TASTECARD Using out of date debit card to take money

I had a trial Tastecard in March 2015. However can't use it in Cornwall as hardly any places accept it.

So I rang them to cancel it and they said I couldnt cancel it as it had already been renewed but I could transfer it to someone else, so I transferred it to a friend and Tastecard told me they would remove my details from their database so it didnt automatically renew in March 2016.

Then in March 2016 they renewed it with my debit card. I didnt notice this as I'd recently had 4 bereavements, and a lot of sorting out to do regarding the relatives who had passed away, so this payment had missed my attention.

This week I was checking my bank account and noticed on 18th March Tastecard had taken £35.98 again to renew a Tastecard.

I logged onto Tastecard and noticed I've not had any active cards since 2015, which is when they told me they would remove my bank details from their system.

So I rang them and was told a Manager would have to do a search to see what card the fee was related to, as all my cards had expired, and that someone would phone me back. They didnt.

I rang them again today and was told that the card was transferred to Mr XXX but my bank details were still on the system, so although they had Mr XXX's name, address and email address, they didnt have his banking details and used mine.

Thats when they informed me they had taken a renewal fee in 2016.

I asked them how they could take payment from my debit card this March when the card had expired, the end by date was now different and so was the security 3 digit pin on the reverse of the card.

They said they don't go by any of those things, they just go by the account number.

But if they hadn't removed my bank account details then they are at fault and should refund me.

Mr XXX states he has never received any emails or cards from Tastecard, and they state they have sent them but had no response.

Mr XXX also states he cancelled the card after the first year (2015) as he hadn't used it and didnt want it anymore.

So now Mr XXX won't give me the £71.96, as he thought he'd cancelled the Tastecard, and Tastecard won't refund me as the card is issued to Mr XXX even though they were using my bank details without my consent or knowledge.

So what can I do? I'm absolutely fuming

If Tastecard can take money from someone's inactive Tastecard account or even on someone elses Tastecard account using an old debit card belonging to someone else surely this is against the law??

And what's to stop Tastecard taking another £35.98 from my bank next March. There's no way online to cancel any cards registered with them.

Absolutely shocking company and they should be closed down for fraud.

Will also be contacting my bank in the morning asking how the hell Tastecard could take money out of my bank with an expired debit card. Think I need to speak to the Fraud department.