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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I bought from a business not an individual

25 replies

Srirachachacha · 08/10/2021 20:41

I'm in a few Facebook social activity groups that have sprung up over lockdown. These are generally run by business owners who then post events to generate business for themselves.

3 months ago I ordered some branded merchandise through one of these groups. The order was on the owner's business page - it was branded with the FB group name not the business name if that is relevant.

The merchandise has not been delivered. I've chased it and am none the wiser as to if it has been posted at all as apparently there has been a delay. Many other people have not received their orders either.

The business owner is now posting in the group to say they make no money from this merchandise and as they have so many other commitments they don't have time to chase it up. They have also said its ridiculous people are emailing about it and saying it's bad customer service because this is not linked to the business.

So, I would just like my money back at this point. The owner has said refunds are coming out of their pocket but...why should it come out of mine not theirs?

For various reasons I don't think it is a scam, just a shambles but AIBU to think I bought from a business so it is a business transaction regardless of profit?

OP posts:
Mantlemoose · 08/10/2021 20:43

I agree with you which is why I don't buy from these people. Not worth the hassle.

hemhem · 08/10/2021 20:44

Who did you actually make payment to, was it a business bank account or a personal one?

Original poster
Srirachachacha · 08/10/2021 20:47

@hemhem

Who did you actually make payment to, was it a business bank account or a personal one?
Payment was via an Ltd company's website rather than a bank transfer. I have a receipt.
OP posts:
hemhem · 08/10/2021 20:54

Sounds like your sales contract is with a limited company then. You have legal rights under Consumer Rights Act 2015. Loads of info online can help you

hemhem · 08/10/2021 20:58

Did you pay with a credit card and was it more than £100? If so you also have legal rights under s75 of the Consumer Credit Act and the credit card company can help you get a refund

Original poster
Srirachachacha · 08/10/2021 20:59

@hemhem

Sounds like your sales contract is with a limited company then. You have legal rights under Consumer Rights Act 2015. Loads of info online can help you
Yes, I know legally I could take steps to get the money back.

It's more the moral side of doing so when the owner is saying they placed the order out of the goodness of their hearts, haven't made any money on it and it's nothing to do with their business. I think they've been very naive but don't seem to grasp just how tits up this could go for them since the group is being supportive about it for now.

Most people in the group are posting supportive comments and saying that anyone who wants their money back is out of order blah blah blah hence the doubt in my mind.

OP posts:
Beautiful3 · 08/10/2021 20:59

You can file a refund under section 75 of your credit card, for non receipt of item. Call your bank (whom your credit card is linked) in the morning.

KikoLemons · 08/10/2021 21:02

So do you order from a limited company direct or did someone in the group order for you? Or is the FB person actaully the business owner?

Original poster
Srirachachacha · 08/10/2021 21:06

@KikoLemons

So do you order from a limited company direct or did someone in the group order for you? Or is the FB person actaully the business owner?
I ordered directly from the Ltd company which is owned by the person who runs the FB group.
OP posts:
KikoLemons · 08/10/2021 21:08

Sorry pressed post too soon... If they are the business owner then whether they are in a FB group or not is irrelevant. As others say - it's a business so follow normal refund procudures.

Lennybenny · 08/10/2021 21:14

It's actually a basic....I paid for something that hasn't arrived. I'm fed up of waiting and would like my money refunded.
Op, if you ordered an item from somewhere else and never received it, would you still be happy waiting for it? You're being scammed. Get your money back unless you can afford to lose it.

Original poster
Srirachachacha · 08/10/2021 21:15

I'm hesitant to go down any official routes because if I do I can never go out with the group again Grin it's not a huge amount of money but I actually want what I ordered!

The irony of this is the owner is a law student.

OP posts:
Energy4You · 08/10/2021 21:19

They are the business owner. They never did anyone a favour and the fact they are loosing money is not your issue.

The fact they can’t chase up whoever is doing the merchandise is nit your problem and it IS bad customer service to not be able to do appropriate follow up so people get their product!!

He us either trying to guilt trip people or he has no business sense at all.

Energy4You · 08/10/2021 21:20

Xpost

Yay he hasn’t a clue about what he is doing and is flapping around.
Still his responsibility though Grin

hemhem · 08/10/2021 21:31

Is this a personal friend of yours who you're also buying from? Obviously that makes it harder to pursue a refund than from a stranger. You're legally entitled to a refund. Sounds like you need to decide if you want to lose the money or the friendship here

RobertaFirmino · 08/10/2021 21:44

It's more the moral side of doing so when the owner is saying they placed the order out of the goodness of their hearts, haven't made any money on it and it's nothing to do with their business
This is not your problem. Not your circus, not your monkeys (and I know people hate that expression but it seems apt).

Most people in the group are posting supportive comments and saying that anyone who wants their money back is out of order
I would put good money on these people being sock puppets.

Original poster
Srirachachacha · 08/10/2021 22:03

@hemhem

Is this a personal friend of yours who you're also buying from? Obviously that makes it harder to pursue a refund than from a stranger. You're legally entitled to a refund. Sounds like you need to decide if you want to lose the money or the friendship here
No, I don't know the person other than through the group.
OP posts:
hemhem · 08/10/2021 22:26

So what is stopping you contacting this person and saying that you have a legal right to receive either the goods as ordered, or a full refund? Its pretty simple to email this and state if you don't receive what you're owed you will consider them to be in breach of contract.

Otherwise you're just making a charity donation to this person for nothing in return.

Original poster
Srirachachacha · 08/10/2021 22:35

I'm not looking for legal advice, I know the legal position.

It's the moral standpoint - an entire group of people saying to this person that they're in the right - I'm looking for a sense check more than anything else!

OP posts:
HouseOfFire · 08/10/2021 22:39

The moral standpoint is that you have paid for an item that they promised to procure for you.

They haven't, they need to repay you.

Haffiana · 08/10/2021 22:54

This is an MLM, right? Not an actual real business then. No real business has "an entire group of people saying to this person that they're in the right" or any such unprofessional shit going on on Facebook.

Buyer beware.

TheUndoingProject · 08/10/2021 22:57

So it’s as if it’s a slimming group and you’ve ordered a branded t-shirt. The slimming group leader has taken your money via her ltd company and placed a group order with a t-shirt company (making no profit) and for whatever reason the t-shirts haven’t come?

HouseOfFire · 08/10/2021 23:11

The business owner is now posting in the group to say they make no money from this merchandise and as they have so many other commitments they don't have time to chase it up.

That's OK, just refund then

They have also said its ridiculous people are emailing about it and saying it's bad customer service because this is not linked to the business.

How the fuck is it not bad fucking customer service???

What is it

Original poster
Srirachachacha · 08/10/2021 23:26

@Haffiana

This is an MLM, right? Not an actual real business then. No real business has "an entire group of people saying to this person that they're in the right" or any such unprofessional shit going on on Facebook.

Buyer beware.

Nah, not an MLM. It's an activity group (for the sake of argument let's say it's a skiing group) run by a (one man) business that runs ski lessons.

The owner has posted several times about it saying they've done it outwith their business role - but all payments and orders have been channelled through the business.

OP posts:
Original poster
Srirachachacha · 08/10/2021 23:28

@TheUndoingProject

So it’s as if it’s a slimming group and you’ve ordered a branded t-shirt. The slimming group leader has taken your money via her ltd company and placed a group order with a t-shirt company (making no profit) and for whatever reason the t-shirts haven’t come?
Exactly. And they're saying they have too many other responsibilities including their business for chasing them up to be a priority.
OP posts:
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