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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Refunded twice

105 replies

Feelingguiltyandpoor · 23/08/2022 20:29

I paid for an event which ended up being cancelled by the company. After a huge amount battling and about 6 weeks later they finally refunded me the money (after initially saying it would be refunded in 5 days). I refunded my friends for their bit and thought that was it. However a week later and I've been refunded again. I'm now in a dilemma as since I bought the tickets a few months ago my financial situation is much worse. Would I be completely unreasonable for not telling the company and keeping the money? It's a big organisation and not a small company who will be hard hit. It's around £100.
God I know it's wrong and it's stealing. I need to tell them don't I even though they tried to keep my money in the first place. This money would be used for petrol and food and not luxuries but I know it's still wrong. I feel so guilty and know I need to do the right thing but this money is so needed right now. Ahhh.

OP posts:
TeachesOfPeaches · 23/08/2022 23:49

Keep the £100 as compensation for wasting your time.

AdobeWanKenobi · 23/08/2022 23:54

TeachesOfPeaches · 23/08/2022 23:49

Keep the £100 as compensation for wasting your time.

And when the OP is on the bones of her arse in two years time and the company decide to suddenly, and legally, recover their payment leaving her with no money for fuel or food, are you going to lend her the money?

That is the reality.

Greentree6455 · 23/08/2022 23:56

If you are looking for a moral compass, then mumsnet is not the place! Keeping the money is technically theft and they might come back to you, I don't think its worth it if you already feel guilty.

I accidently got sent two pairs of socks once instead of one pair, I still remembered it every time I wore them! (And I told them and offered to return!). Some people aren't cut out for deceit!

surreygirl1987 · 24/08/2022 00:07

I would absolutely keep it - wouldn't even think twice. Only thing is, I'd make sure I had enough to pay it back if they asked for it for at least 6 months.

surreygirl1987 · 24/08/2022 00:09

And when the OP is on the bones of her arse in two years time and the company decide to suddenly, and legally, recover their payment leaving her with no money for fuel or food, are you going to lend her the money?

Does anyone know legally at what point can the company no longer get it back? Is there a sort of 'expiry' or could they demand it back in say, 10 years time?

NeedToLeaveNow · 24/08/2022 00:10

Are you sure its been refunded twice?

Sometimes it can show twice on a bank statement but its only the once

AdobeWanKenobi · 24/08/2022 02:51

I have posted this. Six years. And it needs to be six clear years with no contact from either party. Any contact resets that clock.

autienotnaughty · 24/08/2022 03:13

Keep it, leave it a few weeks then if all good spend it.

DancingBeanstalk · 24/08/2022 03:40

Yes YABU. Stealing isn’t okay just because it’s from the rich.

Your circumstances are irrelevant. Their status (big or small) is irrelevant. The history between you is irrelevant.

The money is not yours and need to be returned.

AdobeWanKenobi · 24/08/2022 04:16

surreygirl1987 · 24/08/2022 00:09

And when the OP is on the bones of her arse in two years time and the company decide to suddenly, and legally, recover their payment leaving her with no money for fuel or food, are you going to lend her the money?

Does anyone know legally at what point can the company no longer get it back? Is there a sort of 'expiry' or could they demand it back in say, 10 years time?

quote didn’t attach for some reason. But to reiterate it’s six years.

brightnesses · 24/08/2022 05:27

Bills or not I’d keep it 100%.

I’d wait a couple of weeks before they take the money back but I wouldn’t notify them or anything. I’d just spend it happily

Pepperama · 24/08/2022 05:49

Sorry your in such a difficult financial position, hope a better paid job or other relief comes up soon.

But fraud is fraud and theft is theft, whether it’s a poor old dear or a big company. For your own integrity you need to tell them and if you’re lucky they won’t want it back.

GingerPigz · 24/08/2022 05:57

Although the MN jury hasn't (and won't) reach a unanimous decision, you absolutely should return the money.

Not only is it obviously the right thing to do, I am a big believer in karma (and appreciate that I may have now opened myself up to ridicule)...

Sleepyquest · 24/08/2022 06:03

I cannot believe the amount of posters making you feel guilty.
The time you would spend trying to repay this money would be ridiculous. Keep it

NumberTheory · 24/08/2022 07:05

Unless they’ve made a mistake on a massive scale (in which case they’re going to notice anyway), even if you tell them they may well tell you to keep - it will be so much trouble trying to get it back. This is what has happened to me all three times I’ve had this sort of thing happen.

Brefugee · 24/08/2022 07:11

If I sent money to a big company accidentally do you think they would give it back

It would depend. But generally, yes they would. Monthly, quarterly and annual closing (of accounts) is A Thing. And would try to make contact. If a company accidentially pays too much (like this) they can pick it up during closing and decide what to do. Indeed, some companies have a policy on the minimum amount they will try to recover but every one i've worked in will make at least one attempt to contact the receiver.

Do a thought experiment. How big must the company be before it's ok not to steal from them. So sole trader on one side (say someone with an etsy shop) and Amazon on the other) Where on that sliding scale do they have to be before you will take their money?
Incidentally Amazon have refunded amounts as small as 1 cent to me in the past. They have told me to keep things that arrived slightly broken but usable, and sent a replacement with no extra charge. They once told me to keep 6 books that were despatched from my wish list by accident. Their faults are many and varied, but in this respect they know when to chase payments and when not. Maybe this company will do similar. But since it's an event, and event promoters have had a shit 2 years, they may need it.

Tollystar · 24/08/2022 07:19

Absolutely contact them via email to tell them you've been refunded twice. Chances are, they won't have a procedure in place for you repaying them, so the email will be ignored as everyone who comes across it at the contact centre will dismiss it as being 'too difficult'.

Popvan · 24/08/2022 07:27

Sit on it for 6 months until you're sure they won't ask for it back then spend it.

Bluebellsand · 24/08/2022 07:33

I would contact their complaint department, telling them how unhappy you are with them. They inconvenienced you by dragging their feet refunding you. Now they are adding to your workload by refunding you twice. Not to mention tempting you to use this money for very important life expenses. But you cannot commit theft.

You might feel better after being listened too and they can tell you what they expect from you. If they forgive the amount great! If not, ask for a long term or short term payment plan that is affordable for you.

PoseyFlump · 24/08/2022 07:55

Tollystar · 24/08/2022 07:19

Absolutely contact them via email to tell them you've been refunded twice. Chances are, they won't have a procedure in place for you repaying them, so the email will be ignored as everyone who comes across it at the contact centre will dismiss it as being 'too difficult'.

This. Every single time I've received two parcels instead of one it's always too much hassle and when you email companies they either ignore you or tell you to keep it. Either way you've got a record of telling them.

Jerabilis · 24/08/2022 08:08

I wouldn’t proactively contact them but I wouldn’t spend it for a while in case they recalled it. It’s easy not to notice £100, or maybe it’s compensation for all the hassle they put you through ;)

If it was a small company I’d be more generous. I was going to the cinema recently when it was closed due to a fire alarm. They sent me 2 emails with vouchers for 2 free tickets rather than one (the vouchers have different numbers). So that’s £20 extra they’ve given me.I definitely intend to use them all!

mac1974 · 24/08/2022 08:55

I'd keep it aside for now but I wouldn't contact them. If they don't notice in a month or so I'd spend it.

PoseyFlump · 24/08/2022 12:12

mac1974 · 24/08/2022 08:55

I'd keep it aside for now but I wouldn't contact them. If they don't notice in a month or so I'd spend it.

That's probably not a long enough time. One Christmas a large supermarket didn't charge me for an online shop. It showed up as pending but never went through. Two months later I had an email saying they had a glitch and they put the purchase through again. Would have been devastating for anyone who didn't notice and hadn't got the money anymore.

startfresh · 24/08/2022 12:49

Happened to me once when returning something (albeit a much smaller sum) I didn't consider returning it because they made me wait as the courier lost the parcel for the while. I argued that I shouldn't be out of pocket for their lack of a decent courier and they refunded me. I presume the second was automatic when the courier eventually returned the item.

Tbf, looking back, I see it as compensation for making me deal with Evri and keep chasing them. I really dislike Evri.

GlueyMooey · 24/08/2022 12:59

I'm amazed how many dishonest people there are. It's depressing. I guess you would raise your kids to do the same. Keeping something that you know isn't yours is scummy, however you try and justify it.

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