Online dating website issue - advice pls

Keybilly · 4 June 2011 at 11:58PM

Hi,
Advice please! And sorry it's so long.
I feel that I may have place myself into a bit of a pickle and worry that it is going to cost me dearly.
On my quest to find love, I have tried online dating agencies. Some have been free and others have cost me but I came across an offer that I could not refuse - £10 for one month. So early February I signed up – placed my c/c details in and found lots of guys to contact. Went on 2 dates – that’s another story completely.
At the end of the month trial, I decided that the response rate was too low so thought it would be best to cancel. So on 2 February 2011, I searched the website to close down the account, shut down my profile, ticked boxes so that the automatic emails from the prospective datees would not be sent to my email address etc. I found it very hard to find the ’cancellation’ button/tick box, the link threw me around in circles so I found an email address and asked them to cancel the account.
Next day, they reply saying what need to be done, so I went around in circles again then send another email back saying that I wanted to cancel the membership. Same response as before so I gave up trying.
I got my c/c bill on 11 April to find that £149.98 had been charged to the account. The c/c company were notified by phone and they put the charge on hold, they advised I should contact the company and ask for a refund. I emailed them politely asking for a refund, forwarded the old emails, highlighted that I hadn’t used the service/account since 2 February. On the 14 April I sent an email requesting them to respond to my email.
There response was that ‘Please note that you have agreed to our terms and conditions which state the automatic extension. This extension is also clearly stated when you choose to sign up for your period of Premium Membership and in the payment receipt you receive after the purchase.
There has been no attempt to cancel on your part, hence your Premium Membership has been extended in accordance with the terms and conditions.
I regret that in cases such as this no refund is possible.’
So I asked again for them to refund the money (being more forceful and responding to their statements).
At this point I went back into the account to find the deactivation the profile and find the cancellation procedure, once again I went in circles but did find something relating to cancelling by fax, if other methods were unsuccessful. This somehow reactivated my profile and I was bombarded with emails claiming that ‘XYZ could be someone special’.
When I received the emails, I sent back a message saying that I was in dispute over payment and had no intention of going on the website to utilise the service.
I sent them many emails saying the same thing but they responded with standard cancellation procedure which I knew didn’t work. So I went back to the C/C and they reclaimed the payment.
Though it was over but, the company send an invoice on 6 May requesting payment and that if it was my intension to ignore it then they would sell the debt on.
Today they sent me another email saying that Collection Process Initiated - ‘As there is a valid contract between you and COMPANY we will now take legal measures and hand your case to our debt collection agency. You will be contacted shortly.
We are also prepared to take further legal actions in case your payment obligations are not promptly met. This action will affect your credit score.’
I’m now getting concerned.
Could anyone suggest anything?
Many thanks for any help in advance.

Keybilly

wealdroam · 5 June 2011 at 12:43AM

Early February you signed up.
At the end of the one month trial, on 2nd February, you tried to cancel.
Something not quite right with those dates.

So you had two goes at trying to cancel and found you were going round in circles, so gave up trying?

What did you expect to happen when you gave up trying to cancel your subscription?

You have not told us the name of the organisation, but I am almost certain that, at the time of signing up for the trial, you agreed to pay for an ongoing subscription if you did not cancel within the trial period.

That has now happened.

I suspect that there is little you can do.

DCFC79 · 5 June 2011 at 1:42AM

I think the OP meant 2 of march they cancelled, using a website to find love, do your friends not know anyone who is single, £148 is alot to pay though

SnowTiger · 5 June 2011 at 1:58AM

At least you've got your money back. So now it's just a matter of getting them off your back.

I would write to them explaining that you tried to close your account but a glitch with their website prevented you from doing so.

Presumably you still have copies of the email conversations between you and them? Send copies as evidence that you attempted to close the account.

At the end of the day I don't think there's very much they can do to make you pay, so I wouldn't have any sleepless nights about it.

Keybilly · 5 June 2011 at 10:07AM

DCFC79 wrote: »

I think the OP meant 2 of march they cancelled, using a website to find love, do your friends not know anyone who is single, £148 is alot to pay though

Yes you are right, I was tired and upset last night and meant to say 2nd March I tried to cancel.

Nearly £150 is a lot to pay for an online website - but my intention was only to be on there a month at £10. And at £10 anything is worth a shot. People have meet their partners online.
Please note: I haven't signed up to an online dating agency since :-)

Snow Tiger - So you think I should print out all the emails and send a letter direct to the company? They ignored my emails so a fax and letter might work - Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try this. And the debt collectors should be copied into this too (Once I find out who they are).

Thanks again to everyone and their advice, I'll be more careful when buying from the internet.

KeyBilly.

paddyrg · 6 June 2011 at 3:04PM

Be aware there are a staggering number of 'romance scammers' on many sites, but the free ones especially. Use your common sense, and if in doubt ask for advice at romancescam.com or scamwarners.com - those guys will give the best free advice you'll get anywhere on the subject

maninthestreet · 6 June 2011 at 3:18PM

I tried the Dating Service from a well-known supermarket, but all I got was a bag for life.

hollydays · 7 June 2011 at 6:57AM

Is this a British based company you used,OP??

Keybilly · 7 June 2011 at 11:03PM

Thanks Squeaky for keeping people on track with the issue in hand. I didn't want this to be a place for people to get upset with one other. Just needed advice and to seek others who may have been in a similar situation.

Hollydays - Thanks for your concern, interest and in an answer to your question, the company is Belgium based. Not too sure whether I should be naming the company as I do no want any unnecessary repercussions. I've got already by revoking the c/c payment.

Anyway, the latest is that I tried to buy myself some time so that I could send them a letter next week so I a sent an email saying that I'd send them a recorded delivery letter next week.
The disappointing response received today was that they have already instructed the debt collectors (European company) to collect the money. To be honest, I'm worried that I'll get into more bother so now think I ought to pay the £150 but now very worried that they'll put fees on top of the debt, do you guys think that might be the case?
I know this may seem weak and that I am buckling under the pressure. But I have no past experience of this so don't want it costing me even more money. Also, (dare I say) I'd rather pay Debt Collectors £150 than the company in question as I truly believe that they do not deserve my money.
Would be grateful for some more advice.

Many Thanks

Keybilly

aalina387 · 10 June 2011 at 5:34AM

Most of the dating sites are fake so be aware of these fake sites and cancel your account on that sites because they are just trying to earn money from your account nothing else.

kduckworth63 · 5 July 2011 at 9:05PM

I have had exactly the same experience! When I tried to cancel I stopped my profle and ticked boxes etc and ended up going round in circles too. I emailed the company and when they finally replied (too late for me to cancel) it was to say I needed to contact them in writing and couldn't do it online!! I was debited with the same amount. My bank have said they will refund the money and contact the company but I am afraid they will then hound me for the money! These companies are purposely making it impossible to cancel and making money out of people without providing any service whatsoever!! I have been on an other website which turned out to be linked with other sites and not what I thought I had signed up for. The internet is a minefield if you are not really careful and I feel I was careful in both these instances. I feel that both these sites have been dis honest and will not be paying for any services like this again. Anyone thinking of signing up should think twice as they are conning people out of hard earned money!!

Online dating website issue - advice pls

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