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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think this is never going to end and we shouldn’t have to pay for these trees

152 replies

OVAgroundWOMBlingfree · 15/05/2019 10:35

My MIL is always sending off for things from the back off the Sunday supplements. Recently she sent off for a set of 3 fruit trees for us, ideal for growing in pots on a patio apparently. How lovely, very kind.

The trees turned up about a month ago. We buy pots and compost, plant them and get on with our lives. The following week a letter arrives from the plant company. They couldn’t accept MIL’s cheque because she had made an amendment to something or other on the cheque.
We phone them up, ask to pay by card but nope that’s not possible. We send them a cheque with details both in letter and on the back of the cheque explaining the problem.

A week or so later another set of 3 fruit trees turn up. I phone them to explain the problem, again they won’t accept card. MIL is staying at the time, and says she’ll have them as our trees look so nice and sends off a cheque the second she gets home - again explaining the problem.

This morning another set of bloody fruit trees arrive. I phone them up, they can’t accept returns of live plants, they want a cheque.

AIBU to think I am now forever stuck in a loop of receiving fruit trees? Should I just stick them on Freecycle and never give it a second thought? Do I have to send yet another cheque? Am I being haunted by cut price trees?

OP posts:

Ces6 · 15/05/2019 11:49

Well they can't have a cheque as you didn't order the trees. Otherwise all businesses could just send you whatever they liked and ask you to pay!

redwoodmazza · 15/05/2019 11:51

I would sell them! LOL!

ScarletAnemone · 15/05/2019 11:54

I feel like I am getting a glimpse into the life of that poor person whose Christmas was ruined when they starting receiving all those pear trees, partridges, doves, milk maids, drummers and all that.

RosaWaiting · 15/05/2019 11:59

wait
they can't ask for payment of what hasn't been ordered

the first corrected cheque should have been the end of it.

why wasn't it the end?

BiddyPop · 15/05/2019 11:59

OK, you now have 3 sets of trees and have paid for 2 of those, on the back of 1 single order. The fact that MIL has paid for 1 set, and you have paid for 1 set, and that you never actually ordered them yourself, are additional points.

The facts should be:
MIL ordered 1 set of trees.
There was a problem with payment for that order, and you tried to rectify it.

You have now sent off 2 (additional) payments for that 1 order.

(I presume MIL's original cheque was returned uncashed?)

So in terms of SOMEONE fulfilling MIL's side of the contract, you have now done that TWICE (so done more than was necessary).

If THE COMPANY has a problem in dealing with that fulfillment and sending out more trees rather than just accepting those payments as being for the original trees, that is THEIR issue.

I would now send them a letter, by recorded delivery, to state that payment for the original order (using any reference numbers you have, or date the order was made one) has now been made, in full, twice. Include a statement that you have not ordered any additional trees. Make a further offer to return the third set, as these were also unordered and are thus unsolicited, and not required. But also state that you have fulfilled the contract with the company in full by making full payment for the single order which your family has made and that, because you have made that payment, you will not be making any further payments (preferably it is MIL signing the letter, even if you write it, as she is the person with whom the company has a contract). I'd also include a statement that any further correspondence/contact on the matter (beyond a confirmation that this is acceptable to the company) constitutes harassment and that you will consider taking that further if it happens.

Original poster

OVAgroundWOMBlingfree · 15/05/2019 12:02

Thanks everyone. I’m going to draft a letter when I get a chance today. There’s not a chance I’m paying for them.

Also I didn’t accept delivery, they were left in our front porch.

OP posts:

HBStowe · 15/05/2019 12:13

It’s a scam! Stop paying for them, they absolutely couldn’t enforce payment from you for an order you never made! Tell them they’re there to collect and you have no intention of accepting them.

BiddyPop · 15/05/2019 12:17

If you didn't accept delivery of them, add that to the letter as well!!

EnjoyItAll · 15/05/2019 12:19

speak to citizens advice as they gave me specific wording to use when I was disputing a payment for something and they can give advice on the next step. It really helped me draft a letter which works very quickly as it looked like I had involved a solicitor at that point

AudTheDeepMinded · 15/05/2019 12:20

Can they prove you have received them? If you didn't have to sign for them I would expect not. Just don't contact them and if they contact you deny all knowledge! (In the meantime consider establishing a nursery with all the trees that turn up).

Nanny0gg · 15/05/2019 12:22

Even if there was an error with the first cheque, why do they think that means you need more trees?

WMPAGL · 15/05/2019 12:23

Oh OP, I'm so sorry but this thread has had me howling with laughter at the Kafkaesque absurdity of it all, so thank you for that!

The letter seems very sensible, but once done please don't give it another thought or let it worry you or your mother in law - what on earth are they realistically going to do to you for not paying for things you didn't order? It's completely ridiculous!

Often these things can be nipped in the bud by speaking to the right person at the company - if all else fails, try to find the contact details of the owner so that their ire can be directed at whichever incompetent keeps fouling up the order and payment process!

Directors are listed on Companies House beta (free service) which may give you a steer on who to address the letter to for maximum impact, especially if it's a small business.

StCharlotte · 15/05/2019 12:26

I feel like I am getting a glimpse into the life of that poor person whose Christmas was ruined when they starting receiving all those pear trees, partridges, doves, milk maids, drummers and all that.

Original poster

OVAgroundWOMBlingfree · 15/05/2019 12:27

Niiiiiiiiiiiinnneeeeee fruuuuuuuiiiiiit treeeeeeeeeeees.

OP posts:

Beautiful3 · 15/05/2019 12:29

Stop paying for them. Write them a letter to tell them to stop sending you these trees. Leave a note on your door stating no fruit trees to be delivered.

SnappedandFartedagain · 15/05/2019 12:34

This is so funny. OP if you want to get rid of the spare ones you could always put them on Treecycle or Treebay.

WMPAGL · 15/05/2019 12:38

OP, if helpful type 'unsolicited goods' into Google and there's a Saga article about this, and the state of play when the goods are sent 'by mistake' as extras rather than being unsolicited as such. Worth a quick read.

FurrySlipperBoots · 15/05/2019 12:41

fruuuuuuuiiiiiit treeeeeeeeeeees.

Youseethethingis · 15/05/2019 12:41

Fruit-treegate has made my day! Can’t wait to see how it all turns out

Spudlet · 15/05/2019 12:52

Treecycle

Any point in social media-ing the publication that carried the advert, I wonder...?

Belenus · 15/05/2019 12:58

Well they can't have a cheque as you didn't order the trees. Otherwise all businesses could just send you whatever they liked and ask you to pay!

This! What next, someone decides I need an elephant, delivers an elephant and then argues that they won't accept the return of live elephants? It's like the most bizarre protection racket going. "Send us a cheque, or else we'll send you more trees".

viques · 15/05/2019 12:59

I think the MN mantra of "Cancel the cheque" will have to be amended.

Cancel the cheque - or learn to love fruit

LarryGreysonsDoor · 15/05/2019 13:00

What kind of company only takes cheques these days anyway?

BarryTheKestrel · 15/05/2019 13:03

Please make sure that the first cheque hasn't been cashed and has been cancelled. I say this as there was a scam a few years ago with one of these magazine advert things where they'd say there was an issue with the first cheque and ask for another, then cash both, often continuing in such a cycle of sending goods, requesting cheque payment etc. My Gran was caught up in it over some shoes.

Also, what kind of company only accepts cheque? Alientating lots of potential customers there as most people I know don't even own a cheque book.

viques · 15/05/2019 13:04

Snappedandfarted

Or sourgrapestree, the provisional wing of gumtree.

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