Collection of unwated goods ordered online

[hanlon45]

A friend has recently ordered goods online & two orders turned up on two different days. One of which has been signed for. She e-mailed the company twice to explain the duplicated delivery & to arrange collection but they did not reply. As she could not store this large item she gave it to me where it still remains boxed up. We have spoken to the company concerned but to date they have not collected. How long is it they have legally to pick it up before it becomes our property & not theirs?

[loonytunes]

Write to them and state that, as they are unsolicited goods, unless they are collected within 28 days you will assume ownership and they will forfeit their rights to the property. If they don't they are then yours.

[hanlon45]

Thanks that's a great help!

[chazza]

I went through something similar with a company and ended up involving trading standards. They informed me that it is illegal to deliver something to someone's house and then demand payment for it, if that item has not been ordered by the person.

They also told me that anything that is delivered to your house unordered, is a gift and can be regarded as such so you are entitled to keep it without trying to return it to the company!

[doirecormac]

My dad had the same problem with a certain magazine (u know the one with the annual free draw (RD !)) and they kept sending him books he didn't want. The CAB advised him to write to them and advise them that if they sent any more he would consider them as gifts and keep them - he thanked them in advance for their kindness! After a few more months of free books they stopped arriving...