Consumer Law should be changed

KILL_BILL

The law should be changed so companies dont charge for items until they have been dispatched to the customer.

many people have found out on this board that they have ordered something from either argos, curries, john lewis and others, been charged for the item despite the fact its not in stock and may never come in stock again.

its down the customer to chase and follow up to get a refund rather than the company contactin the client about the problem.

uktim29

If I ran a retail business I wouldn't want that law. I'd want to see money in my bank account before I send something. Imagine sending an item then hoping the payment will clear!

Keeping_Positive

A company I knew worked to that policy and went bust, too much fraud.

liney

The shop should only charge when the item is actually in stock and ready to be despatched; as opposed to charge you, then keep your money for the next 3 weeks until it appears instore again (or not).

Blacksheep1979

under distance selling regs the retailer has 28 days to send the item - as others have said it's only fair to take the money before sending to make sure it clears. Also can you imagine the people on here grumbling along the lines of

'Oh I ordered it 10 days ago and thought the money had come out so I spent it and now as the payment bounced I got bank charges and the item isn't going to be delivered - what's the ceo's email address and can I get compensation?'

superscaper

How far would this proposed law extend? Ebay sellers? I agree that they shouldn't charge you unless/until it's in stock but not charging until dispatch is impractical, having sold a few things myself on ebay it'd completely leave you open to fraud with practically no comeback. Wouldn't just be large corporations that suffer but small businesses and even individuals such as ebay sellers etc.

Becles

What about small businesses? They might not have the cashflow to be able to order goods and not take payments from customers until the item is dispatched.

What happens with special orders? Businesses wouldn't take the risk of ordering custom items in for customers in case they didn't pay when the item came into stock, then they'll were stuck with a custom item that may be difficult to sell on to someone else.

liney

If i look on a website and it says 'item in stock' i expect the item in a timely fashion. I do not expect it to suddenly become out of stock, while i am suddenly out of pocket and unable to order from somewhere else because shop A have my money. I dont think that is entirely unreasonable.

caleo

liney wrote: »

If i look on a website and it says 'item in stock' i expect the item in a timely fashion. I do not expect it to suddenly become out of stock, while i am suddenly out of pocket and unable to order from somewhere else because shop A have my money. I dont think that is entirely unreasonable.

I totally agree with you. Tesco have now done this to me on 3 occasions in 3 weeks!! Items show as in stock, but then a few days later, they call to say it is out of stock. Quite a good business idea, think of the interest they must be making if they are doing this on a regular basis!!

blue_monkey_2

I run a small business and around half of the items we sell are special orders - we do keep items in stock but like to offer the special order items at a good price and it works for us not having huge amounts of storage. People leave their details and we process their cards when the goods come on, or if they are in stock their order will be processed as normal.

However, over the last month or so (maybe because it is Xmas) I have been getting the orders and so ordering the goods for the customer and then when processing the cards they have left the wrong details so the card won't go through. I even have people who do not pay at the end of the checkout and will then harrass me for their goods. i have had one lady email me 3 times forher goods, each time I have told her that she has not left her details, she has not left the correct card number and now she has ignored me emails. The last one said 'where are my goods, I ordered 3 weeks ago' I emailed back saying she had left the incorrect details so the order could not be processed but her item is in stock and lo an behold there has been no answer. I've got around £500 worth of goods that this has happened to. I think people assume that if they leave their details then they are putting a card payment through and if it has been accepted and they have left the wrong number, hurrah. Surely this amounts to trying to obtain goods by deceit??

From a small retailers point of veiw this s really frustrating and in the week I did think it would be better if I took the money before placing the orders but then it would get way too complicated and I would be worried I would forget to pay them back. I think I would rather not have their money in my pocket incase something happened and I was unable to fulfill their orders (say I had to go to hospital, I don't have staff so I would not be able to process the order through). So it is a hard to find somewhere inbetween unless you had a way of 'confirming' that the details were correct (like the hotels do where they take your card details in advance to secure a booking but do not charge you until you leave).

Imagine if for a small retailer like me having problems like this, places like Argos and the like would have so many orders that could not be paid for it would get a bit out of control. However, if an item is out of stock for whatever reason then you should get a full refund right away rather than you having to follow it up, I do agree with this. But then if this is the case you would not use that retailer again would you? If it states there is 28 days for delivery then you kind of assume that it has to be ordered from the supplier and choose whether to get it from them or not.

IvanOpinion

Is there not a process related to credit cards whervby funds can be reserved? I have vague memories of hearing about this .. it may only have been a 'possibility' ... alternatively I could have been very drunk and just dreamed it.

It went something like ... an application for money is made against the credit card, the credit company says yea or nay ... the seller then sets about creating the order and at the point of despatch they collect the 'reserved' amount.

Ivan