Charging an extra fee for returns by courier collection

jasp2

I am about to return an unwanted item by courier collection. The company is already charging me a £2 return fee but inform me that if I use Courier Home Collection they will charge an extra £3.99. Is this legal?

p3ncilsharpener

Yes.

If you don't want to pay to have the courier pick it up, take it to the nearest drop off point.

I'm guessing the "return fee" is just postage costs?

jasp2

Returns are "free" so not sure what the return fee is for, but quite happy to pay that, Probably just a disguised restocking fee. Because of our circumstances I use courier home collection frequently but have never before been charged extra for it.

p3ncilsharpener

jasp2 said:

Returns are "free" so not sure what the return fee is for, but quite happy to pay that, Probably just a disguised restocking fee. Because of our circumstances I use courier home collection frequently but have never before been charged extra for it.

So have I, the cost for a parcel picked up by a courier in my experience is higher than if I opt to take it to a parcel shop.  Royal Mail as another example charge for this service too.

They're not allowed to charge you restocking fees when bought online.

mattyprice4004

Yes, they're providing a returns service and have the right to charge for it. 
If you want it collecting it'll cost them more, so they pass this on to you. 

born_again

jasp2 said:

I am about to return an unwanted item by courier collection. The company is already charging me a £2 return fee but inform me that if I use Courier Home Collection they will charge an extra £3.99. Is this legal?

When you say "Unwanted" is that a change of mind? And how long have you had the item?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

born_again said:

jasp2 said:

I am about to return an unwanted item by courier collection. The company is already charging me a £2 return fee but inform me that if I use Courier Home Collection they will charge an extra £3.99. Is this legal?

When you say "Unwanted" is that a change of mind? And how long have you had the item?

And unless the answer to that is more than a year, what information did the retailer give you via durable means (email, on paper with the goods) about your right to cancel?

We assume you are a consumer and this was a purchase on a website?

jasp2

Yes, I am a consumer and this was a website purchase. I had been in receipt of the item for 2 weeks when I decided to return it.They were upfront about the charges and its not the fact that they are charging me for home collection that is the problem, its the amount. If I take it to a drop off point it will cost me nothing but home collection incurs a cost of £3.99 and I think that is too much. If I sent an item using Hermes at my own cost the difference between drop off and home collection is 72pence, so nowhere near the amount they are charging.

p3ncilsharpener

jasp2 said:

Yes, I am a consumer and this was a website purchase. I had been in receipt of the item for 2 weeks when I decided to return it.They were upfront about the charges and its not the fact that they are charging me for home collection that is the problem, its the amount. If I take it to a drop off point it will cost me nothing but home collection incurs a cost of £3.99 and I think that is too much. If I sent an item using Hermes at my own cost the difference between drop off and home collection is 72pence, so nowhere near the amount they are charging.

Then don't pay it and arrange your own courier.