the payment to be returned to the originator.
That way, you wouldn't have to make a separate payment or to provide any card details.

Manxman_in_exile

FWIW I think the OP is right to be suspicious in the circumstances.

Yes - only Argos (or an employee of Argos) is likely to know of the refund, but I'd want to be certain whose bank account it was going back into.  I know Argos are useless but I'd still expect them to give the OP a bit more info than the OP says they have.  eg I don't see any reason why they couldn't give the OP a number to call back on or a reference.

born_again

David713 said:

Contact your bank and ask them if it's possible for the transaction for the refund that you received to be cancelled and for the payment to be returned to the originator.
That way, you wouldn't have to make a separate payment or to provide any card details.

Given it will be a card payment. It is not possible.

OP is spot on. 
Always check your bank account. Then call them, or go instore. 

Never simply hand over card details to some random caller. 

pbartlett

Agree with above - you were right to post on here.

It could be a scam - just because the trnsaction in your bank account says it is from Argos doesn't mean it is from Argos.

If they call again, tell them you are willing to pay them back but you require them to write to you and you will send them a cheque.

Or tell them to follow the agreed procedure for funds sent in error - ie they must ask their bank to recall it - once your bank receives the request from Argos's bank they will ask your permission before they do anything.

Never ever give your card details to cold callers no matter who they say they are.

mikb

TadleyBaggie said:

How would anyone but the real Argos know the item needs paying for?

How would anyone but the real Microsoft know that you currently have a slow computer?

How would anyone but the real Amazon know that my Prime is about to mistakenly renew?

How would anyone but the real VISA Mastercard know that someone is fraudulently spending $600 on my card RIGHT NOW! ?

OP is right to be suspicious, and OP is actually wrong to say it's a scam because they *wouldn't* give a number to call back on.

If a company gives you a number to call back on, you cannot be sure it's going to the REAL company. Scams rely on people *blindly* accepting logic like "To prove I am a policeman, you can call my station on 07777-my-friends-mobile and ask for my Sergeant".

Definitely check with the real ARGOS (number found on your Argos paperwork, their actual website) or your real bank, to verify this.

dinglebert

I too would be suspicious and phone argos direct.   However I also wouldn't be doing a I'll never post on here again just because a single disagreed with your viewpoint.