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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
SnowyAlpsandPeaks · 15/05/2019 13:04

O do fook off! I’m now singing the 12 days of Christmas in my head! And with my bipolar broken head means it will be there for days!!!!!😤😂 (although I wouldn’t mind some fruit frees for my front porch if you want to gift them! Lol).

Seriously though, I wonder if these companies use this type of tactic, knowing that it’s often older people who don’t use the internet etc, that buy from there supplements. Then when they get sent more items, that they haven’t requested, they worry, so pay?

Talcott2007 · 15/05/2019 13:05

This made me chuckle - My DM has a similar sort of issue a magazine subscription! She prepaid for a years subscription to a particular cookery magazine at an event she attended as she got a really nice free gift as an incentive. It's now been 8 years and the magazine still arrives ever month without fail bearing in mind you pay about £5 for it in the shops! There is definitely no payment taken being take and she has contacted them several times by email and even a phone call them but they just keep sending it. She has given up now! At least she actually likes the magazine!

FizzyGreenWater · 15/05/2019 13:07

Haha.

It's easy though.

Final letter - recorded - unsolicited goods - DUMPED in our porch, we did not even accept delivery - we no sendee cheque.

You can't accept them back? We'll kindly waive the storage costs Grin

Suggest that the mistake is rectifed, because any more tree deliveries will not even be acknowledged. You've offered the chance for them to pick up and they have said no - this is the last they will be hearing from you.

Original poster
OVAgroundWOMBlingfree · 15/05/2019 13:10

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"

This made me chuckle, thank you.

The original cheque was returned.
And yes I can’t believe there is a company out there who only accept cheques!

OP posts:
Cobblersandhogwash · 15/05/2019 13:12

Sorry op but I did laugh at the third set of trees arriving. It's like panto.

IStillMissBlockbuster · 15/05/2019 13:12

What a ridiculous predicament you are in op! And also, hilarious. Sorry! I wouldn't mind a fruit tree, send one my way Grin

silverlace · 15/05/2019 13:16

Is the supplier Thompson and Morgan? They have had an "upgrade" recently and their ordering / delivery process is all over the place at the moment.

Toooldtocareanymore · 15/05/2019 13:19

they cannot refuse to take back something you didn't order or pay for , and they cannot demand payment, put it in writing you didn't order them so can they collect immediately and under no circumstances accept another delivery. why did you accept this last lot.?

Original poster
OVAgroundWOMBlingfree · 15/05/2019 13:21

why did you accept this last lot

I didn’t.

OP posts:
Toooldtocareanymore · 15/05/2019 13:21

sorry cross post see you didn't accept them, but then I suppose you did by calling them.

Acis · 15/05/2019 13:23

If you didn't accept delivery, include in the letter a statement that their agent unlawfully dumped their goods on your property without permission, and say that they need to remove them within three days or you will dispose of them as you think fit.

Acis · 15/05/2019 13:24

Tooold, how could OP possibly have accepted the goods by calling the senders to tell them she hadn't ordered them and didn't want them?

M3lon · 15/05/2019 13:28

That's really funny - I mean presumably not for the OP...but my DD will love it...she's massively into infinite loops at the moment.

FadedRed · 15/05/2019 13:29

Are they pear trees, Op? Any partridges?

LIZS · 15/05/2019 13:31

Thomson and Morgan?

WhatchaMaCalllit · 15/05/2019 13:34

@ScarletAnemone - You'll appreciate this then:

thegreatcrestednewt · 15/05/2019 13:39

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?

This made me laugh. Sorry, no advice, but enjoy your orchard.

lisalocketlostherpocket · 15/05/2019 13:42

Sorry, no advice, but enjoy your orchard

And this made me laugh :)

missbattenburg · 15/05/2019 13:44

OP, I heard you like trees. Great. I have five I don't want so I have arranged for them to be delivered to you asap. They will just cost you £49.99 each. I will accept payment by cheque.

I do not accept returns. Or complaints. Only money.

Mayalready · 15/05/2019 13:47

BTW an allotment is cheap per year.
Could you make your own Wine??

Hutchismo · 15/05/2019 14:22

I imagine a lot of vulnerable, older people keep on paying when the demand is made. Hence them advertising in among the stand-up baths and orthopaedic shoe companies.

Tell them in writing to fuck off and never bother you again. For starters, any contract is with your MIL, not you.

Let us know when the next ones arrive.

Iwantacookie · 15/05/2019 14:29

Who the hell orders trees on subscription? Why is this a thing?
Why would you want 3 trees a week?
At 3 trees a week you'll be able to open your garden up as a national trust place and charge admission by the end of June.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/05/2019 14:35

O do fook off! I’m now singing the 12 days of Christmas in my head! And with my bipolar broken head means it will be there for days!!!!!

12 days perchance?

PuppyMonkey · 15/05/2019 14:38

This thread is tree-mendous.

OP, if I were you, I’d tell them you don’t have a cheque book any more.

OhMsBeliever · 15/05/2019 14:45

I think you should send them a cheque for the trees. Because I want to know how many they'll send you. This could go on forever! Grin