lovemoney.com - Q&A - Consumer rights http://www.lovemoney.com Consumer rights questions from Q&A on lovemoney.com en-gb Copyright 2008-2013 lovemoney.com. All rights reserved. http://www.lovemoney.com/Images/Global/HeaderLogoOnWhite.gif lovemoney.com http://www.lovemoney.com 300 50 <![CDATA[I'd like some help with a matter relating to a printer I bought under a lease and I now believe it wasn't new.]]> I exchanged an OKI printer about a year ago for an OKI managed service contract printer. The cost was around £2,500-£3,000. I was under no illusion that the printer would not be new and there were various other benefits which were of use. So I went ahead and signed the contract. However, when the printer was installed I realised at that point it was unlikely to be new - parts from my old printer they were taking away were used to assemble the "new" one. I then found out that the printer had done nearly 20k copies. I was told a load of rubbish about OKI recalling faulty toner drums - I assume because they forgot to install new ones and that was their way round it. The dealer has told me that the machine is NEW and not secondhand, it has apparently been in their showroom. I have tried an analogy of he wouldn’t buy a new car and then find there was 20,000 miles on the clock - he doesn't seem able to see my point and just says that these machines are made to last for a vast amount of copies! I have since confirmed with OKI that the printer was manufactured in June 2010, (and I believe around that date the model was discontinued) so therefore in June 2012 it could not have been a new one and I have also confirmed that there was no recall of faulty toner drums. As we have a lease it will cost us almost double the cost of the printer to get out of that. Basically if we were given a new machine as we understood we were purchasing then we would be happy. I have been doing business with the dealer for about 10 years and just can't understand why he has sold me a "pup"!

We have been going backwards and forwards for about a year now in an attempt to get this sorted but I am getting nowhere. Unfortunately he seems to change his tack from one communication to another.

I need some help here because I really don't know which way to turn. In normal circumstances I would contact the dealer but can't in this instance for obvious reasons. OKI have been very helpful but their advice is somewhat limited. The leasing company don't want to know about it.

]]> <![CDATA[daughters passport. ]]> Help Please....

I married 3 years ago, but didn't change my name on my passport.

My daughter now needs a passport but mine is in my maiden name. Do I need to change my passport so my daughter can have one or can I apply for her passport in my maiden name? Only asking because on her Birth certificate that I will need to send it will have my name as my married one??

Thank you.

]]> <![CDATA[I own my property outright. If I marry again, would my new spouse be entitled to claim on the property if it doesn't work out?]]> <![CDATA[Is Jobseekers Allowance only received if enough NI contributions have been paid?]]> I have a friend who is 50 years old and been working in the UK for last 17 years in various part time and full time jobs.

He is currently unemployed and went to the Job Centre to apply for Jobseekers Allowance but was told he does not qualify as he has not made enough NI contributions. Is this correct?

Also, he has some other paperwork telling him that he has 17 qualifying years of NIC's but that there is a gap in his NIC contributions for 200-11 and whether he wants to make a payment.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks

]]> <![CDATA[Advertising goods at wrong price.]]> I wonder if anyone could shed a little light on an issue that I had recently with a visit to a large retailer. I had noticed an item of clothing was priced as £0.26 which was clearly meant to say £26.00 but had been a computer error - This was the actual ticket below the bar code so it wasnt hand written or stuck on it was printed as part of the ticket. I checked the other items on the rail and they had this part ripped off or defaced. Are the retailers obliged to sell at this price - The manager who was summoned was extremely rude "I dont need to sell you nothing" his grasp of the English language was as polished as his customer services ability. I was just wondering where the law stands on this - I actually made a complaint via email (still awaiting a response a week later) - More about the attitude of the manager than anything else but he would not allow me to take a photograph of said item nor provide my with something in writing confirming the incident? Many thanks in advance of your comments.

]]> <![CDATA[My landlord isnt paying my deposit back]]> I recently moved out of a property that I rented privately for 14 months on a AST. At the start of the tenancy we paid the agent a months rent in advance and £895 bond.

.I gave my landlord 2 months notice when I wanted to move out. The day before we moved out thought id better drop him an email to ask what he wanted us to do with regards to coming and inspecting the property and handing the keys in.

My landlord asked me to hand the keys into the agent, which I did.

I emailed my landlord, to ask when he was going to give me my deposit back,he emailed back saying that on the 31/05/12 he had a contruction company go into the house to do an inspection. Attached to the email was a list with approx 200 repairs that needed carrying out on the house and that he would forward me photos of things that were relevant to me.

The day after I got an email with what he believed was relevant to me.

I questioned this and put my point across about allowing for general wear and tear. One of the things he complained about was the garden being overgrown. My argument was that he had left the property for nearly 2 weeks before getting the inspectors in.I have spoken to the agent and my landlord has told them that the quotes for work that needs doing will come to £500. The agent has my deposit which is not in a protection scheme this i have already checked.

]]> <![CDATA[Gym gone into administration, paid upfront, help!?]]> Took out a 13 month contract for a gym in February, paid up-front £175 with my Visa Debit card, just informed today that gym is "ceasing to trade, effective immediately" and vague statement "it is our intention to deal with all our creditors in the same way..." Please help, is there any way I can get my money back?

]]> <![CDATA[Cancellation Rights- Insurance]]> Hello, I recently bought a travel insurance policy online from World Nomads, as I was planning on travelling around Australia for 6 weeks after a placement there. Nothing was definite but as the policy took 3 days to kick in and I had limited internet access I checked the cancellation T&C's and bought the policy for £165. However my plans have now changed, and I no longer need the policy- I contacted them 6 days after purchase to cancel but they are refusing, even after I have quoted there own T&C's from the policy docs and their website, and stated that insurance has a 14 days cooling off period as standard...what can I do?? Thanks.

]]> <![CDATA[Did I need that T.V. insurance???]]>

Three years ago we bought a Panasonic Vierra TV for £799.99 on sale full price £999.99. It was my first TV purchase as an adult so I didn't know about it or warranty and guaranties. So when the store assistant forced us to buy one tv insurance, we were told that we'll get like for like or same amount of TV. With small child at home we thought it was good to buy it. So, we bought the insurance for £288 (expensive) for 3years. Now on the third year or tv had a few scratches on it so we decided to call or insrance. They collected the tv but said they cant repair it because it'll cost more then £300, so they sent us £400 voucher saying that we'll have to buy another tv. but we are feeling cheated and helpless, is there anything else we can do ??

]]> <![CDATA[Are you waiting for PPI compensation?]]> There have been reports that some people who were mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) have waited months for their compensation payments.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has experienced this, or if your PPI compensation claim was promptly paid.

Thanks

Simon

News Editor

]]> <![CDATA[Complain about Klm ?]]> Was traveling to Saudi Arabia with my family we have Saudi Visa but because the Klm staff at the London Heathrow Airport we are denied boarding and I end up buying a one way ticket for me and my family on Gulf Air same day. Later the Klm admitted their fault but only paid for the unused ticket from London to Dammam and refusing to pay the cost of the one way ticket price purchase.

What can I do to recover the cost of the one way ticket bought on GulfAir?

]]> <![CDATA[Is it legal for a landlady that owes you money from a verbal agreement beduct that monies owed from the alleged unpaid rent from your letting agency..]]> <![CDATA[My builder gave an all inclusive quote and has now sent me a invoice for extras. Where do I stand?]]> My builder gave us a quote and promised it was all inclusive with no hidden extras. He has gone but not finished the work to our satisfaction and last week we emailed him a request for a refund for the kitchen which is poor quality and very badly fitted and needs ripping out and starting again. Yesterday, he emailed us with an invoice for extras and wants an extra £8000 within the next 7 days. No quotes were given or agreed to for any extras. The only quote I asked him for was the laying of a wooden floor which I had purchased to which he stated that he would do this free as he was over running the job and he had misled me with the price of the kitchen (THE LAYING OF THE FLOOR IS ALSO BADLY DONE). He has now gone back on this and wants £2200 for this plus other extras which I don't even know what half of them are. I have the original quote which he hasn't even completed. Where do I stand with this as I know that this is a scare tactic in responce to our request for a refund of the kitchen as our plan was to go through small claims court. This man has left builders rubble, he has taken some of our possesssions from the garage and hasn't returned them as requested and he has broke several of the childrens toys which were in the garage and garden so I feel that he is actually getting off lightly with a request for a refund. Any advice would be welcome because this man has intimidated us for long enough and we would like an end to it. Additionally, we have paid the majority in cash and I also wrote a cheque to his builders merchants who had put him on stop, this was whilst I was at home with the kids and 3 builders over me telling me he had to have that cheque- a little menacingly.

]]> <![CDATA[Can I insist on my child going on a school trip if I am unable to pay the 'voluntary contribution'?]]> My son's school have organised a class trip to visit a museum in London so that the children can enhance their learning.

They plan to travel by coach and have asked for £15 as a 'voluntary contribution' towards the coach travel and entrance fee.

Unfortunately, I am unable to afford this but would very much like my son to go on the trip.

Can I reasonably expect the school to take him without contributing?

]]> <![CDATA[If an employee asks for 2 days off to attend hospital for checks, should I treat it as sick or annual leave?]]> As the owner of a small business, I don't have any policies regarding taking time off work, but would like to be fair and consistent. Thanks

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