A free trial quietly turned into a costly monthly subscription
- 14.08.2026
A parcel arrived with a set of kitchen knives I never ordered. A week later I received an invoice and then a threatening reminder about debt collection. I had not even opened the package. Am I obliged to pay, or to send the goods back at my own cost?
You are generally not obliged to pay for goods you did not order. The Fair Trading Act 1986 deals with unsolicited goods and provides that a person who receives goods they did not request is not liable to pay for them, and the sender cannot demand payment or threaten action as though there were a contract. You are not required to return the goods at your own cost, although you should keep them safe and available for collection for a reasonable period. Send a short written response saying you did not order the goods, you are not liable and the goods are available for collection at the sender's cost. Keep the parcel and all correspondence. Demanding payment for unsolicited goods can itself be a breach, so a complaint to the Commerce Commission is appropriate if the demands continue.
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