Pre-ordering goods

[nubbin]

What is the law regarding advance ordr of goods? Is a company allowed to take money from your bank account, for an order where there is no date for delivery?

I thought that a contract for sale of goods had to specify a delivery time scale, and goods were not to be paid for before they were available?

[mrmaggit]

If somebody is ordering a non-stock item from us, we always require payment before the item is ordered. We will, however give the customer an expected delivery date, based on what the manufacturer tells us. If the item is a normal stock item, but is out of stock, we generally won't take payment until the item is in our possession.

HTH

[nubbin]

This is a new Sat nav, release date expected in March/April, and the money has already left my account. Obviously the company concerned don't have them in, but they are an expected rather than non-stock item. It just seems a bit strange....

[off_again]

I am not sure about anything else, but Credit cards and debit cards should only be billed once shipment has occurred (or as close to as reasonably possible). To bill now is illegal (with CC and DC cards) and the company is pushing it considerably.

Call the CC company (if you paid using CC) and get them to cancel the payment since you have not received anything. CC company is liable to cover this.

Very dodgy.