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AIBU?

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Original poster

Marks and Bastard Spencer have RUINED ds2's birthday

425 replies

Greensleeves · 18/08/2011 15:24

ds2's birthday tomorrow, he's 7

it will be the first birthday dh has ever been away, so I have busted a gut to make it special for him

I ordered something off M&S online which he really, really wants and opted for the extra charge to have it delivered today, in time to be wrapped etc

They said the payment wouldn't go through, there was a problem with the card etc, I put it through over and over again

eventually dh phoned them, from Brazil, and gave all the details over the phone and double-checked with the woman that it had gone through and would still be delivered today, 18th August

so I rang up customer services today to ask if they had an approximate time as I have to take ds1 out to a party later

they said it hadn't gone through and was marked as not paid for

eventually after more schenanigans it turned out that it was because our visa debit card is a co-op bank card - they accept visa debit cards but not visa electron (which ours isn't) - apparently, this woman laughingly told me, the first four digits of the co-op cards are the same as electron cards, so they don't work! nobody asked dh whether it was a co-op card ffs

so the present isn't paid for and won't be arriving after all

I know it sounds trivial but I am SO upset, it has been a tough two weeks without dh here anyway and I really thought I had done a good job of making his birthday lovely Sad

BASTARDS

OP posts:
ThePosieParker · 18/08/2011 15:25

He'll never know, if it helps!!

Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2011 15:29

he will know he hasn't got a main birthday pressie though!

I am so angry, she said "Ooooooh...... it's because it's a co-op card"

it's a bank ffs, not some poor relation

OP posts:
PonceyMcPonce · 18/08/2011 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ragwort · 18/08/2011 15:31

Seriously - calm down, there are lots of ways to make your DS's birthday very special and a present is just one of them.

roomonthebroom · 18/08/2011 15:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ruddynorah · 18/08/2011 15:31

What's the item and where do you live?

Greensleeves · 18/08/2011 15:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

pinkthechaffinch · 18/08/2011 15:34

oh well these things happen

have you got time to get your ds anything else?

if it's any consolation, my credit card was refused at Lidl's yesterday as they don't accept credit cards apparently. Cue much embarrassment on my behalf as had no other way of paying and a trolley full of goods that had to be put back. Blush and there was a long queue.

honeymom · 18/08/2011 15:34

Wow. Really it's your own fault for leaving it so late. Seems extremely trivial to be getting upset. Why can't you go into town and get him something. Birthdays aren't made by the gift they are made by the memories.

HeadfirstForHalos · 18/08/2011 15:35

Can someone go out and pick it up for you from the store? Or was it delivery only?

minipie · 18/08/2011 15:35

Ring them up again, ask for the complaints department

Ask to speak to the supervisor

Tell them the story just as you've told it here

Ask them to get it delivered for tomorrow. They SHOULD be able to unless it's got to come from China or something. There are overnight couriers.

(And you could tell them someone on MUMSNET suggested it when you talked about the problem online. They know a lot of their customer base reads mumsnet.)

faverolles · 18/08/2011 15:35

Could you buy a similar item while your ds is at the party?(assuming you can leave him there)

jetsetlil · 18/08/2011 15:35

YABVU. Get a grip - it's a present for gods sake!

TheOriginalFAB · 18/08/2011 15:35

Greensleeves - I am near a M&S, what is it and can I get one to you for you?

MmeLindor. · 18/08/2011 15:36

What was it that you ordered? And is there a chance that M&S can get it to you? Or that you can get to a store and get it before tomorrow.

Just because there are worst things that can happen, doesn't mean to say that Greensleeves is not entitled to be upset about this - and it is a big thing for a 7yo to not get a birthday present.

SomekindofSpanish · 18/08/2011 15:36

I feel your pain.

DS1's birthday was last Friday and we are still waiting for his main presents to arrive which were ordered last Tuesday for next day delivery. Apparently, one part of the order was no longer in stock and they no longer will stock it (depsite the order e-mail saying in stock ) and I should have received an e-mail telling me this - I had not. All this, after the second phonecall I had made to find out what was going on Hmm. They are now going to ship the second part. I wait with baited breath....

Is this an item you could run to a store a get (assuming you are near enough to a store)?

fedupofnamechanging · 18/08/2011 15:37

M&S can be a bit shit when it comes to cards. DH has a credit card with them and if he spends money in a place that they think is a bit unusual (internet access, when he's away for work), they get all nervy and put a freeze on the card. Mind you, they don't tell you before they do it, so you could go to pay for your petrol one day and find the only card you have has been cut off with no prior consultation.

Really poor of them not to check what card you had.

Blatherskite · 18/08/2011 15:37

I think minipie's suggestion was a good one. If it can be delivered next day then have it delivered tomorrow. It might not be there, wrapped from when he gets up, but it will be there that way...

Sirzy · 18/08/2011 15:38

Although I can understand your frustration you do seem to be a bit ott in your reaction.

LineRunner · 18/08/2011 15:39

Hi, Greensleeves.

I don't 'get' what M&S has against the good ole Co-Op, either. They must take Co-Op cards 'in store', surely to god?

If it were me, I'd ask M&S exactly how they were going to get the present to me by the end of tomorrow afternoon. Could it be paid for cash at the door? Cash or a card payment to a local M&S store today or in the morning? Someone in the whole of M&S must be able to deal with this in the next 24 hours.

MorningCoffee · 18/08/2011 15:39

Blimey calm down everyone, i don't think comparing things in life is very on to be honest, greensleves is just saying she is upset & i can understand her frustration over this, we all like to make our kids birthdays a special day & we all make these plans for presents/parties etc, when they go wrong it can be frustrating, why people are saying get a grip is beyond me.

What is it greensleves can we help you?

WideWebWitch · 18/08/2011 15:40

Can't you get to an mand s today?

MugglesandLuna · 18/08/2011 15:40

I was all ready to be sympathetic, but you last post is so vile I cant find it in me!

PonceyMcPonce · 18/08/2011 15:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

farfallarocks · 18/08/2011 15:40

m&s did this to me before my DH's 30th. I had ordered their catering service thingy and I went to collect about £200 worth of food and was told that my card had not gone through. No one BOTHERED to call me to inform of this fact so 3 hours before 50 people turned up I was racing around like a nutter. Never used them again.