"Protect My Order" Avenue 85

MalthouseMark

I've just been buying something from Avenue 85 and I noted that there was an addition to the order - a £1.99 to "protect my order". I clicked on the info - https://avenue85.co.uk/pages/protect-my-order

It seems they're offering to add some money to your bill so that you can pay for your consumer rights as a purchaser. That's a new one on me.

Has anyone else seen anything like this creeping in anywhere else? If I don't select to have it one presumes that my consumer rights can't be affected. It's very odd.

I looked at their terms in general and could only see the standard sort of statement that, "Title and risk in the Goods shall pass to the Buyer upon delivery of the Goods." So a failure to deliver would be with them still.

flaneurs_lobster

Do they add this "Protect My Order" charge by default? That would be shoddy behaviour at best.

Fair enough that they can offer you 'Gold Star' or 'Premium' or 'Priority' after-sales service at a cost but there's nothing in the description of this add-on that isn't covered by statutory requirements.

A_Geordie

I could be wrong, but I vaguely recall someone else posting about this for another more well known retailer. I think it might have been a retailer within Frasers Group or Debenhams Group such as Boohoo. Don't remember the outcome but it is legally not allowed.

Regulation 40 The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 says:

born_again

Aside

Refunds: If you return your item for a refund and use our returns label, we shall deduct £3.95 from your refund if you choose Royal Mail or £4.95 if you choose InPost. Using our returns label is convenient, fully tracked and good value.

Seems like a company best avoided.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82016446#Comment_82016446

Fair enough if it's a 'change of mind' return, many retailers charge for such returns, and quite rightly so.

Return costs should, of course, be refunded along with purchase price if the goods are faulty.

MalthouseMark

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82016414#Comment_82016414

it was added in by default and I had to remove it from the basket.