help! BCA unscrupulous inertia DVD sales

blue-kat

yikes, I've accidentally agreed to have a trial offer of stupid inertia sales DVD club 'Journeys with Wildlife' and don't know how to get out of it _pale_

they've sent me a 'free' national geographic dvd about lions, and another one on trial, and I have to pay £12.99 by 24th Jan. ( this is the series, being peddled on someone else)

plus they'll send me another 24 of the ruddy things, and want me to pay £12.99 p m.

they phoned me sometime before Xmas, no idea how they got my number as I always tick the little no mail/no contact box on forms.

unfortunately I wasn't very with it when they called, and failed to say no and slam the phone down. I'm unwell and getting a lot of medication side effects, basically making me tired and zombiefied,a nd in no state to make shopping/financial descisions on the phone I feel manipulated.

I am pretty sure they said they were from The Red House book club, in fact I called Red hse to ask them to cancel it and of course they said it was nothing to do with them. They also said it was a Attenborough DVD, and didn't mention it was a series called 'Journeys with Wildlife'.

there's no instructions on how to cancel. There's a phone number,which I will call on Monday,and will post the 2 dvds back too, suppose I'd better get proof of posting too. just when I am supposed to be getting best rest too I can't get the DVDs in the post till my carer comes on Tuesday - which is the 24th ( their cut off date for payment )

any tips on unequivocal wording of
phonecall/letter/email?

in tiny print it says that Journeys with Wildlife is from BCA trading which is owned by BCA, more on complaints about them here:

http://www.britishcompanies.co.uk/booksforchildren.htm

what a stupid pickle I've slipped in, can't believe the hassle:wall:
many thanks
-
Katya

hjb123

Your best bet is to wait til monday if they arent available today and speak to them then and cancel your subscription - have you paid by direct debit or credit card? If so cancel the payments!

blue-kat

thanks
at least I've not paid anything, just trying to stop this turning into a bigger problem.
it says they'll charge for overdue payment fee - cheeky beggars !
-
Katya

hjb123

Well at least if you havent paid anything you arent out of pocket.

Good luck, and dont let them win!

H

stugib

IF it's any use, I personally know that trading standards and The Mirror's consumer column have had a lot of dealings with BCA and their various clubs, and they were fairly quick to sort out my Mum's problems with them last year. She went through similar 'overdue payment' fees for books that she never ordered and sometimes didn't even get delivered! You will never get a response via e-mail and it's very difficult to get through by phone. Cut out the time and stress and contact trading standards directly.

blue-kat

TO:

BCA

Granwell Industrial Estate

Highgreaves Rd

Granwell Farm

Swindon SN2 55BG



ALSO

Journey’s with Wildlife

c/o Beagle Direct Colette House

Dennington Rd

Dennington

NN8 2QH





23 January 2006



Dear Sir/Madam



re: JOURNEYS WITH WILDLIFE dvds Customer number xxxxxx

I am writing to confirm my discussion with your legal department (tel 0207 760 6508) that I do not want these DVDs or any commitment to pay your company £12.99 for 24 months. The man I spoke to said he would send me a free returns label. When I receive this, I will post back both DVDs as I want neither, whether the first one is free or not.

Please cancel any orders or membership to BCA in my name, and remove my phone number from your telemarketing database.

I gather that you may have acquired my details from BOL (Books On Line https://www.uk.bol.com/). I have checked my BOL account and I have not agreed to accept 3rd party marketing emails, there is no option to accept or decline telemarketing calls.

I object to your company’s phone call as it was intrusive. I have a severe chronic illness and need to take pain medications which make me groggy. When your sales lady called, I was unable to make decisions and just – mistakenly – said “ yes, yes, OK” to try to end the call as quickly as possible when I should have put the phone down on her. In fact as far as I recall she said The Red House Book Club were sending me a Richard Attenborough dvd (not the ‘National Geographic’ dvds you have sent). I called The Red House to cancel. They said they would never make unsolicited phone calls.

Although your invoice says ‘Easy Returns Policy’, there is no information on how or where to return the DVDs or cancel any (unrequested) membership or obligation. You have sent me an invoice to be paid by 24 January, and notification of extra payment charges. I tried calling the customer service number given but it is constantly engaged. Consequently there is no easy opt out.

Yours sincerely


cc: local Trading Standards,

hjb123

Go for it!

Sounds great

H

blue-kat

just thought I'd report on how this story has ended.
Trading Standards were excellent and contacted the company too.
'Journeys with Wildlife' c/o Beagle Direct wrote to me to say the account has been cancelled, I owe nothing and I can dispose of the unwanted items ( 2 DVDs) as I see fit.

hjb123

Thats great news - for good measure - sell them on ebay if they havent cost you anything!!!

fuzzyrazer

I to fell for this too,now asking for payment for the dvd i returned,can't get through to them on phone,i will copy the letter above and send recorded to them.......as i'm in scotland will this make any difference to the letter.....

fuzzyrazer

Just been on the phone to trading standards,very helpful,i will send a copy of the letter today etc.......for anyone else don't touch this offer ever.....

consumer direct helpline no. 0845 4040506