Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WWYD - is it stealing?

37 replies

AlizeeEasy · 20/06/2023 16:33

I order quite a lot on Amazon. (I know it’s a terrible corporation)

I woke up to an email from Amazon to say they have received my items back and have issued a refund. I did not request a refund and the items are in my home and very much wanted and used.

In total the value of the refund is £50, which I know is nothing to Amazon but is quite useful for me.

so my WWYD - would you tell Amazon of their mistake?

YABU - You should tell amazon
YANBU - Take the money and run

OP posts:
EscapeRoomToTheSun · 20/06/2023 16:33

Amazon pay no taxes in the UK. Think of it as reparations.

Tdcp · 20/06/2023 16:35

As above ^^ keep the refund, I don't they'd care anyway tbh, they're very lax with stuff like that.

Frabbits · 20/06/2023 16:50

Are you absolutely sure the email actually came from amazon?

Quveas · 20/06/2023 16:58

EscapeRoomToTheSun · 20/06/2023 16:33

Amazon pay no taxes in the UK. Think of it as reparations.

Whether we like it or not there is no evidence that Amazon is stealing or committing fraud - their operations are within the law. Taking money to which you are not entitled with the inettnion of keeping it is theft / fraud. If people's morals are ok with that then it is a personal decision, but I hope they take the same lenient view of the law when someone burgles them or pinches their handbag.

Whatisithatido · 20/06/2023 16:59

I had this! It was £36 and around 2 months after I received the item. I kept it.

dd3wavegre · 20/06/2023 16:59

YABU for shopping at amazon

Star81 · 20/06/2023 17:00

Make sure it’s not a scam and that you don’t have to give any details etc to get the refund

5Pioneers · 20/06/2023 17:01

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

SleepingStandingUp · 20/06/2023 17:03

Look at the email address, are they asking for you to log in or do anything else? , delete the email and log in as normal. Then decide what to do if it's legit. On here you'll be vilified but lots of people would keep it

Original poster
AlizeeEasy · 20/06/2023 17:04

Frabbits · 20/06/2023 16:50

Are you absolutely sure the email actually came from amazon?

Yes! I thought the same when I saw the email, but I logged into my account (not through a link in the email) and it clearly shows my order and the refund status

OP posts:
Original poster
AlizeeEasy · 20/06/2023 17:05

dd3wavegre · 20/06/2023 16:59

YABU for shopping at amazon

Believe me, I know. It’s something I feel guilty about but the convenience is just too appealing

OP posts:
Original poster
AlizeeEasy · 20/06/2023 17:06

Should have put in my OP that it isn’t a scam, looked at my account direct through the app and the refund is clearly stated on the order

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 20/06/2023 17:07

It doesn't matter if they're a corporation or you disagree with their ethos. If you care about that, don't buy from them in the first place.

Either you're comfortable with theft or you are not. Admit which side you stand and either break the law or don't. I agree with a pp however and you can't then complain if somebody nicks something from you.

redskytwonight · 20/06/2023 17:10

Could they have been items that were recalled? I got refund for items I ordered months ago as there was possible safety issue detected.

yadeciN · 20/06/2023 17:12

Was it actual amazon or individual seller via amazon. Lots of small businesses on there

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/06/2023 17:14

I agree these things are usually a scam. Check there is a refund on your account before you do anything else.

My experience of Amazon is that they frequently write off very small (to them) sums of money.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/06/2023 17:14

I mean with knowledge that they are doing so!

Original poster
AlizeeEasy · 20/06/2023 17:14

redskytwonight · 20/06/2023 17:10

Could they have been items that were recalled? I got refund for items I ordered months ago as there was possible safety issue detected.

Unlikely, it was three very different items that were all refunded. I can’t see how they would have been a safety issue (one of the items was a towel)

OP posts:
OhDoh · 20/06/2023 17:16

Keep it. I've had this where two of the same items have been delivered. Amazon told me to keep them as it was easier than returning.

RumNotRun · 20/06/2023 17:16

I had this a month or so ago. It was around the same time someone had posted on here about having a refund for their order from Tesco. That thread made me decide to be honest so I told Amazon (hoping they'd say keep the money) but the guy said they'd claim it back. It was only £8. It still hasn't been taken back.

Tbh, Amazon might be an evil corp or whatever but I felt better by being honest cause if they charged me twice I'd sure as heck be asking for the money back.

SOBplus · 20/06/2023 17:16

Its stealing if you requested the refund. If you didn't its an error and they won't want the hassle of investigating and changing/correcting what happened so its a cost of business, enjoy your good fortune.

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 20/06/2023 17:17

Your question 'is it stealing' - the answer is yes. You're dishonestly keeping money from them.

The real question is 'Do I care about stealing from a juggernaut like Amazon' (probably not!) 'Is it going to impact anyone?' (Almost definitely not) and 'If they discover their mistake will you pay it back if they ask for it' (probably yes).

Original poster
AlizeeEasy · 20/06/2023 17:17

ShowOfHands · 20/06/2023 17:07

It doesn't matter if they're a corporation or you disagree with their ethos. If you care about that, don't buy from them in the first place.

Either you're comfortable with theft or you are not. Admit which side you stand and either break the law or don't. I agree with a pp however and you can't then complain if somebody nicks something from you.

It’s an interesting point of view. I guess the question come down to - is it stealing. I view stealing as being an active decision. This is something that happened to me passively. If I had not seen the email I wouldn’t have even known, would that still have been stealing by your standards? I don’t necessarily disagree with the idea that by keeping the money it would be stealing, that’s why I’m asking others opinions.

OP posts:
Quveas · 20/06/2023 17:21

I view stealing as being an active decision. This is something that happened to me passively.

You are actively deciding to not be honest. If that's what you decide fine - but at least be honest with yourself.

bunnypenny · 20/06/2023 17:22

AlizeeEasy · 20/06/2023 17:17

It’s an interesting point of view. I guess the question come down to - is it stealing. I view stealing as being an active decision. This is something that happened to me passively. If I had not seen the email I wouldn’t have even known, would that still have been stealing by your standards? I don’t necessarily disagree with the idea that by keeping the money it would be stealing, that’s why I’m asking others opinions.

Show quote history

That’s not how the law works. It is still covered by the Theft Act 1968. Surely you’ve read about people who have received huge amounts of money into their bank accounts in error and they’ve spent it or not returned it and been charged.