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Basisboy · 03-09-2009, 17:44

Just got a response from Consumer Direct ... Thought it may be interesting ...
...
From your email it appears you wish to report a trader for advertising a service at one price but after making a phone call you have established that the price is considerably higher.

Based on the information you have provided the key legal points in response to your enquiry are as follows:

There may be a breach of the law by advertising a service at one price but charging a higher price. It may be dependent on the terms and conditions of the advert to establish if there is a misleading price indication.

UK law includes a principle called ‘Invitation To Treat’. The trader is inviting you to offer the asking price to purchase that item. When you make the offer, the trader then decides whether they accept your offer or not. A trader can refuse to sell without giving a reason - there is no 'right to buy' in law.

However, as advised above, any misleading pricing is potentially a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, the information you have provided will be passed to Trading Standards for further consideration and, if necessary, further action. Trading Standards may contact you for further information if they deem it necessary.
...

If VM are going to advertise prices for services then they need to make sure they are the price that are being offered...

I'd pay £28 for 50MB if it was available ... and that it how I interpret (and so do consumer direct and hopefully Trading Standards).

If I get any news will update....

03-09-2009, 17:44	#62
Basisboy Inactive Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Wirral Posts: 52	Re: 50MB Broadband now just £18 per month Just got a response from Consumer Direct ... Thought it may be interesting ... ... From your email it appears you wish to report a trader for advertising a service at one price but after making a phone call you have established that the price is considerably higher. Based on the information you have provided the key legal points in response to your enquiry are as follows: There may be a breach of the law by advertising a service at one price but charging a higher price. It may be dependent on the terms and conditions of the advert to establish if there is a misleading price indication. UK law includes a principle called ‘Invitation To Treat’. The trader is inviting you to offer the asking price to purchase that item. When you make the offer, the trader then decides whether they accept your offer or not. A trader can refuse to sell without giving a reason - there is no 'right to buy' in law. However, as advised above, any misleading pricing is potentially a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, the information you have provided will be passed to Trading Standards for further consideration and, if necessary, further action. Trading Standards may contact you for further information if they deem it necessary. ... If VM are going to advertise prices for services then they need to make sure they are the price that are being offered... I'd pay £28 for 50MB if it was available ... and that it how I interpret (and so do consumer direct and hopefully Trading Standards). If I get any news will update....