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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Keeping clothes I haven't paid for??

125 replies

calistaraines · 12/04/2017 19:33

Ordered a coat from an online retailer. Full price £150.
I paid for express delivery 1-2 days as I wanted it for a specific event.
It hadn't arrived the day before so I called the company and they said it hadn't been dispatched yet but they could upgrade to next day delivery so I would receive in time.
Next day two deliveries arrived each with a coat. I returned the extra coat and thought nothing more of it.
Have now realised that they have refunded my card the full amount so I essentially have a coat for free.
My mum thinks I should own up. What should I do???

OP posts:

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 13/04/2017 10:34

Yes the same happened to me with The Book People. They sent me a set of Jolly Phonics books by accident in with my order and they told me to donate them to a school or to charity (my son was too old for them). I gave them to DS's school.

Wigbert · 13/04/2017 10:45

I've had similar happen with The Book People and with Tesco. The Book People sent the wrong set of (more expensive) books so I called them to have it corrected. They sent out the correct set for free and said they would send me a label to return the incorrect ones. Never received a label, still have the free books.

Tesco messed up delivery of a £400 item and sent it to the wrong store for collection which was miles away. I told them I couldn't get there so they sent a replacement one to my local store. A few weeks later I received an email to say that as I hadn't picked up my order from miles away store it was being returned and a refund given.

I do not feel guilty in the slightest from profiting from their mess ups. I say keep the coat and not think about it further.

RainbowsAndUnicorn · 13/04/2017 11:06

I'd own up too, it's the right thing to do and to keep an item without paying is theft.

I thought most parents taught children that stealing is wrong but apparently not judging by how many wouldn't pay.

bluegreenyellow · 13/04/2017 11:46

he 1968 Theft act defines this as: "A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it". its theft no question about it

bruffin · 13/04/2017 11:59

OP hasnt been dishonest. SHe attempted to pay for the coat and she sent the other coat back.
Now if she had cancelled the payment or used a fake card then she would have been dishonest, or claimed she hadnt received either one or both coats, but she didnt do any of this. Or if they come and ask for payment again and op refuses, then again she has been dishonest.
She paid for the original coat, the company chose to refund the payment., that is the companies problem not the ops. T

Bubbinsmakesthree · 13/04/2017 12:21

IANAL but I don't think the situation classifies as "dishonest appropriation" - the OP did not act dishonestly in the way she came to receive the coats or the refund of the money.

Wanda354 · 13/04/2017 12:43

If people need a legal argument for this being wrong, it's unjust enrichment.

Everyone knows it's just wrong.

fascicle · 13/04/2017 13:13

It wouldn't take much effort to contactl the company again about the erroneous refund.

If companies offer to write something off, all well and good - in some situations it won't be worth their while processing a return or they might think it's appropriate to make a goodwill gesture. But accidentally refunded amounts like the OP's £150 and Wigbert's £400 will have to be absorbed somewhere. You're probably just contributing to other customers' costs.

FreeNiki · 13/04/2017 14:32

unjust enrichment.

ffs it's a coat. i know of a law firm who got investigated for dishonestly claiming too much fees on a legal aid case which meant depleting the legal aid funds of hundreds of thousands as well as the tax payer.

IT IS A COAT

get a grip people

zukiecat · 13/04/2017 14:40

Doesn't matter if it's "just a coat" FreeNiki

It's still stealing

As someone upthread asked If you tried a coat on in a shop would you just walk out with it if no-one was looking

That poor girl on the other thread was crucified for taking a couple of pic'n'mix and called all sorts

But it's ok for someone on this thread to steal an expensive coat?

FreeNiki · 13/04/2017 14:46

most of us on here would do it. lets be honest

specialsubject · 13/04/2017 14:46

Obviously theft if you don't tell them! Mn has funny ethics , theft doesn't count from business until it is their husband that doesn't get paid for work....

JacquesHammer · 13/04/2017 14:49

most of us on here would do it. lets be honest

I have been honest. I wouldn't do it. It's a crappy thing to do

KatieKaboom · 13/04/2017 14:51

Why do dishonest people always assume everyone is like them?

bluegreenyellow · 13/04/2017 14:55

"A person is guilty of an offence if:

a wrongful credit has been made to an account kept by him or in respect of which he has any right or interest;
2.
he knows or believes that the credit is wrongful; and he dishonestly fails to take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to secure that the credit is cancelled." 1968 Theft act

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 13/04/2017 14:59

"KatieKaboom Thu 13-Apr-17 14:51:17
Why do dishonest people always assume everyone is like them?"

Because it normalises their own behaviour and they don't have to feel guilty about it that way.

LeSquigh · 13/04/2017 15:05

I am absolutely AMAZED that anyone would own up to this and tell them! It's their mistake, enjoy your free coat!

bluegreenyellow · 13/04/2017 15:06

' KatieKaboom Thu 13-Apr-17 14:51:17
Why do dishonest people always assume everyone is like them?"

Because it normalises their own behaviour and they don't have to feel guilty about it that way.' exactly well put! and people saying its only a coat well you can be convicted for stealing 20 pounds www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-39119990

zukiecat · 13/04/2017 15:11

I have been honest too

I wouldn't do it because it's stealing and it's wrong

But I guess if any company overcharged all these posters that say it's ok, then they wouldn't tell anyone and just keep quiet?

Floggingmolly · 13/04/2017 15:45

But op doesn't just want to benefit from the free money (which she's undoubtedly going to do). She wants to feel validated in doing so by a load of strangers telling her it's ok.

Floggingmolly · 13/04/2017 15:45

And a lot of them are...

zukiecat · 13/04/2017 16:02

I know FloghingMolly

I think it's disgusting, OP never had any intention of paying up, because the honest ones among us here would have phoned the company and paid without hesitation

BusterGonad · 13/04/2017 16:58

Has anyone got a link to the pic n mix thread?

RainbowsAndUnicorn · 13/04/2017 17:05

Agree, theft doesn't seem an issue on here unless it's taking from the person themselves.

Bit like SE people and taxes, very happy to play the system when they gain but after a split the woman is suddenly not happy as it's means child support is less etc.

Theft is theft and there is never an excuse, doesn't matter if the company made a mistake it's still wrong.

glumbumm · 13/04/2017 17:12

I agree give it back.

I had the wrong thing sent to me and when I complained they wanted me to send it back them at my time and expensive, thought it was a bit of a cheek really.

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