[soundstory]

Hi all,

My Dad's cooker broke yesterday, He called an ad in the Yellow pages, a company came out & sold him a new cooker for £849.00

I've googled the model & it retails at £199

He paid by cheque

I have no idea what to do about this, he is elderley & clearly has been ripped off.

Urgent help needed as I need to call this company asap

Many thanks in advance

Paul

[mrtbag]

I'd contact the bank and get the cheque stopped. Ask the company to either:

a) Price the work at a reasonable cost.
b) Come and collect it, as you don't want it.

[Chox1988]

Originally Posted by mrtbag

I'd contact the bank and get the cheque stopped. Ask the company to either:

a) Price the work at a reasonable cost.
b) Come and collect it, as you don't want it.

This.

Cancel the cheque and you wont have to worry about anything, then when they come back to deal with the situation make sure youre there to either tell them to charge accordingly or sod off.

Hes very lucky he paid by cheque and not cash.

[Ayub]

Ring the bank get tbe cheque stopped its easily done.

Contact company ask them to review cost of cooker. Maybe they get it wrong.

Sorry to hear this Paul, hope you get it sorted.

[imightbewrong]

Is there any legal recourse though? They gave him a price, he paid it. Presumably they fitted it too?

It sounds unfortunate

When the cheque is cancelled, they will come back - with a court order? Is there an invoice?

Maybe the CAB are worth a call?

[Ari33]

People/companies who prey on vulnerable old people=scum of the earth.

Glad you learned learned about it in time to be able to stop the cheque.. !

[soundstory]

Hi all,

Many many thanks for your help

I'm getting the cheque stopped as we speak, the guy didn't even give him a receipt either.

Paul

[Chox1988]

Originally Posted by soundstory

the guy didn't even give him a receipt either.

That could work in your favour now youve cancelled the cheque.

[IronGiant]

Can he prove he delivered it if there is no paperwork?

I'm not suggesting you do anything naughty BTW...

[mrtbag]

Originally Posted by soundstory

Hi all,

Many many thanks for your help

I'm getting the cheque stopped as we speak, the guy didn't even give him a receipt either.

Paul

I'd ask to speak to the Manager of the compnay too Paul. A couple of points to mention are:

1) No Invoice
2) No chance given to make comparisons on other deals.

I guess this was sold to your dad as 'if you don't replace it, it is dangerous'?

[Bill Hicks]

Originally Posted by imightbewrong

Is there any legal recourse though? They gave him a price, he paid it. Presumably they fitted it too?

It sounds unfortunate

When the cheque is cancelled, they will come back - with a court order? Is there an invoice?

Maybe the CAB are worth a call?

You have rights under The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 if the appliance has been sold at an inflated price.
see link.

Legal issues : Consumer Guarantees Act

Was the price agreed in advance of sale?
If so then you may have an issue?

As previously stated, cancel the cheque now and consult the CAB.
I wouldn't pay and expect the company to remove the cooker.

Good luck.

[jassco]

Originally Posted by mrtbag

I guess this was sold to your dad as 'if you don't replace it, it is dangerous'?

That's the way I'd push it if it ever went to court. Not that I'm suggesting stretching the truth if this isn't what happened Given their moral standards over the pricing I think its fair to say who the court would believe.

I'd probably get in touch with the local press as well, and tell them you'll give them regular updates. Many old people read the local papers, and it could save someone else from getting caught out by their scams.

[IL Cattivo]

Next step... Contact BBC Watchdog's Rogue Traders.

Awful how these people behave and take advantage of the vulnerable. Don't know how they sleep of a night!

[imightbewrong]

Originally Posted by Bill Hicks

You have rights under The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 if the appliance has been sold at an inflated price.
see link.

Legal issues : Consumer Guarantees Act
.

That looks like a law in New Zealand - is there a UK version?

[Berties]

With the removal of RRP is this "allowed"? it is the customers choice if they wish to pay for it.

From another thread

Are shops allowed to sell above RRP?

[Stu V]

Originally Posted by Berties

With the removal of RRP is this "allowed"? it is the customers choice if they wish to pay for it.

From another thread

Are shops allowed to sell above RRP?

They can charge whatever they like and a customer should check and compare before purchasing, however pressurising (if that's what happened) and taking advantage of an elderly person is beyond contempt.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by Chox1988

Cancel the cheque and you wont have to worry about anything,

I wouldn't be too sure of that as the issuing of a cheque is proof of debt and the supplying company could sue him for the money.

[johntheexpat]

Who was the cheque made out too? It may be interesting to get a photocopy from the bank to see if it has been 'altered' or made out to someone other than the company.

Victim writes cheque for excessive amount, made payable to fraudster. Fraudster tells boss that victim paid the right amount in cash and then banks the cheque himself. Boss happy with a cash sale, fraudster happy with several hundred quid in his bank account. Stupid, with all that traceability, but then fraudsters aren't always the brightest shilling in the purse.

[Bill Hicks]

Originally Posted by imightbewrong

That looks like a law in New Zealand - is there a UK version?

My apologies

You have the right to return within 7 days.

Consumer rights - an introduction : Directgov - Government, citizens and rights

[imightbewrong]

Ah yes - there you go ...

You usually have seven working days to cancel your order and ask for your money back if you buy something:

•online
•over the phone
•by mail order (eg from a catalogue)
•on your doorstep (eg when a salesman visits your home)

[wookielover]

hold on -

how old is your dad ?
was it sold fitted or as a single unit ?

[SBT]

My street is all OAP's apart from two houses,and the amount of people knocking to either sell stuff or fix roofs ect is a joke.I always tell them to clear off.I also write down the name on their vans(if there is one) and tell them i'm passing it on to the Police.Works a treat

People praying on old people really are scum of the earth

[Chox1988]

Originally Posted by Wore Nowt

I wouldn't be too sure of that as the issuing of a cheque is proof of debt and the supplying company could sue him for the money.

Theres a chance they might sue but i couldnt see them winning, especially if theyre selling a cooker for 4 times its cost, by the looks of things a breakdown of labour vs materials wasnt given for the £800 odd quid so the cooker was sold at well over its worth and that wasnt made obvious to the consumer, especially if a receipt wasnt given.

I dont think it would stand up in court and i'd be surprised if the business (sound like a bunch of fraudsters) would even want to deal with courts.

@the op, i'd just tell them to take the cooker away and deal with someone decent and reputable, that way if anything goes wrong in the future etc you wont have to deal with these guys again.

[Kebabhead]

•on your doorstep (eg when a salesman visits your home)

That relates to doorstep buying

This wasn't as the OP's father rang the company

[Chox1988]

Originally Posted by imightbewrong

Ah yes - there you go ...

Does buying something from the yellow pages count as door to door sales, sorry i could be sounding really thick here but i didnt think it would fall into that category, and its not quite mail order either, so thats left me stumped

[dudeness]

Omg not got any further advice to offer except let us know what happens, I would be seething if they'd done it to my dad and I'd kick his ass!

[vinny41]

have we received all the facts from the op
is the cooker electric or gas
did the pricing including fitting and removal of old cooker
was there an additional charge for same day delivery and installation
did the op just price match the cooker and none of the above
has the op advised his dad not to use the cooker if planning to return it

[soundstory]

Originally Posted by vinny41

have we received all the facts from the op
is the cooker electric or gas
did the pricing including fitting and removal of old cooker
was there an additional charge for same day delivery and installation
did the op just price match the cooker and none of the above
has the op advised his dad not to use the cooker if planning to return it

Hi,

I searched for the model number & saw it was priced at £199.99

They didn't give him an invoice

Interestingly, the cheque was made out to partmaster which is part of the DSK group,

I just called Partmaster & they said that they only supply parts, not hardware & to call DSK Group

But the company my Dad called is a local plumbing & heating company.

Now I'm completely confused who to call to pick the thing up & get the original machine returned

[vinny41]

check this link out
BBC - The One Show - Consumer Blog: Get your refund: Distance selling - download the letter

important to get register letter posted to seller asap

You should remember that if the goods delivered are in perfect working order and you just change your mind then the retailer has the right to charge you the return postage as well as the original postage cost. This is shown in the Act.

if electric cooker might want to return cooker yourself that not a option if gas as is will require disconnection

[its_all_Greek]

Originally Posted by soundstory

Hi,

I searched for the model number & saw it was priced at £199.99

They didn't give him an invoice

Interestingly, the cheque was made out to partmaster which is part of the DSK group,

I just called Partmaster & they said that they only supply parts, not hardware & to call DSK Group

But the company my Dad called is a local plumbing & heating company.

Now I'm completely confused who to call to pick the thing up & get the original machine returned

Sounds like the Bloke who sold your Dad the cooker is using the cheque to pay his own Bill off, hence it being made payable to Partmaster.