Online DVD rental chasing me for money

Glitterari

Any advice greatly appreciated.

I took out an online dvd rental with cinema paradiso. I signed up, got the free trial period, received dvds and sent them back. After 6 weeks I decided I didn't use it enough to justify monthly fee. I'd sent back all dvds by this point and had cleared my dvd 'wanted list' so i wouldn't be sent anymore.

They are refusing to cancel the account because they claim that 2 dvds have not been returned. I returned these dvds in the same envelope and before I made the decision to cancel the membership. The t&c's state that you need to get proof of postage when you send back the last dvd. Obviously, I didn't get this as at time of posting, I hadn't thought I was going to cancel. They have now been lost by royal mail and cinema paradiso now want me to pay them £40 to cover the 2 dvds - £20 each. I wouldn't mind so much but I have actually sent them back and really begrudge paying that amount for something I no longer have and really can't afford at this point. I have sent their customer service department several emails telling them all this, but tbh they largely ignore everything I say and keep repeating the t&cs over and over.

I have asked them for proof that the dvds haven't been received back to which they replied they don't provide proof. Anyway, they have now sent me a letter threatening to use bailiffs to get the money.

is there anything I can do? Any letter I can write?

all advice appreaciated!!
C

TattyBear

"We haven't had the discs back from you, so we're going to charge you" is the standard scam response from these companies when you want to cancel your membership.

Of course what you'll never know is if the company would've come after you claiming these discs hadn't turned up if you hadn't told them you wanted to cancel.

Amazon charged me for a disc when I used it's rental service. I knew they had it back because I sent it back in the same envelope with another disc which they received. I phoned Amazon and complained to its customer service and they refunded me. Bloody useless service though. Half the discs they sent me were unplayable due to screwdriver width scratches on the playing side, and they continually sent me the wrong copy of a film I ordered.

Anyway, claim back the money from the Royal Mail.

halight

Hi.
Without the prof of posting i dont think that there is a lot you can do. (sorry)
Maybe there might bw someone else on here that can think of somthing.

But dont worry about bailiffs turning up as thay can not seed them to your house without a court order.
Best of luck with this mate

Glitterari

TattyBear wrote: »

Anyway, claim back the money from the Royal Mail.

I can do that without any proof I've even sent them?

Gemmzie

Nope, afraid not, you need at least proof of posting. Sorry, you're liable to pay up

Glitterari

That's what I thought Gemmzie :S

Anyone else with any thoughts?

custardy

not really,too late now but its best to wait until the discs show as returned on your account before cancelling

hmc

hi there
sorry dont think there is much you can do

i had this with another company but i had proof of postage so they did refund me

its really difficult to judge when to ring and cancel as as soon as they recieve discs back they send another

custardy

hmc wrote: »

hi there
sorry dont think there is much you can do

i had this with another company but i had proof of postage so they did refund me

its really difficult to judge when to ring and cancel as as soon as they recieve discs back they send another

not if you remove all discs from your list

hmc

ahhhhh
so thats what i need to do,so when i post the last ones back i want, i delete my list then cancel
thanks for that

Peekay32

Glitterari wrote: »

Anyway, they have now sent me a letter threatening to use bailiffs to get the money.

Please could you quote the exact wording of the letter? They could be in breach of several rules by doing this.