Question for someone in the know about financial law perhaps? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

VitaminH · 02-10-2004, 05:51 PM

So here's the story. This past summer I made a purchase from Bestbuy.com and opted for in-store pickup. To anyone who has done this, you make the purchase online with a debit/credit card and choose a store you would like to pick up the item at, and they email you when it is ready to be picked up. So I ordered an item, and watched my email and my on-line banking, in about a day the card transaction had gone through on my debit card, and the next day I recieved an email saying the item was ready. In my excitment I went to the store that evening and picked it up(only about a 20 min drive, and I wanted my toy).

When I got there I went to the servvice desk and got my item. The girl there fiddled with the computer for awhile, walked off, talked to someone, disappeared and came back with my box, she then said that best buy was in the process of re-vamping their website and she couldn't check it out via the computer, so would I just sign this form and I'd be all set. I said sure no problem, and filled out the form. She then ran my debit card on one of those old-school devices that slide over the card with a loud CHA CHUNK and makes an imprint of the card on the slip. Handed me the box and said I was set.

On my way out I realized I never got a recipt, but didn't think much of it since their computers were down, I figured that was why. So that was that, or so I thought. About a week later I was short on cash and stopped at my bank's ATM, I got some money and looked at my balance, it was to high, to high in the amount of the item I had just purchased a week past. I got home from my excurions that evening and got online to check my bank, and ba-da-bing it says BEST BUY.COM REFUND and the amount in my checking. I was taken aback, since the item was sitting not 5 feet from me. I checked my email and there were several "pickup reminders" in there saying I needed to pickup my item, all dated AFTER I had indeed picked it up. Then one final one saying since I had indeed never picked up my item the amount had been refunded. I was shocked, and didn't know what to do. I told my father, who said it was probably just a hangup in the paperwork and leave the money be and it would probably dissappear in a few days again once they caught it. I had been thinking the same so I let it go. Days, weeks, and now months have passed, that debit card has since expired (got a new one with the same number, different expo date) and still the money remains.

So my question is, is the money now 'mine'? Is there some law that if they don't charge me for it for so long then it's over? Or have I technically stolen this item? I'm an honest guy here and I have no foul intentions, but I was afraid to call technical support at best buy on this as I didn't want to end up being charged twice, once by support and once again once the store figured it out.

Any advice?

Pardon the long post, and a cookie for whoever reads the whole thing

ladyadmin · 02-10-2004, 05:59 PM

I'll take an Oreo please

I think it's in your best interest to be honest and report the mistake. Surely they will find out, fix the problem and collect on it. If I were you, to save on paying twice, drive to the store instead of calling tech support.

VitaminH · 02-10-2004, 06:20 PM

Well, the problem now being while the store then was only 20 min, it's not about 3 hours and 20 min, since I've since moved. Also I'll mention that this mostly went down in June, approaching 8 months ago...

TM875 · 02-10-2004, 06:37 PM

I believe that the statute of limitations on financial transactions of this matter are 6 months (someone correct me if I'm wrong...it's been forever since my college business law courses), which means that they cannot go after you now.

Most likely, it seems that there is no paperwork transaction of you picking up your item. This means
a) they lost the paper that you signed
b) it never went through the system, and is sitting hidden in some file somewhere.

I would most likely go with letter b.

Your course of action really should depend on the cost of the item. How much/what was it? If it's something relatively cheap (say, under $150), then it's unlikely that BestBuy would pursue the matter EVEN IF they found your transaction. However, if it was expensive (like a computer or camcorder), then it's more likely that they'll track you down.

What I would do - ignore it. It's not your fault that they didn't charge you. You really have no liability here.

If you're really scared - call corporate headquarters...NOT the store that you picked it up at. The store has nothing to do with this.

On a separate note, did you all realize that BestBuy loses about $400 on every single laptop computer that they sell? Apparently, laptops cost a lot more than they tell us they do (this comes from a friend of mine that used to be an associate at BestBuy).

VitaminH · 02-10-2004, 07:07 PM

The item was only a little over $50, which was why I didn't call someone immediatly to report it. If it had been something expensive I would have been considerably more worried and looking into it more, as I don't want to end up getting angry letters from lawyers or anything

Averett · 02-10-2004, 07:08 PM

Best Buy is evil. My advice is to never ever shop there again.

troit · 02-11-2004, 10:47 AM

Enjoy the extra "cushion" in your account... Just be prepared to pay it back if they come looking for it.

02-10-2004, 05:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
VitaminH An embarrassment to myself and those around me... Location: Pants	Question for someone in the know about financial law perhaps? So here's the story. This past summer I made a purchase from Bestbuy.com and opted for in-store pickup. To anyone who has done this, you make the purchase online with a debit/credit card and choose a store you would like to pick up the item at, and they email you when it is ready to be picked up. So I ordered an item, and watched my email and my on-line banking, in about a day the card transaction had gone through on my debit card, and the next day I recieved an email saying the item was ready. In my excitment I went to the store that evening and picked it up(only about a 20 min drive, and I wanted my toy). When I got there I went to the servvice desk and got my item. The girl there fiddled with the computer for awhile, walked off, talked to someone, disappeared and came back with my box, she then said that best buy was in the process of re-vamping their website and she couldn't check it out via the computer, so would I just sign this form and I'd be all set. I said sure no problem, and filled out the form. She then ran my debit card on one of those old-school devices that slide over the card with a loud CHA CHUNK and makes an imprint of the card on the slip. Handed me the box and said I was set. On my way out I realized I never got a recipt, but didn't think much of it since their computers were down, I figured that was why. So that was that, or so I thought. About a week later I was short on cash and stopped at my bank's ATM, I got some money and looked at my balance, it was to high, to high in the amount of the item I had just purchased a week past. I got home from my excurions that evening and got online to check my bank, and ba-da-bing it says BEST BUY.COM REFUND and the amount in my checking. I was taken aback, since the item was sitting not 5 feet from me. I checked my email and there were several "pickup reminders" in there saying I needed to pickup my item, all dated AFTER I had indeed picked it up. Then one final one saying since I had indeed never picked up my item the amount had been refunded. I was shocked, and didn't know what to do. I told my father, who said it was probably just a hangup in the paperwork and leave the money be and it would probably dissappear in a few days again once they caught it. I had been thinking the same so I let it go. Days, weeks, and now months have passed, that debit card has since expired (got a new one with the same number, different expo date) and still the money remains. So my question is, is the money now 'mine'? Is there some law that if they don't charge me for it for so long then it's over? Or have I technically stolen this item? I'm an honest guy here and I have no foul intentions, but I was afraid to call technical support at best buy on this as I didn't want to end up being charged twice, once by support and once again once the store figured it out. Any advice? Pardon the long post, and a cookie for whoever reads the whole thing __________________ "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever." - Napoleon Bonaparte

02-10-2004, 05:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
ladyadmin Insane	I'll take an Oreo please I think it's in your best interest to be honest and report the mistake. Surely they will find out, fix the problem and collect on it. If I were you, to save on paying twice, drive to the store instead of calling tech support. __________________ The Programmers' Cheer Shift to the left, shift to the right! Pop up, push down, byte, byte, byte!

02-10-2004, 06:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
VitaminH An embarrassment to myself and those around me... Location: Pants	Well, the problem now being while the store then was only 20 min, it's not about 3 hours and 20 min, since I've since moved. Also I'll mention that this mostly went down in June, approaching 8 months ago... __________________ "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever." - Napoleon Bonaparte

02-10-2004, 06:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
TM875 Addict Location: Amish-land, PA	I believe that the statute of limitations on financial transactions of this matter are 6 months (someone correct me if I'm wrong...it's been forever since my college business law courses), which means that they cannot go after you now. Most likely, it seems that there is no paperwork transaction of you picking up your item. This means a) they lost the paper that you signed b) it never went through the system, and is sitting hidden in some file somewhere. I would most likely go with letter b. Your course of action really should depend on the cost of the item. How much/what was it? If it's something relatively cheap (say, under $150), then it's unlikely that BestBuy would pursue the matter EVEN IF they found your transaction. However, if it was expensive (like a computer or camcorder), then it's more likely that they'll track you down. What I would do - ignore it. It's not your fault that they didn't charge you. You really have no liability here. If you're really scared - call corporate headquarters...NOT the store that you picked it up at. The store has nothing to do with this. On a separate note, did you all realize that BestBuy loses about $400 on every single laptop computer that they sell? Apparently, laptops cost a lot more than they tell us they do (this comes from a friend of mine that used to be an associate at BestBuy). __________________ "I've made only one mistake in my life. But I made it over and over and over. That was saying 'yes' when I meant 'no'. Forgive me."

02-10-2004, 07:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
VitaminH An embarrassment to myself and those around me... Location: Pants	The item was only a little over $50, which was why I didn't call someone immediatly to report it. If it had been something expensive I would have been considerably more worried and looking into it more, as I don't want to end up getting angry letters from lawyers or anything __________________ "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever." - Napoleon Bonaparte

02-10-2004, 07:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	Best Buy is evil. My advice is to never ever shop there again. __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

02-11-2004, 10:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
troit Transfer Agent Location: NYC	Enjoy the extra "cushion" in your account... Just be prepared to pay it back if they come looking for it. __________________ I've yet to dephile myself...