Did you sign up to Monilink? If so close your account NOW or get charged £1.50/month!

[Deleted User]

For the last 18 months Monilink has been pursuading people to sign up to their useless mobile banking service solely on the basis of free money and no ongoing cost, i.e. see here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=581457

Monilink have now decided to start charging all their A&L customers £1.50/month, and other customers different amounts. Until recently monilink specifically told people signing up that there was no monthly fee so this is outrageous!

If, like me, you signed up purely for the free money and with no intention of using the apparently "free" service I suggest you ring this number: 0808 168 2957 and ask that they cancel your Monilink service immediately to avoid incurring these unfair fees.

You cannot get people to sign up for a "free" service and then start charging them 6 months later unless they actively opt-out. What's worse is that the fees will come either off your phone bill or from your bank account; in either case without any action on your part. The only notification that you get is a text message to your phone saying "NEW! A&L Text Alerts. Set up via MONILINK on your phone. Mobile banking free until 1/10/08. £1.50 a month thereafter. Info/T&Cs at monilink.co.uk/textservices". Clearly an attempt to bury the news at the back of the text message.

This makes me mad. Bad Monilink. :mad:

Here's the 'official' page from Monilink confirming this: http://www.monilink.co.uk/terms/

I think this is annoying enough that Martin should consider including a warning in his weekly email. He previously advertised for Moninlink and there must be thousands of people who signed up and won't see this post. The first they will hear about this is when they start getting charged £1.50/month. Some will complain, but many won't. The banks who own Monilink must share some of the blame, as I assume this was the intention all along. Monilink's actions are clearly in breach of the consumer protection legislation; not to mention a plain and simple breach of contract.

marshall2k

Thanks for the warning. I'm with RBS Student Royalties so I should still be entitled to free service but there will be many that aren't!

chinbergs

Thanks Jimster, really appreciate your msg. I received a text from them yesterday but just ignored it (I'd signed up for the free fiver or tenner, or whatever it was). Just called them now and cancelled.

Text 'STOP' to 82428 - the lady at monilink said this will cancel the account. You don't get charged for sending the text.

SiuLoong

Just called them and apparently the monthly charge has been delayed until January.. cancelled anyway! Was told that I could cancel by going in to options, card options then delete account before deleting the program from my phone. Forgotten my passcode though so have to wait a few days for it to arrive in the post!

ScratchandSniff-->[X]

Thanks for the warning. I'd had problems with the Monilink service as I mentioned previously on the board. I'd just deleted the program and assumed that was the end of it - i.e. if I didn't use it it wasn't going to cost. Had a text from A&L Monilink but assumed it was a sales pitch. Just done the STOP text and it says I have now unsubscribed. If they are assuming you want to pay a £1.50 standing charge unless you opt out, I think that's a little sneaky, IMHO.

Kavanne

Yeah I have RBS Royalties Gold, is it still free with that?

moredough

Cheers for that Jimster.

Just done the stop text too. But I do think there should have been an option in the text they sent on 19/8 to cancel.

Sneaky Monilink!

feival

What is the benefit of this service comapred to just logging into your internet bank account on your mobile's browser (I have a N95 so it is a great browser).

sarajane83

Here we go, i think alot of you need setting stright, this is what i have found:

A&L,Nw,RBS,1st Direct & Ulster Banks have no charges till 1st Jan 2009.

HSBC is not charging till 1st Jan 2010!

But dont worry, most of the charges are only £2.50 max a month and if ya wanna cancel its quick an easy to do, just fone up the nice people @ Monilink[FONT=Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif] 0808 168 2955, there english to. [/FONT]

sarajane83

Deleted_User wrote: »

For the last 18 months Monilink has been pursuading people to sign up to their useless mobile banking service solely on the basis of free money and no ongoing cost,

Its the Banks that Charge not 100% Monlink. and why is it Useless? I find the service very useful, myself.

Deleted_User wrote: »

Monilink have now decided to start charging all their A&L customers £1.50/month, and other customers different amounts. Until recently monilink specifically told people signing up that there was no monthly fee so this is outrageous!

Again its Banks that have desided what to charge Customers, and it is free to sign up/ download the application for most customers.

Deleted_User wrote: »

If, like me, you signed up purely for the free money and with no intention of using the apparently "free" service I suggest you ring this number: 0808 168 2957 and ask that they cancel your Monilink service immediately to avoid incurring these unfair fees.

Read over this yourself, is there really such a thing as free money, and if you have no intention of useing something why did you sign up in the 1st place, you can still try it for free till 1st Jan 09 or 1st Jan 2010 if ya an HSBC customer, ya might find if useful, then if your not finding it useful just fone up the nice english people @ monilink and they will tell how easy it is to cancel.

Deleted_User wrote: »

You cannot get people to sign up for a "free" service and then start charging them 6 months later unless they actively opt-out. What's worse is that the fees will come either off your phone bill or from your bank account; in either case without any action on your part. The only notification that you get is a text message to your phone saying "NEW! A&L Text Alerts. Set up via MONILINK on your phone. Mobile banking free until 1/10/08. £1.50 a month thereafter. Info/T&Cs at monilink.co.uk/textservices". Clearly an attempt to bury the news at the back of the text message.

Again this is old news its now free to use till 1st Jan 09 for : AL, NW,RSBC & Ulster Banks and HSBC being free till 1st Jan 2010.
All so as the banks are chargeing the customer, not Monilink, this is why it comes out of your bank account, inless ya with orange or virgin.

Here's the 'official' page from Monilink confirming this: Monlink Charges

Deleted_User wrote: »

I think this is annoying enough that Martin should consider including a warning in his weekly email. He previously advertised for Moninlink and there must be thousands of people who signed up and won't see this post. The first they will hear about this is when they start getting charged £1.50/month. Some will complain, but many won't. The banks who own Monilink must share some of the blame, as I assume this was the intention all along. Monilink's actions are clearly in breach of the consumer protection legislation; not to mention a plain and simple breach of contract.

I Hope i have updated this post alittle better for you all, you should get a letter from you bank, I know I did when I signed up with Monilink with Natwest.
Banks dont own Monilink, Monilink has offered its services to the Banks. And tho the Banks pay Monilink for there services, It upto the banks wheather they transfer that cost on to there customers or not. Its al very well blameing Monilink for not informing, but the Banks have to take the blame of the charges!

I find Monilink a very good service, Tho I may consider changing banks, so I can use the service freely. But thats natwests fault not monlink.