Free Vending machine purchases

[redcisse09]

Hello everyone

A couple of months ago a vending machine on my uni campus recently had a pricing error that allowed you to receive products for free. All you had to do was insert your student card and request what you wanted. The Uni recently caught on and is now down £1000 because of this error and are requesting the money back.

So my question is do they have any legal right to claim the money back?

Our student president is claiming we do not have to;

"According to the Sale of Goods Act 1979, the price agreed at the point of transfer is therefore a legally binding contract, and provides no right whatsoever for the seller to request further payment after transfer of the goods.http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/54

Don't pay anything! They have no right to demand it!"

I believe this to be incorrect as the Uni had no intention of creating a contract with us for the sale of goods, any reasonable person would see this and go "well price isn't right"

Thanks.

[enquirer]

Re: Free Vending machine purchases

They might claim that the contract was void due to error.

[wales01man]

Re: Free Vending machine purchases

does using the card register the purchase? They may be able to claim the money as they have a record of the drinks purchased by the card holder and like a cash machine that dispenses more than is asked for itcan claim the money?
bit of a grey area here?

[redcisse09]

Re: Free Vending machine purchases

They might claim that the contract was void due to error.

That's why I thought. It happens in online shopping all the time, in which 'gitched' prices are sometimes not honoured and the customer is refunded.

[redcisse09]

Re: Free Vending machine purchases

does using the card register the purchase? They may be able to claim the money as they have a record of the drinks purchased by the card holder and like a cash machine that dispenses more than is asked for itcan claim the money?
bit of a grey area here?

Yes, you had to insert your student card (witch is unique to yourself), so they have a record of who managed to get the products for free, anyone who took advantage received an email stating the uni must be repaid.