Consumer queries: The limits of Amazon’s Fire for Kids Unlimited

“Bah. Humbug,” starts the first Pricewatch complaint of the new year. It comes from Paul Forde.

"For Christmas from Santa, my six-year old daughter received an Amazon Fire for Kids, which she loves," Forde writes. "The reason Santa chose this tablet over all the others is because it comes with one year of Fire for Kids Unlimited, with access to thousands of popular apps, games, books and videos that are 100 per cent free.

“We tried to download this Fire for Kids Unlimited but failed, so we contacted Amazon, from whom we purchased it,” he continues. “They said that this Fire for Kids Unlimited does not apply to Ireland. I argued that the box does not state this or anywhere in the instructions or on the Amazon website.”

Amazon said it could give Forde a refund. He explained that this was a present from Santa “and I couldn’t really send it back, even though its unique selling point was not applicable to me.”

Amazon then offered him what it said was a “one-off payment, totally unheard of usually, of £10” on his Amazon account. “I declined and the lady said, ‘Just to be clear, you are declining this offer of £10?’ like she was doing me a huge favour.

“I am really cross with Amazon as I feel that they have incorrectly sold me a product that doesn’t do what they advertise. Please advise. Is there anything that I can do, apart from obtain a refund, as Santa doesn’t do refunds?”

We came across this problem with another reader before Christmas. On that occasion, the person bought the product from Argos specifically because he was told on the Argos site the Kindle Fire came with the unlimited children's option as part of the package. Argos admitted its product description was misleading and changed it.

We contacted Amazon to try to find out why this particular service was not available in Ireland. In response, the company sent us this statement. “Fire Kids Edition is currently available in the UK, Germany and US. We are always looking to serve customers with the widest selection of products but have no announcements at this time as to when this particular product may be available in further locations.”

There is not much Forde can do other than accept the refund, which is obviously tricky, given that the product came from Santa Claus. But hopefully his story will serve as a warning to other people considering buying products from the online retailing giant.

Gearing up for a switch from automatic to manual

A reader was in touch with a query about her driving licence. “I have a full driver’s licence – one obtained in Ireland – but it’s for automatic transmission cars only,” she writes. She wants to know how she can upgrade it for a full manual licence.

“Is it the case that I will have to be issued with a provisional licence as well as my existing full one? And will I have to resit the theory test and meet all the criteria for lessons and the like?” she asks. “And what documentation would I need to bring to a licence centre?”

She says she got in touch with us because she has been told conflicting information when she called the driving licence people, and she can’t find any info online. It is a question that probably doesn’t have an impact on many people, but regardless, we went to try and find out.

Like our reader, we couldn't find any information on the National Driver Licence Service website. So we went to Brian Farrell of the Road Safety Authority. His answer was pleasingly simple. Our reader does not need to sit her theory test and she does not need to do any driving lessons.

“This lady needs to complete an application form for a new learner permit D201,” Farrell says. “She needs to present in an NDLS office with proof of her PPSN and her full licence. She will need a fee of €35 to obtain a learner permit. She will then have to apply for a driving test either online or by post with a fee of €85. She is exempt from the driver theory test, essential driver training and the six-month rule.”