Mothercare haven't collected a returned item - does it ever legally become mine?

[nicand2]

I ordered a car seat from Mothercare and they sent the wrong one (the correct one was out of stock so i cancelled the order) they refunded my card and arranged a collection for it.
That was 6 weeks ago and I've sent 4 further e mails and they have arranged 4 further collections. After waiting in all day on 4 occasions I still have it.
I have now put it in my garage as it is a really bulky item, in my last e mail to them I told them I would not contact them again to chase them as I was fed up with it.
I was just wondering if there is a period of time when it legally becomes my property iyswim??

have you tried ringing them rather than emailing? i always find i have better luck if i actually speak to somebody.

nappyaddict - yes I might try that and give them one last attempt it's just such a pain having to wait in all day and then not collecting it.

Why are you waiting in all day? I'm sure that they could be more specific about the times. I dont think it is reasonable to expect you to stay in for more than half a day for this, and you have now wasted 4 days for this!
Maybe you should consider charging them for storage

They couldn't be specific about times it was just any time between 8 and 5. I did leave it out on the step once when I had to pop out quickly.
charging them for storage is a good idea! tbh if I knew I could claim it after a certain time I would use it for DS2 as they can't be bothered to collect it.

Yes you have the right to keep or dispose of them. See:

www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/buying_goods_your_rights.htm #distance_selling

hmm that didn't work did it? Try

www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/buying_goods_your_rights.htm#distance_selli ng

I once had a similar problem with a delivery company. They gave me a date and said it would be the morning. I took the day off work so that I would be in. Then the morning went by and they didnt come .
So I phoned the company, and the first person I spoke to said it was all a mistake they had made and they wouldnt be able to deliver that day at all, so I spoke to the manager, explained the situation and that I had taken annual leave on the basis of thier delivery date.
Amazingly they then sent a car with my delivery from their depot ( 1 1/2 hour away), so i did get the delivery that day. So clearly these companies have more flexibility then they make out

Thanks for that pinkandpurple, it seems fairly clear and there is no time limit. Will save buying a new car seat for DS2 anyway!

No, I really don't think you have a right to the goods. It belongs to mothercare and you don't have a right to treat it as your own and you can't sell it, unless you keep the money for them or somethimg like that.
They only lose the right to it after 6 years.

Though, if they don't come to collect it, you could use it but they may suddenly remember and chase you for it.

www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/keeping_lost_found_and_uncollected_goods.ht m#Uncollectedorabandoned_goods

I hope this works as it's the first time I've done a link!

isn't that link to do with if you want to sell it though not if you want to keep it?

No, it's for goods that are uncollected or abandoned; goods that have been ordered and recieved then rejected or not paid for and the seller has failed to collect them, which is whats happened in this case.

Mothercare have refunded nicand2 for the car seat so it doesn't belong to her anymore, not for the next 6 years anyway!