Firstly good evening and I hope I can get some advice here,

I bought an item online (paid by debit card), it was delivered on the 5th of August last year as agreed. I have just received an e-mail from them saying that the card transaction never went through and I should log in to re-authorise payment. Well the first thing I thought was that it was a phishing e-mail but when I checked my statements from that period I can now see that the amount was never in fact taken (never noticed before as we had just moved house and there was lots of transactions showing and I just never thought to look!) What I would like to know is where do I stand as I have now had a change in circumstance and cannot afford the £600.00 due to not now budgeting for it.

Any advice welcome and thanks in advance.

You ordered something, they sent it and you haven't paid for it. I don't think there is a time limit on them requesting payment. If you now can't afford it I would guess you had better offer it back and hope they're prepared to take it rather than come after you for the money.

Thanks for the advice, yes I ordered something, I, and they thought I had paid for it however 5 months have now lapsed and I am in a different financial position when they have informed me trhat there was a problem with the banking 'gateway'.

It's anything but helpful for them to have failed to take payment at the time I admit. What's in my mind is that they still retain ownership of the goods because they weren't paid for. I know it's a bit of a simplistic view but it's not yours because you haven't paid for it. They were stupid in not making sure payment went through and they have given you 6 months use of something which won't delight them I'm sure.

You contracted to pay for the goods and you didn't complete the transaction - no fault of yours I know.