Warning Farnell dirty tricks with handling charge

[fourtytwo42]

Just placed an order there (Farnell) for the first time in ages, usually use RS, I have accounts at both.
Order seemed to progress normally, around £10.

At checkout NO delivery or handling charge was shown and I authorized the payment on my credit card.
When the invoice arrived by Email today a £3.95 handling charge had been added and the total amount charged to my card increased accordingly.

As far as I am concerned that is an unauthorized transaction, I have already reported this to Farnell's complaints system and if there is no response in the next few days will take it up with my CC company as a disputed transaction.

I don't care what there T&C's say they cannot charge the card for more than was shown at the time of authorization, I should imagine the distance selling regulations etc come in to play here as it is clearly fraudulent and misleading  behavior.
 

[tom66]

I just tried to make an order and it clearly shows the handling charge.

I recall that Farnell don't charge handling charges for business customers but you have to do enough business to get this perk. If you constantly order below the normal free delivery limit, they take it away from you. Maybe that's what happened.

They'll probably give it back to you if you complain.

[olkipukki]

At checkout NO delivery or handling charge was shown and I authorized the payment on my credit card.

Do you have a screenshot?
If not, good luck 

https://uk.farnell.com/help-delivery-information

£0 - £19.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders : £3.95 FREE - Trade account holders only
£0 - £19.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders : £3.95 - Non-Trade account holders

[thm_w]

Its $4. Try adding the same part again, see what it shows.
If you are a "trade account holder" then they should refund it.

Also many places charge more than shown at time of authorization, they can state "shipping to be calculated later". But this is a bit different. Is not fraudulent unless you can prove as such.

[fourtytwo42]

Do you have a screenshot?
If not, good luck 

I wish I did but foolishly perhaps I was not expecting to be tricked!

[fourtytwo42]

They refunded me 
BUT as I pointed out to them there website is misleading in several ways, most notably the status of an account holder,
at checkout it even offered me the opportunity to pay by trade account complete with a number,
so one would think perhaps that makes me a trade account holder
yet nowhere on there site do I recall any way to check what sort of an account you have!
Nor does it make the distinction in the notes at checkout.
As I pointed out to them I am sure I am not the only one who has been misled.

[tom66]

Before you press "OK" you have the option to review your order with all charges - did it not include the shipping charge there?  What about the emailed invoice?  It is possible a technical error caused the shipping charge to be added when it was not due (or hidden when it was).  A company like Farnell trades on reputation, not on scamming their customers, so I doubt this was deliberate.

[fourtytwo42]

Also many places charge more than shown at time of authorization, they can state "shipping to be calculated later". But this is a bit different. Is not fraudulent unless you can prove as such.

Actually such practice is outlawed here in the UK, from the online selling regulations, the vendor MUST

give a description of your goods, services or digital content - include as much information as you can
give the total price or how this will be calculated
give the total delivery cost or how this will be calculated

[fourtytwo42]

Before you press "OK" you have the option to review your order with all charges - did it not include the shipping charge there?  What about the emailed invoice?  It is possible a technical error caused the shipping charge to be added when it was not due (or hidden when it was).  A company like Farnell trades on reputation, not on scamming their customers, so I doubt this was deliberate.

Nope otherwise I would have been aware of it and as I had not used the site for a while I was checking for it.

[Buriedcode]

I haven't ever not seen the handling charge when I checked my basket - this is before you click "checkout", at least in the past decade.

Unless you used to have a trade account, or you are using a different website entirely, I don't see how you could miss it.  Maybe you were so used to ordering from RS you just assumed there wouldn't be a charge?

Edit: I just checked again.  The handling charge doesn't appear if your goods are over a certain value.  Perhaps you had >£20 (ex VAT) in your basket, but then removed something last minute?

[fourtytwo42]

I dont think my eyes were playing tricks BUT ....
Noo I didn't mess with the basket at the last minute
As I said determining what account you have is apparently difficult BUT being offered the opportunity to pay with a numbered trade account might be indicative, do you get that ?

[CambridgeMart]

It's now much worse, small order charge of £9.95 applied to all orders under £40.00 ex VAT!
They can do one!

[Buriedcode]

No, its 5.95 for 20-40 quid.

£40 and above (Exc. VAT) - Online orders   FREE
£0.01 - £19.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders   £9.95
£20 - £39.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders   £5.95

https://uk.farnell.com/help-delivery-information

[Fraser]

I have stopped using Farnell now due to the high handling charge. I sometimes needed specialist parts that they stocked and do not mind a reasonable handling charge on a small order. Almost £10 for an order under £20 seemed a bit steep though. Farnell have clearly decided that they have had enough of smaller orders and that is their right. It just means I cannot justify buying some lower cost items from them, like FPC connectors etc.

Fraser