SIT-UP CHANNELS ILLEGAL EXCHANGE PROCEDURE COULD DAMAGE YOUR WEALTH (bid tv)

Member Name: Mike J Smith

Product:	bid tv
Date:	14/11/07 (292 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality products at reasonable prices except for their awful own brand electricals by Ikasu!

Disadvantages: High p&p and a very unsatisfactory exchange procedure

I have generally found bid tv and it's sister channel, price-drop tv to be efficient, and offer good quality products at reasonable prices. Don't overlook the hefty p&p and premium rate phone call when assessing you purchase though. Suddenly your £5.00 'bargain' watch doesn't seem such a good deal after all when you realise it's cost you 3 times that amount!

There is however an alarming practice, which needs to be dealt with asap.
When returning unsatisfactory goods for an exchange, instead of just sending out a replacement item, Sit-Up channels take a 2nd unauthorised payment from customers bank accounts.
In effect they charge you for the replacement item without informing you, before putting through a refund for the returned item, which can then take up to 14 days to be processed.
If there are insufficient funds in your bank, or if it puts you over your credit card limit, or your overdraft agreement, the possibility is that this unauthorised payment will incur you a £30.00 fee even though it was not your responsibity!
There is also the possibility that a cash machine, or shop transaction will be declined, not a particularly nice prospect if you can't pay for the weekly shopping just because YOUR money is in Sit-Up channels bank account without your authorisation!!!
If there's a large amount of money involved, it could place customers in a very difficult position.
I've spoken to their customer services and accounts department on many occasions about this dubious practice, but they refuse to change this highly unsatisfactory system for replacing products.
If you have to return a product, and a large amount of money is involved, my advice would be to ask for a refund, not a replacement unless you are prepared to be out of pocket for at least 14 days.

As far as I know, taking money from someones bank account without authorisation is an illegal act, and I don't know how or why Sit-Up channels have been allowed to get away with it for so long.
Maybe their customers don't know what's happening unless it causes them financial difficulty as it did me.
That's how I found out, I wont be caught again!!!

Summary: Good shopping channels with fast delivery & 14 day returns policy, Just be aware of the pitfalls!