A retailer accidentally overchared hundreds of consumers for fans designed to keep Island residents cool in the searing heat.

The mistake originated from the company's supplier overseas and was only discovered by staff yesterday, who said more than 500 customers have been affected.

And red-faced officials from Gorham's True Value Home Centre have issued an apology and are offering a reimbursement to their customers -- if they return to the store with a receipt.

Said Gorham's general manager, Rod Ferguson, yesterday: "We would like to apologise to customers who have purchased any of eight different models of Duracraft fans since April of this year.

"The manufacturer sent us an invoice which charged more than their original quotation. The discrepancy was only discovered (yesterday).

"Rebates will be happily refunded to customers who have their receipt...whether cash or charge. Depending on the model, the cash rebate ranges from $1.89 to $15.12.

"The models affected are: DT-12, DT-124, DS-1512, DS-1600, DS-1606, DV-518, DW-627, and DW-628.

"We sold a lot of the standing fans, for example, in which we overcharged by more than $6. Another one, a twin fan, we sold about 150 of them and overcharged by about $15. These people deserve to have their money back.

"The supplier sent us the right fans, but the wrong invoices and we have also paid the wrong customs duty. We have a 90-day window to go back to the Customs Department and ask for a repayment of duty.

"But I feel badly for people who were inadvertently overcharged as a result of the supplier's mistake. We need to set it right for anyone who returns with their receipt. I mean, we sold more than 300 standing fans and that's at $6.12 per fan more than was supposed to be charged.''