Shops rounding up prices

[answer001]

I just bought a carpet and the shop rounded the price up to the nearest pound because they said they didn't want to have to deal with pence when it came to sorting out the banking. Are they legally allowed to state one price (ie �15.99 per metre) but then charge a different one at the till (it worked out as �16.13 per metre)?

[Postdog]

I don't believe they are, but I am no expert. However, if they told you they were doing that, and you agreed and paid it, it sounds to me like it;s partially your fault. Like I said, I am no expert, just seeing it from both sides.

[answer001]

They didn't tell me they were doing it until I questioned the bill. I wanted the carpet, and I only lost about 80p, so I didn't cancel the order, but I was wondering if it's actually legal to do that or not?

[Hawkwalk]

No they are not legally allowed to do this.

[kempie]

The Consumer Protection Act makes it illegal to sell things for more than their advertised price, but if the shop has made a genuine mistake, such as putting the wrong price ticket on by accident, it is very unlikely that it would be charged with an offence.

If you feel that a shop is deliberately trying to con you or you're unhappy about the way it advertises its prices, get in touch with Trading Standards...

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

[RevFunk]

I always thought that if a shop has a price on something for say �4.99, they are not obliged to sell it at that price they are indicating that is what they would like you to pay for it.

I have seen things marked up at 50 quid and said I'll give you 45 and had it accepted.

[kempie]

The question was not about paying less than the marked price.

[gina32]

they are onto a good thing if they do this to everyone, would they take the same view if you said round it down to the nearest pound!!

[answer001]

When I asked them about rounding up they said that they round up or down depending on the price, but my order came to �99.14 and they charged me �100, so that's obviously not true.

[RevFunk]

Same thing rounding up, rounding down in the respect that you are not paying the price on the ticket.

[gina32]

well when would they round it down? �99.14 is a lot nearer to �99 than it is to �100. i think youve been done and should go back and get the difference back, i really cant believe anyone would accept this.

[kempie]

RevFunk - in consumer law there is a vast difference between rounding up and rounding down.

A retailer is within their rights to sell for less than the advertised price, however if they intentionally mislead a customer into paying more than advertised, such as by rounding up the final aggregate amount, they commit a criminal offence (s.20 Consumer Protection Act 1987) which can lead to a maximum fine of �5000.

[RevFunk]

Isnt the whole point of the story:

Dont be gullible and pay the extra?

Or pay and extra 50p and dont cry about it?

[kempie]

3rd choice - complain to Trading Standards so that this type of sharp practice is punished.

[cado]

why didn't you ask them to round it of to �16.00 ?

if you have time, just to see their reaction, go back to them and ask for an explanation of your receipt. then you suggest that they round of the figure to �16.