Odd garden bin collection strategy

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hsvhel

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#279739 4-Nov-2020 21:26

Team

Interested in your thoughts on something I received in the mail, was sent a proposal for an extra garden bag. Whilst not surprising to drum up some sales, it's an "opt out" service.

The bag was sent along with the letter and requires users to log in online and opt out, and leave the un-requested bag to the letterbox on a specific date.

Coupled with the bag is a letter, with the address in the usual spot for an envelope (although not delivered in one to the letterbox) and in red it reads

"An Extra Bag on us, Please read other side first to find out about our Extra Garden Bag".

What's the go with opt-out offers like this, I ask due to some elderly neighbors in the street confused as to how to avoid the offer, that they never asked for and to check they won't be charged.

Not in a position to scan the letter currently, will do so when time allows.

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#2597882 4-Nov-2020 21:51

I would cancel all business with them and no longer deal with them and send them an email explaining why

MurrayM

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#2598038 5-Nov-2020 08:13

I'd just ignore it and if they tried to charge me I'd tell them that I never requested anything from them so if they did something to incur a charge then that was on them but I'm not paying.

Technofreak

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#2598056 5-Nov-2020 08:35

It's almost liked the scam many years ago where a non mortar and bricks book retailer would send unsolicited books to people. This would book would be the first in a series. If you didn't want the books you had to unsubscribe other wise the retailer considered you had accepted their kind offer and expected payment.

If I recall corrected there is a law about unsolicited services which absolves the recipients of any liability to pay unless they expressly agree to the deal.

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Arcturi

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#2601297 10-Nov-2020 20:12

The Community Law website has some good info about this, I can't post a link sorry but look under Consumer Protection > Unsolicited goods and services

The short version: "If someone provides you with goods or services that you didn’t order or ask for, they’ll want you to pay for them, but it’s up to you whether or not you do. If you were sent unsolicited goods, you have to allow the sender to collect them within 10 working days. If they don’t collect them in that time, the goods are yours."

They don't specifically say that you have to let the seller know you don't want the goods, but I would assume that you should tell them somehow, which is an annoying waste of your time when you didn't ask for the thing in the first place. But at least you don't have to use their specific web form or leave the thing in the letterbox on the specific date they gave, just stick it out there for 10 days and if it's still there after that, you can do what you want with it.

hsvhel

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#2601331 10-Nov-2020 20:52

Have informed them to collect and that its not wanted, today was collection day for the unused bag and un-surprisingly its still at the letterbox.
Tomorrow morning will yield a letter explaining this, with time and date stamped photos.
Along with others in the street doing the same

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Eva888

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#2601383 10-Nov-2020 22:40

Very cheeky doing this. Elderly people would get stressed about it and it also creates unsolicited extra work for everyone. Hard enough to keep up with the daily grind of paperwork and normal living as it is without this and there’s always the worry of scams.

Send them an invoice for your time sorting this out and tell the neighbours to do likewise.

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Stu

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#2601520 11-Nov-2020 09:01

We're looking at options for garden waste collections at the moment. Hopefully the company doing this isn't on our shortlist!

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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MikeAqua

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#2601526 11-Nov-2020 09:09

I would have thought an opt-in scheme of this kind is illegal.

Mike

Technofreak

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#2601553 11-Nov-2020 09:54

MikeAqua:

I would have thought an opt-in scheme of this kind is illegal.

Do you mean Opt-Out?

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MikeAqua

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#2601564 11-Nov-2020 10:27

Technofreak:

MikeAqua:

I would have thought an opt-in scheme of this kind is illegal.

Do you mean Opt-Out?

Yes, that. Too late to edit.

Mike

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#2601608 11-Nov-2020 11:00

I don't think it's illegal but there are remedies which give the "victims" the upper hand.

I've come across worse and more devious scams. There used to be the one where unscrupulous advertising companies would target a company and copy one of the target companies print adverts from an unrelated publication and send a bill charging for that advert in another (usually in house) magazine or make contact asking if you'd like to run the advert again this year when you'd never run the avert with them at all.

The scam under discussion is cheeky but not as outright underhand and devious as some are.

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neb

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#2601751 11-Nov-2020 13:14

Is this actually a scam or a +1 freebie? From the wording, "an extra one on us" it sounds like you've used them before and they're giving you a +1, perhaps because you haven't used them in awhile and they want to remind you they exist. The "opt out" is so they can collect unused bags rather than having them tossed in the bin.

hsvhel

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#2601829 11-Nov-2020 14:07

So, after a few beers I went to put the recycling out and it clicked that the bag drop was the same company on the garden bin.....Facepalm.

Been with the old company for so many years, it never even clicked.

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#2602209 11-Nov-2020 20:28

hsvhel: ... Not in a position to scan the letter currently, will do so when time allows.

Here you go.

Stu: ... Hopefully the company doing this isn't on our shortlist!

Now you know.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

neb

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#2602264 11-Nov-2020 21:01

I think the first three paragraphs on the "Dear Householder" page say it all, and as the other side says it's for existing customers, not spamming households at random.

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