Question of the week: How do I cancel my adult entertainment monthly payment?

MSE_Jenny

Q. I signed up to an adult entertainment website, via a monthly payment on my credit card. It won't reply or let me cancel and nor will my card company. How do I stop it?

A. This is the recurring payment trap, and it doesn't just happen for adult sites, though its common there. If you set up, specifically a regular payment, by giving your credit or debit card details (ie not your bank accounts) it shockingly means you CAN'T cancel it, you need to ask the company to do it for you.

It's very different from Direct Debits where you have a right to cancel. Recurring payments are common for online subscriptions, and with a reputable company you can be ok, but adult sites mean you're taking a risk.

The cancellation difficulty and embarrassment factor means rich pickings for unscrupulous operators. Sadly, even cancelling the credit card won't always work.

To stop it, first warn the website you'll be disputing the transaction. Next, tell the credit card company it's an unauthorised transaction' and it has to sort it. The last resort's complaining to the free Financial Ombudsman.

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pcwizard2008

I was in the same boat when i had subscribed to a technical magazine subscribtion many years ago and decided i was no longer interested and wanted to cancel.
i had a monthly direct debit of about £24 from my EGG credit card and rang them to cancel to which they said i could'nt. i was so angry at the thought that a credit card company who has my business which should make me abosolute ruler of my own affairs informed me that i could'nt cancel and i would have to contact the company. After some heated conversation i paid for that months subscription and cancelled my EGG card there and then. It was quick and ended any further dealings with the company who wrote a couple of letters to which i just binned as i owed them nothing and was not tied to any contractual time term. I would say my actions was possibly extreme but i did not want to waste my time and effort. The financial climate today, credit card companies are giving their cards away and i learnt a valuable lesson, do not setup direct debits on credit cards!!

kookaburra

I had the same problem with Setanta. They ignored attempts to contact them through their website, refused to accept a cancellation by telephone; ignored a letter to the address given me by the telephone helpline. Fortunately my credit card supplier was helpful, after sending them the details by letter they stopped all further payments to Setanta. Didn't get back the 3 months payments that had gone through from my first attempt to cancel, though.
I didn't realise this problem was so widespread, so it will be bank account DDs for me in future.

pnut_2

If you 'lose' your credit card and advise the card company, they will issue a new one with a different number. The old standing orders can not be processed. The companies that were due to receive payments from the standing order will then ask for your authorisation to debit the new card, which obviously you will not give.

PROLIANT

You could, in order to avoid future problems, use a free adult entertainment site.

arch_stanton_3

ask Jacqui smith the home secretary she may be able to help out

nicmic

pnut wrote: »

If you 'lose' your credit card and advise the card company, they will issue a new one with a different number. The old standing orders can not be processed. The companies that were due to receive payments from the standing order will then ask for your authorisation to debit the new card, which obviously you will not give.

Just to emphasise that this is the best method - tell the Credit Card company your card has been lost.

JohalaReewi

pcwizard2008 wrote: »

... cancelled my EGG card there and then. It was quick and ended any further dealings with the company who wrote a couple of letters to which i just binned as i owed them nothing and was not tied to any contractual time term...

This is not guaranteed to work because when you close a credit card account, it isn't really closed. Many credit card companies keep the account dormant for a number of months just in case any stray transactions arrive. If they do, they can be charged to the 'closed' account.

cifpower

If you want to cancel Playboy/Adult Channel/Spice/Climax 3 you have to write a letter to:

HVC Limited
PO Box 26716
Kirkcaldy
Fife
KY2 6WQ

and there is a 30 day cancellation period.

Don't ask me how I know this!

skyrider007

Usually for recurring payment subscription there is an option to cancel even before your subscription is due for renewal.

Degenerate

Most reputable !!!!!! sites use third party billing specialists that allows you to cancel through them without needing the website operator to action it for you. Beware of those that don't.