My picture.co.uk Billed a return charge to Germany

lezmac66

I ordered a photo canvas and 2 matching crushing covers from Mypicture.co.uk 
It took weeks to get the canvas even though it stated it would be delivered  in a week.
The cushion covers never arrived.
I contacted customer service and got no response.
Just received a bill for £20.99 from UPS for a returning my undelivered items to Germany.
If I don't pay ASAP they will make me pay £40.

lezmac66

I didn't send this item back. My picture. co.uk ( based in Germany decided to send this back without contacting me to let me know where my parcel was I'd have liked my items )

Aylesbury_Duck

I'm afraid UK consumer rights won't apply, so you'll need to see what rights you have under German consumer laws.

lezmac66

Thanks I know that it's different.
If I'd known I was buying from Germany I wouldn't have purchased these items. 

Aylesbury_Duck

lezmac66 said:

Thanks I know that it's different.
If I'd known I was buying from Germany I wouldn't have purchased these items. 

Have they changed their website since you ordered, because I saw it was a German retailer as soon as I looked at the site?

lezmac66

Yes it changed recently to made in Germany 

pinkshoes

lezmac66 said:

Yes it changed recently to made in Germany 

Recently? Mypicture.co.uk has always been a German company, or at least for the last couple of years when I have used them. 

In their T&Cs it clearly says they are based in Cologne and it also gives a German telephone number. 

It also says " If the customer is not encountered at home upon the delivery of the package, and the packet is not picked up from the post office within 7 days by the customer or the customer refuses the acceptance of the package, my-picture.co.uk has the right to cancel the order and cancel the contract. Forwarding charges include packing and shipping for each picture."

I would be contact their customer services and stating that your order has not arrived yet, and asking them when it will arrive. 

Your contract is with mypicture and NOT with UPS, so don't go paying any UPS bills. 

lezmac66

Thank you so much for your help. Can I have you check out all the terms and conditions on future purchases you're wasted on here? 
I made the mistake of trusting that a company that had the UK website for being British.
I can't imagine why that was done. Germany does not have the same policies maybe.

y3sitsm3

lezmac66 said:

Thank you so much for your help. Can I have you check out all the terms and conditions on future purchases you're wasted on here? 
I made the mistake of trusting that a company that had the UK website for being British.
I can't imagine why that was done. Germany does not have the same policies maybe.

You made the mistake of assuming that the TLD of the website (or the currency units used) has relevance to where the website is located.  It doesn't, as you have now found out.

For reference, I don't think I'm alone in trying to find out where a company is based first before I do business with them. Not just for which country they're based in but to also see if they're actually willing to give contact details. If they aren't I run a mile.  Clicking the T&C's link on a website every time you wish to make a purchase at an unknown retailer is not particularly onerous, unless you're spending all day every day buying things from random websites.

Caz3121

many companies register domain names for each country they market in. Having a .co.uk web address does not mean that they are registered in the UK.
If ever in doubt check the terms and conditions for 'governing law'

lezmac66

Thank you for your wise words.
I do not spend much time online checking websites, I live a fun filled active life. 
This was a random purchase fueled by vanity.