Long story, so apologies -- but the details matter.
A few days ago I was checking my bank account online. I noticed a
Direct Debit for ÂŁ7.99 made that day. Puzzled, I checked the full
transaction details: it was to PC World. I checked back earlier --
another one, a month earlier.
Well, I had been to PC World in Cambridge a couple of months earlier.
Objective: pick up a cheapish laptop to play with some Linux distros,
then do a proper installation.
I noticed a quite nice Hewlett Packard T2390 on special offer at ÂŁ329.97
(not too keen on the keyboard, but it's OK. The rest seems fine).
While I was looking around, one of the shop-floor assistants latched
on to me assiduously. I tried asking him something about printers,
(built-in PostScript with auto-duplex capability) but he didn't know
much. While I was at it I picked up an ethernet switch and a laptop
carrier bag. Total bill ÂŁ387.20 (added up in my head).
He then offered to help me carry the stuff (cardboard box with the
laptop in, switch box, bag) to the checkout, which I didn't really
need but since he offered ...
He then stood beside me at the checkout while I paid. Total payment
ÂŁ387.20 (as added up in my head). I got the receipt, along with
what looked like some publicity leaflets, and went out to my car.
I didn't get an offer of help for that bit.
I didn't check the details on the receipt at the time -- I felt
that things had basically taken their expected course.
After checking my bank account, however, I did check the receipt
in detail. At the top:
HEWLETPACK A961EM T2390 ÂŁ329.97
and beneath that, in very small print:
Discount Manager Offer - Manager Discretion -ÂŁ7.99
then:
PC PERFORMANCE ÂŁ7.99
followed by the items for the network switch and the bag.
So I had been signed up for their "PC Performance" cover, including
the first instalment of ÂŁ7.99, without noticing (it had not changed
the total price).
And I have no recollection of being asked at any time if I wanted
this. If I had been, I would have said no -- because the first
thing I intended to do was to wipe off Windows and put on Linux,
which would probably have voided any warranty. (In any case,
I never take up these "product cover & support" things).
I then phoned "PC Performance" (a PC World sideline), and was told
that they would cancel the cover, and cease the D/D, but I could
not get a refund because more than 2 weeks had passed. If I wanted
to get the money back, I should contact my Bank to initiate an
"Indemnity Claim".
So I phoned my Bank, and described the situation. "Oh, it looks as
though they've been a bit cheeky", she said. We discussed Indemnity
Claim, and it seemd a long shot (there had been two of them at the
till, one the cashier, the other the shop-floor assistant), so I
dropped the idea. But she said she would immediately close the D/D.
She rang back a few minutes later, to say that since the D/D had been
cancelled on the same day a debit had been made, the debit of ÂŁ7.99
for that day would be refunded. So that left me overall ÂŁ7.99 out
of pocket (break-even on the first one, due to "Manager's Discretion").
Not worth trying to take further, though I felt annoyed enough to
want to!
Well, that's my PC World experience! Moral: look closely at the
receipt! (Though by the time I could have done that, it would all
have been set up already -- but at least I would have been within
the 2-week period for getting any money back).
(And I didn't get the impression that it was the first time the
Bank lady had heard such a story ... ).
Best wishes to all,
Ted.
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E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk>
Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861
Date: 27-May-09 Time: 17:43:46
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