Goddamn RMAs - what's going on?

[Audigex]

Hey guys, I've posted in the support forum about this but I'll probably get a faster reply on here and I really want to know what's going on.

I got my hard drive last week and returned it to OcUK for a refund (although I said I'd accept an exchange if that was possible).

I at first explained the situation - that I didn't want to run the risk of it being returned as "within the manufacturer's guidelines", so would just return it under the distance selling regulations if there was a risk of this.

The staff member who replied (support forum again, I'll keep them anonymous) said that they'd set up the return for the "DSR" (distance selling regulations). I send the drive off, and today get an email that it's being sent back to me and there's nothing wrong with it.

Now, I couldn't give a damn if it technically works - the point is that I found it unacceptable, didn't accept it and returned it. Is this likely to just be a mix up at their end, or are they messing me about somewhere?

The new drive, when it arrives, will be going straight back to the post office for yet another special delivery run - but are Oc going to mess me about with trying to charge me? Note that I specifically returned it under the DSR (which states that I can return for absolutely any reason), not under the warranty (which carries restrictions).

Now my card appears to have been charged for the RMA and postage back to me (as opposed to a refund, refund on my postage to them and a new purchase with free shipping).

Any thoughts/help on knowing what the hell is happening? I'm pretty frustrated here - I just want a hard drive that doesn't drive me mental with a bloody grating noise.

 

[Audigex]

Maccy - I already posted in there, I was more looking for some community guidance here, not the official answer; along the lines of why they've done the RMA like this and what I need to do to fix it from the experience of others.

Thundy, thanks

Wupwup - I wanted >A< drive but I wasn't willing to accept that one - it had a noise level I wasn't happy with. Since it was bought over the internet, I had 7 days to return it. Note that this can be for any reason (including because my cat didn't strike up a good relationship, if I so wished) - or with no reason given whatsoever. I didn't return it for testing, I returned it for a refund but was willing to accept an exchange (in the hopes of saving OC some effort/expense with bank fees etc)

Besides any of which, the EU state that "any item" sold must be "free from both major and minor defects" - that sort of semi-constant/intermitant white noise is more than enough to be considered a minor defect - so the fact that it "passed all manufacturer tests" wouldn't mean anything either; what WD consider to be acceptable doesn't necessarily mean anything.

Anyway it appears to be a mixup, hopefully it's not going to be too much hassle to sort out though.