Dell are going to refund to Dell Reseller, and expect me to claim refund from him - Is this legal?

[gorgeousgreeneyes]

Hi,

I bought a refurbished laptop through a third party Dell Reseller called eComputers LTD. The warranty was transferred to me, with 11 months left on it. The laptop as repaired under warranty a few times via an engineer call out and by the third time Dell agreed that clearly replacing the same parts each time is not cost effective and said they would have a look for a like for like replacement laptop from their own refurbished stock. They called me today to say that they have been unsuccessful and offered a refund, which I though was quite reasonable. However, they will only refund directly to eComputers the amount they paid for their wholesale price, not the amount I paid to eComputers. So they will collect the laptop from me, and when they have booked it back into their stock they will give the money to someone other me - to which I have to then expect that eComputers will give me the refund. Is this legal? It seems like if I agree to this with Dell, I am taking a massive risk that I will get my money back? Do eComputers have to refund me the amount I paid them? Please can someone advise me where the law stands on this. Also I have no gripe with eComputers (...yet)

Your contract is with eComputers Ltd, not with Dell. Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act are against eComputers Ltd, not against Dell. There is nothing illegal in Dell providing the refund to the reseller for them to refund you. I would imagine they are giving eComputers the wholesale price in the expectation that eComputers will give you the full amount you paid. You may well find that eComputers give you your refund when you return your laptop without waiting for Dell to provide their refund.