Book issue

[koolpc]

Sister in law ordered a hardcover book online.

It came without the cover.

She contacted the company and they sent a replacement. She received it today. They said she has to pay the return postage on the book without the cover! She is not happy about that. They are adamant that they dont refund on postage costs.

I told her to shove it in a mail box without her address etc on it. And no postage on it.

Worse case scenario?

 

[koolpc]

No idea what book it is.

She has been in touch with them but they are refusing to refund the postage costs.

She wants to return it.

Can they still deduct postage costs from her account if she shoves it in a post box without putting stamps on it? Without putting sender address on it, only the address of the company she bought the book from?

 

[koolpc]

Is this a small retailer or a big one?

It seems really strange to me from a couple of points, the first being if the original book was missing a dust jacket why didn't they just send out the dust jacket if they knew she'd bought the book from them, it would have cost them a fraction of the postage, and second they're really trying it on with the return postage given the originally supplied goods were "not as described" or you could say "faulty" as it was missing a part.

I agree.

Apparently she asked them to just send the cover but they said they dont do that!

She could keep the book i guess or throw it in the bin but she is a stickler for doing whats right.

As for they wouldnt know who the book came from if she just popped it in the post without postage, the book is not easy to come by so they would know it was her.

The company is very well known. I dont want to name and shame as of yet. They may have people who are members on here! Lol

 

[koolpc]

I gave you the answer in post 4, but sure, keep ignoring it.

An answer yes but, they refusing to comply. I dont think she wants to start writing letters etc.

If it were me i would bin it but she is strong willed and wants to return it.

If that is the case, would she get any flak if she posted it with sender address and no postage on it? Wouldnt the company have to pay those cost then? Or refuse the book?

I mentioned this to her but she worried they may deduct return postage cost from her bank account.

 

[koolpc]

Give the spare version to a charity shop and get on with your/her life. You keep saying can they take xyz from “her account” but what details do they actually have? How did she pay? It would take 10seconds flat to report any additional payment taken on a credit card to be flagged as unauthorised and your bank will refund it without any issue. Then the shop could get into trouble (doubtful, the bank will probably suck up the cost)

Debit card i believe.

 

[koolpc]

I'd just say the faulty book will be returned to you once you provide the pre paid postage label. Every time they contact you after that just keep saying the same thing.

Do they actually even want it back? Have they basically said keep it but your sister is insisting on returning it?

Yes, they want it back but she told them she not paying to return it.

 

[koolpc]

So you don't want advice then, got it.

So, you cant read then?

 

[koolpc]

Well, its getting returned tomorrow now as she is going to pop it into a postbox, without a senders address on it and no postage on it.

The shop can pay for that now or it will get destroyed by RM.

 

[koolpc]

If she does that then she's gone from being completely in the right to being completely in the wrong.

Maybe but, no way should they demand she pay return postage on an item not fit for sale. They refused to pay that.

 

[koolpc]

Yeah that's the worst thing to do.
In theory they could just bill her now for the excess fees and handling that will occur and it'll end up at a collection agency And be a thorn in her side for months.... Now she is genuinely liable for that cost and not paying it would be completely and utterly dishonest.
500x more dishonest than putting the old book in a jumble sale or charity box.

Thing is, there is nothing in that package that directs anyone back to her. Only the shop. They can send her a bill for postage if they want. She wont pay it. Just like they were refusing to pay postage for the return.

They are the dishonest ones. They should have accepted responsibility for getting the book back.

 

[koolpc]

Tell the seller that the book is ready for collection as per the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and to contact her to arrange a suitable time for collection.

That's it, if they reach out with anything else then ignore it.

This is the right thing to do.

If they do not arrange a collection for 6-12 months, then you have perfect material for starting the BBQ next summer

e: Just seen the latest update, what an absolute bonkers way to deal with this Now if they agree to arrange a collection/returns label she has to say "Oh I put it in a postbox with nothing on it..." which basically makes her liable to pay for it

Nope. They totally refused to pay for return. She didnt want to just destroy the book herself.

At least its up to them now. They will have to pay for it to be delivered to them now!

 

[koolpc]

Its a silly situation for sure

Yep, they should have just done the decent thing and payed for return like most companies do if at fault.

 

[koolpc]

Its ok guys, dlockers has reached out to the company and has offered to get the book and deliver it to them on his 3 wheel scooter...

 

[koolpc]

I can count the brain cells on one hand

Maybe you need to see a vet about that then before you get any worse!

 

[koolpc]

And it could now end up costing your sister a lot of money.

She will if they decide to go legal and she’s just stuck it intentionally in the post box without postage. Unlikely I know but still a risk she doesn’t need to be taking.

Nothing on the parcel that points to her.

Can you actually see a company going to court for £2.50? Lol

They should have done the decent thing in the first place...

Anyway, its her decision at the end of the day.

 

[koolpc]

This whole thread is so strange.

OP: Can I get some thoughts on what I should do, I've already made up my mind but let me hear them.

GD: *sensible suggestions* (not a sentence I ever thought I'd say in GD...)

OP: I'm going to ignore all that and tell her to do what I already thought she should do.

She is her own boss. Mentioned all that was said. She took her own path....'ita sit'

 

[koolpc]

I couldn't forsee someone just dumping it in a post box either but there we go.

How diverse is the human race hey!

 

[koolpc]

What’s the latest @koolpc?

I wasnt going to bother putting it here but the company in question received the book back and apologised to my sister in law for refusing to pay return postage costs....

The knew it was from her as the book is difficult to get a hold of.