How do I claim money back that was taken without my knowledge?

martyn1

Hi all, last year I signed myself up with a service on the internet called mobilelocate it can be found at www(dot)mobilelocate(dot)co(dot)uk They offered a 30 day free trial and I signed up out of curiosity on how the service worked. I recieved my PIN code through the post to verify my account, and I think I recall that I didnt even use the service. About a week or 2 later I went to sign back into the site and my PIN nor my username worked, so assumed that the account had been closed as I didnt use the service. A few months down the line (Last Novemeber) I've discovered that this company has taken £176.19 from my HSBC bank account when I had little or no money in there at all. Since then as it took me in the red, I've been incurring bank charges since, and now Im nearly £500 in the red!!! I'm unemployed and have no way at all to pay this back, and I didnt even authorise this money to be taken. This has come as a complete shock and now I dont know what to do to even start getting this money back.
Can anyone help me please.
Thank You
Martyn

mookie

martyn1 wrote: »

Hi all, last year I signed myself up with a service on the internet called mobilelocate it can be found at www(dot)mobilelocate(dot)co(dot)uk They offered a 30 day free trial and I signed up out of curiosity on how the service worked. I recieved my PIN code through the post to verify my account, and I think I recall that I didnt even use the service. About a week or 2 later I went to sign back into the site and my PIN nor my username worked, so assumed that the account had been closed as I didnt use the service. A few months down the line (Last Novemeber) I've discovered that this company has taken £176.19 from my HSBC bank account when I had little or no money in there at all. Since then as it took me in the red, I've been incurring bank charges since, and now Im nearly £500 in the red!!! I'm unemployed and have no way at all to pay this back, and I didnt even authorise this money to be taken. This has come as a complete shock and now I dont know what to do to even start getting this money back.
Can anyone help me please.
Thank You
Martyn

Never just assume that a company has cancelled anything once they have hold of your bank details thats the worst thing you could do.

Was the payment a card transaction or direct debit?

james174

I used my card details, and was taken via direct debit, I have just found this snippet from moneysupermarket

I had a similar experience, tried to negotiate a more reasonable cancellation charge (£1.47 per mobile for a month, like it says on their website) and was refused. I threatened to take them to court and was refused still. So I filed a claim against them using moneyclaim.gov.uk. In the claim, I argued that the £65 cancellation charge failed to meet the test of fairness, in that it went beyond what was reasonable to protect MobileLocate's legitimate commercial interests, and so was not valid. MobileLocate paid me the full refund plus filing costs rather than go to court. I advise you -- and everyone who has this experience -- to do the same.

How much would this cost me?

mookie

I just put false details onto the site and it asks for your card details, as ID verification, it states if the 30 day trial is not cancelled they will take the years subscription.

I am thinking its highly likely the transaction was processed as a debit to your card rather than a direct debit. You could try disputing the transaction as a fraud with your bank due to the fact you never gave a signed authorisation to enter into a contract with this company, and gave your card details under a screen which said ID verification. Its then up to the bank to decide whether they feel the transaction would qualify as fraud, the problem is you gave your card details to a company you knew nothing about and it says they will take full years subscription if you do not cancel your bank might make you liable.

martyn1

The thing is I tried cancelling but they give no confirmation of cancellation. This site here http:// www. moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/p/3428/website-ripoffs-149191.aspx#149191 gives details on other peoples same situation. If I went small claims, how much would it cost?

jayman1978

Did you cancel the trial before the 30 days ended if not thats why you were charged its in the smallprint you get charged on the 31st day for the year

RadoJo

In your OP you said that you assumed the account was closed becuase your PIN didn't work - did you actually contact them about cancelling the account at all? If you have a copy of an e-mail or proof of postage that you sent them something before the 30 days was up, then you should be able to reclaim the money. If not, then I would say it is unlikely that you will be able to get anything back from them as they have proof that you signed up to their service and you don't have proof that you cancelled.

biltongpotroast

I followed your advice and registered a claim. It was easy to do and Mobile Locate Ltd not only paid the money they removed from my account (£182.00) but also the costs which brought it up to £212.00. they sent me a cheque well before the deadline was up and thanks to your advice it ended well.
I hope that Mobile Locate Ltd starts trading in a proper and fair manner although I dont hold out much hope!:p

zoldexa

martyn1 wrote: »

Hi all, last year I signed myself up with a service on the internet called mobilelocate it can be found at www(dot)mobilelocate(dot)co(dot)uk They offered a 30 day free trial and I signed up out of curiosity on how the service worked. I recieved my PIN code through the post to verify my account, and I think I recall that I didnt even use the service. About a week or 2 later I went to sign back into the site and my PIN nor my username worked, so assumed that the account had been closed as I didnt use the service. A few months down the line (Last Novemeber) I've discovered that this company has taken £176.19 from my HSBC bank account when I had little or no money in there at all. Since then as it took me in the red, I've been incurring bank charges since, and now Im nearly £500 in the red!!! I'm unemployed and have no way at all to pay this back, and I didnt even authorise this money to be taken. This has come as a complete shock and now I dont know what to do to even start getting this money back.
Can anyone help me please.
Thank You
Martyn

Child Locate and Mobile Locate Two complete rip off companies both the same. I have dealt with them and have had a heart ache too. I paid £20 .00 up front to use thier service. I subscribed my 2 children and every time I tried to locate them the results were disasterous. The results were between 7 and 14 miles away from where they actualy were. One result was in the middle of the Bristol Channel. I have complained and complained. I have phoned and emailed but have had one response and they blamed the phone service I use. On their site it says That the result is 150 to 400 meters. They are a rip off and after reading several blogs and this I am now going to the trading standards office to report them. Also due to the seriousness of this subject I think we should all contact BBC Watchdog. This involves child safety and piece of mind and they do not do that. All they do is frighten the life out of you as you think something is drasticly wrong. Come on every one contact Watchdog and see if Anne Robinson will shame them.

mccltd

Another one suckered in.

Just recevied a bill for £178.00
They will cancel the agreement and refund me £97.00
Not good enough as far as I'm aware with contracts surely I have a 7 day cooling off period.

4743hudsonj

Yet another, im to ignorant to read the terms and conditions of sale and now they "stole" my money that they said they would take and i agreed too

help!

when will people learn?