"I did not ask for those goods and I do not want them"
The law says that you do not have to pay for goods or services that you have not agreed to buy.
If you receive unsolicited goods or services, for example something in the mail you did not order and have not agreed to accept, you should take action straight away. If you received goods, do not use them or allow them to deteriorate, and definitely do not throw them away until you have resolved the situation.
Here are some steps that we suggest you follow.
1. Decide if the goods or services are actually unsolicited
It is possible that you may have unintentionally agreed to accept the goods or services by subscribing to a service that has ongoing commitments, such as a book club or music club. If so, refer to your contract to decide your rights and obligations in relation to this.
2. Unsoliticed goods
If you decide the goods you received are unsolicited, you have two choices.
Contact the trader that sent them to you. Advise the trader in writing that you did not ask for the goods and do not wish to keep them. Give the trader an address and suitable time for them to collect the goods. You are obliged to have the goods available for the supplier to collect during that time, but if the goods are not collected within one month of you writing, you have a legal claim to the goods.
Do nothing. If the seller does not pick up the goods within three months of delivering them to you, they become your property.
3. Unsoliticed services
If you decide the services that were provided to you are unsoliticed, contact the trader that provided them. Advise the trader in writing that you did not agree to these services.
If you receive an invoice for the services after they have been provided to you, you should advise the trader in writing that the services were unsolicited and you are not obliged to pay for them.
4. Next steps
If you cannot resolve your concerns by following these steps, call our Infocentre on 1300 302 502. We can advise you on what steps you should take. Your local office of fair trading should also be able to offer you assistance, particularly if your concern is with a local trader.
