Would you pay for oil you hadn't asked for?

[Lime]

If you've ever tried doing delivery work then you might have more sympathy.

Thank you for your thoughts AMc. I have already been sorely chastised on this topic. (my God I bet Family Wiggs' children are beautifully behaved)

I will say ten more Hail Marys for not thinking of the trials and tribulations of being a delivery driver enough.

And I will try hard to build better relationships with my potential suppliers and to be a kinder and more honest person.

Or you could convert to gas.

 

[MdB]

My (very poor) understanding is that you are able to treat unsolicited goods as free gifts. However, the sender of the goods is allowed to ask for it back.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/business/trading_standards/trading_standards_-_information_and_advice/fair_trading/cec_unsolicited_goods_-_inertia_selling

What the sender is not allowed to do is send you an invoice demanding payment. You can of course come to some mutually agreed arrangement that you and the sender are happy with.

If it was me, I would offer to buy the fuel for 50% of the normal cost now, or 75% of the cost when I actually needed the fuel in October (or whenever). If the supplier wasn't happy with this, then they can take the fuel back. I would certainly not feel under any pressure to accept their offer if I wasn't happy with it due to cash flow or any other problem.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/buying-selling/unsolicited/index.html

Under the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971, (as amended) it is an offence to demand payment for goods known to be unsolicited, in other words, they were sent to a person without any prior request made by them or on their behalf.
Someone who receives goods in these circumstances may retain them as an unconditional gift, and does not have to pay for or return any unwanted goods. Anyone who receives a demand for payment for unsolicited goods should report the matter to their local Trading Standards Department.
However, in the case of unsolicited goods received before 1 November 2000, the recipient is required to give notice to the sender to collect them within 30 days, or otherwise to wait for 6 months, before being able to treat the goods as their own property.

There is a grey area here though, as it seems the oil was delivered on the previous occupier's account (presumably he had neglected to cancel his usual order?).

 

[JoceAndChris]

There is a grey area here though, as it seems the oil was delivered on the previous occupier's account (presumably he had neglected to cancel his usual order?).

Uh??
Is my writing really so sloppily unclear? The oil came here out of a simple mistake over country tracks.

Mr P (previous owner) had used this company at some point but there was no regular order. He used wood in the back boiler in the main. We had not used this company. There is no account with them, either with us or Mr P.

This curiosity over the legality of the scenario is going to reawaken the wrath of Family Wiggs; I just can't face that again.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I bet Family Wiggs' children are beautifully behaved)

They are beaten regularly if not. :lol:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

This curiosity over the legality of the scenario is going to reawaken the wrath of Family Wiggs; I just can't face that again.

I think that's a trifle unfair Joce. I think it was Matt who initially pointed out that regardless of the "legality", the best thing is not to try and capitalise on someone else's honest mistake. I happened to agree and said so.

At the end of the day it's nothing to do with me what you do about this. But then again, I didn't post precisely this question on a public internet forum inviting the opinions of everyone passing and then run down the tanker drivers for good measure*!

:roll:

Peace and love

Robin

* not literally "run down" of course!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Peace and love back Robin.
xx