A small question about the law
Thursday, June 28, 2007Comment, or trackback from your own site.
When I were a lad, before TFT monitors and widespread broadband, I was a till boy for a well known and avoided high-street retailer. It was a happy time. I wore a stylish red badge and winsome pastel green tie to work. The smokers’ staffroom was nicotine yellow. Occasionally I cleaned shelves. I wrote a diatribe on cash desk etiquette. Happy days.
One thing I learned (aside from how to block out the sound of Billy Big Mouth Bass) was that if you accidentally advertise a product at a lower price than is the case, you must honour the lower price. This keeps customers happy.
So I’m in a situation: I reserved a hotel room and received written confirmation of the price (from the hotel receptionist). Four days later I received a further letter from the head receptionist (as though to underline the gravity of the matter) stating that the room will be 25% more expensive for the duration of my stay, and that they’re sorry for the inconvenience.
Are they allowed to do this? My sad sinking feeling is yes, but you’d've thought their company policy would be a bit cleverer than that…
This is not legal advice, I’m not a lawyer.
But no, they confirmed the price in writing. It’s not YOUR fault that someone at their end made a mistake, and yes I think they have to honour that price. I think they are trying it on, and I’d probably phone them up firmly point out that fact.
I’d certainly not leave it at that. Be slightly stroppy but understanding.
Good luck!
GordonJune 29th, 2007 at 6:43 am
Not sure how it works with hotels but when working in a very green high street retailer once we were told not to mislabel the goods because we’d have to honour that price by law… a subsequent conversation with someone studying a relevant law module seemed to reveal that actually no, they don’t have to, but most places will as their corporate policy, it is not however law.
jessI/he could however be wrong but I think you should complain anyway (look in the ts&cs of the hotel website perhaps?).
grrr. etc
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:52 am
I’m also no lawyer, but I’m sure that shops aren’t under any legal responsibility to enter a contract with you to sell goods. So if an item is wrongly priced, they can simply refuse to sell it, and then offer to sell it to you at the price they intended. How this applies to services such as hotels, I don’t know. I’d complain politely but firmly, and if necessary be prepared to cancel and book elsewhere. Or at least threaten to do that.
Dean AyresJuly 4th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Oh dear. I do hope this isn’t to do with any trip you have coming up next weekend; if so, then anything you come to that has to do with me seems to land you in hot water.
Practically speaking, I wouldn’t invoke the law at any point since not many people have any idea about it. I’d simply be very polite and affable about it, give them a call and ask for clarification. If they want to charge the higher, smilingly and pleasantly ask for the hotel manager (showing you’re not one to be worried by seniority) and go through it with them. I’d throw in some lines about regularly traveling to the area, likelihood of staying in their hotel again and how disappointed you’d be not to be able to stay in their hotel given other hotels (i.e. just tell them how fab they are, and how very good they would be if they charge you the price they originally quoted).It may work; it might not…
rich_wJuly 7th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I’m sure a certain Ukranian gent could explain this much better, but my understanding is that the price displayed on a item on a shop isn’t generally considered an offer in legal terms, but an invitation to treat. The offer is made at the till and as with any other becomes binding as soon as you accept.
I’m not sure how that applies exacly to online stores - I seem to remember we spent most of that particular lecture trying to work out how we could make Costcutters honour the price on some mis-labelled blocks of cheese. I have something about the Trade Descriptions Act scribbled in my notes - you might be able to try that. But I imagine by now you don’t care so much!
Who said four-year degree courses were a waste of time?
WillSeptember 26th, 2007 at 8:57 pm