Forgot to return purchases on time, retailer is charging me

[user120525]

I stupidly forgot to return £400(!!) worth of clothes within the retailer's 14 day returns eligibility window (perimenopause brain?). So I just posted the lot back to them and wrote them a nice email asking if I could please get a refund onto my original payment method (credit card).
They wrote back saying they've given me £400 credit onto my online account instead. I don't want this credit, I really need the money back.
I realise that I am entirely in the wrong here but was wondering if anyone knows or has ideas for recourse here so I can get actual real money refunded back to me?! TIA!

Well, I don't want to be unsympathetic (peri brain here too) but if that's their rules then that's their rules. You could try contacting them again or escalating - lots of people recommend SM for this sort of thing - you have nothing to lose!

You can try contacting again to see what they say. But honestly you are lucky they’ve done what they have so don’t hold your breath

Out of interest how far over the 14 days were you?

I have adhd and I do this kind of thing all the time. I just suck it up tbh, because it's my fault.

I'm a retailer I often have online sales.

You have 14 days to inform the business of a return, you then have 14 days from that date to return the items. Were' you outside the 14 days after the informing of the returns?

ETA If it is after the 14 days after you informed them of a return then they are within their rights to give you a credit note or voucher

What company was it?

I think they've been nice to give you credit. It's a bit cheeky to expect them to give you money back for clothes you had absolutely no intention of keeping after their own cut off date

You could take it to SM.

Thank you everyone for the replies! Yes I feel very sheepish, and I also have ADHD too so do this quite often. However this is the first retailer ever who has not given me my money back...

Items were delivered to me on 25th March. They received my returned package (all items) on 29th April. So yeah pretty bad on my part!! 🙀

What is the acronym SM and how would I try that? Do you mean social media?

Why try and shame the company, they could have refused the return all together or refused to give a full amount back in credit.

You could try and appeal to their better nature and explain your issues with the return.

That’s pretty normal. Had it happen to me in Next. Technically speaking, they didn’t even have to give you a credit note.

Why shame them on social media when OP is the one in the wrong?

They didn’t need to give her a credit note but chose to do so. Yet you think they should be shamed for not doing even more.

Entitlement at its finest.

They've already done something nice for you by giving you credit, so I really don't think you could, or should, expect more.

It's a hard lesson, but sometimes that's how it goes!

I've ADHD so I completely understand. Returns is the one thing I'm absolutely strict on, no matter what else my brain can't deal with, because I simply will not take a financial hit.

Does the store sell anything practical that's useful to you or your family? For example if it was M&S you could get nice food and kids school uniforms. Obviously if it's a ladies boutique not so.

ADHD tax. I’ve done the same, OP, sorry but in fact they’ve been quite generous given the timescales.

She risks losing their goodwill gesture of the credit (at least, I read it that they were doing this to be nice, not as part of their rules).

The retailer has already exceeded its obligations and been rather generous. I can’t imagine why they should be shamed for this.

I don’t think you have any chance of getting the money back. Sorry. You can try to find a way to use the online credit or sell that on to a friend.

ADHD tax. I pay it often too. Unfortunately I think you’re more likely to embarrass yourself than the retailer on social media. They’ve already gone above and beyond what they are obliged to do.

I’d just suck this one up to be honest . Annoying not having the £400 back into your account , but you could have lost everything .

Does the site sell other items or just clothing ?

I know it's tough OP, but over a month late is hard for them. It may mean the clothes are not still full price on their site, it affects how they choose to re-stock, may mean the clothes are no longer for re-sale at peak season etc. And if they are a small business, £400 is a 'liability' against their accounts (because they might have to return it) until the window is closed.

I think you have been lulled into a sense of false security by the others giving you leeway.

Personally I would not take to Social Media. They will ay you were out of date and you will be flamed. And...it's not fair, They don't deserve to be vilified.

Could you sell the credit note I wonder?

I am sorry this has happened and it must be tough being peri and having ADHD - time to set up a system for remembering returns!

You don’t have a leg to stand on unfortunately

@BangersAndGnash

That's the crux of it, fashion moves so fast the sales window is really short and I know the fashion business is used to people effectively renting clothes for free. Or tying up stock for weeks.

Not that the OP did this intentionally but I understand the reasons why fashion businesses are more stringent on their returns policy than other sectors.

Was there an issue why you needed to return them?

Their rules are in line with the law. You have to have informed them of the intended return within 14 days of receiving them. You didn’t.

You basically sent them unsolicited clothes which they don’t want and didn’t agree to have. They have kindly given you store credit; that’s all you’re getting. See if anything else wants to order stuff and then give you the cash? So you get money and they can use the credit.

I think it’s fair that they gave you a credit note. Is it a retailer that friends/family of yours also buy from? If so you could ask if they buy anything from there to use your vouchers in exchange for cash. I do that with family sometimes if one of us has a voucher we won’t use.