Recurring Payments Warning! discussion

Paul_Herring

Andy_Spoo wrote: »

It's ridiculous that we can't stop someone from taking money from our accounts.

Erm - you can. You simply do not set up a recurring payment with them.

IOW, do not give them the 16 digit number across the middle of your card (along with the CCV on the back if it's over the phone/internet.) Without that, they cannot set up a recurring payment that you cannot cancel.

Note that there is a distinction between giving those numbers out for a single transaction, and the charging company using those numbers to set up a recurring payment.

The banks just take the Mickey whenever they can.

This isn't the banks taking the mickey, it's the companies who refuse to cancel/surreptitiously set up the recurring payments.

exel1966

escortg3 wrote: »

Aol is the worst. we had this problem with them. in the end we told the bank that they were taking money without our consent and they got all overpayments back for us, fair do's the bank was hot on this one

Maybe you should have just logged into your AOL account and cancelled the recurring payment. It's very easily done.

JohalaReewi

Paul_Herring wrote: »

IOW, do not give them the 16 digit number across the middle of your card (along with the CCV on the back if it's over the phone/internet.) Without that, they cannot set up a recurring payment that you cannot cancel.

Note that there is a distinction between giving those numbers out for a single transaction, and the charging company using those numbers to set up a recurring payment.

But how can you tell that the company won't set up a recurring payment when you are only authorising a single transaction? Am currently in the middle of such a situation. CC company not interested at present.

jarthurs

gemtey wrote: »

Are payments still going? Bank won't do anything because its nothing to do with them. Card payments are between you and merchant. Say your worried about fraudulent activity and they should be able to block/cancel and reissue ure debit card with brand new card number. Once this done there is no active card for them to take payments from....?

From experience changing card numbers does not seem to be enough to stop them. Apparently your old card number remains active even when explicitly canceled (just in case there are any old transactions pending). Lets face it the Recurring Payments Warning gives details of someone who had canceled their credit card and moved house. This didn't stop the AA from debiting a defunct credit card account.

This is an area ripe for an update to consumer law. It appears lots of companies are using this in a less than ethical way (BISL are using it downright dishonestly) to coin in some free cash from consumers.

My wife's card expired earlier in the year and despite calling and writing to BISL to decline their kind offer of uncompetitive insurance they still withdrew money (£30 more than their quote letter stated) that they have yet to return over a month after canceling the policy.

Regards,
Jason.

Andy_Spoo_2

Recurring payments are the worst thing ever!!

Why the hell is their no law against this???

My story:-

I moved into my parents house for a while. It was only temporary so I signed up to the type of Virgin Broadband that had no contract and I could cancel at any time as long as I gave them at least one months notice of cancellation. Great I though.

After 2 months I phoned Virgin to cancel the broadband. They said I had to do it in writing. So I did. When the time came that Virgin would withdraw money from my account, they hadn't so I assumed all was good.

I haven't been at my parents for at-least 2 years now. 3 months ago I went through my Cahoot bank statement. Guess what, they're still withdrawing money!! OMG!! Yes I know I'm a idiot for not checking my statements properly, but it was just something I missed.

What Virgin had done and deliberately in my opinion, was to change the date that the money would be withdrawn from my account, knowing that there was a likelihood that I would check. It worked, well done them (buch of *ankers and I don't mean bankers!).

Since then I've contacted cahoot, who don't care and instead of sorting the problem had a go at me for not checking my statements more thoroughly. Yes I know, but they should be professional and just sort the problem.

I tried sending another letter to Virgin, by recorded delivery (some time ago now) and they're still taking money. I've just sent Cahoot another email stating that under the banking code it was there responsibility to sort it out and if they didn't I would contact the banking ombudsman.

And as I double attack, I'm about to contact Virgin again, giving them 14 days notice of sending them to the small claims court. Should I claim for the 2 years of them withdrawing money (with interest) or just for the recent few months that I noticed)???

I shouldn't have to do this. They should make reoccurring payments the same as direct debits, or just make reoccurring payments illegal full-stop.

And, bloody hell.....Virgin are going to start there own bank. Would you trust them with your money?????????????? Imagine having Virgin broadband and then disputing with Virgin bank because you can't get your reoccurring Virgin broadband stopped!!!! Personally I wouldn't trust them with a single penny. BEWARE, BEWARE, BEWARE..............

chris_m

Andy_Spoo wrote: »

And as I double attack, I'm about to contact Virgin again, giving them 14 days notice of sending them to the small claims court. Should I claim for the 2 years of them withdrawing money (with interest) or just for the recent few months that I noticed)???

If you have documented evidence of the date of the cessation of service (i.e. an acknowledgement from Virgin, as well as your cancellation letter) then I'd persue them for the lot. If you don't have documented evidence it may be more tricky.

bobblebob

I have a a reocurring bill for $10 a month for access to usenet. They have my long card number. If i cancel the card they no longer have that number as its been cancelled, so payments stop.

Whats wrong with doing that?

My mate who has the same bill as my forgot to update his details when he got a new card and they simple cancelled the order

Biggles

bobblebob wrote: »

I have a a reocurring bill for $10 a month for access to usenet. They have my long card number. If i cancel the card they no longer have that number as its been cancelled, so payments stop.

Whats wrong with doing that?

Cancelling a card doesn't cancel recurring payments. They will continue and your card will bill you. You have to cancel with the supplier, and make sure they acknowledge cancellation.

Paul_Herring

bobblebob wrote: »

I have a a reocurring bill for $10 a month for access to usenet. They have my long card number. If i cancel the card they no longer have that number as its been cancelled, so payments stop.

Whats wrong with doing that?

If you cancel the card, they do still have the number, and since it was legitimate at the time it was given, your CC company will still honour any further requests on that card number from that company.

My mate who has the same bill as my forgot to update his details when he got a new card and they simple cancelled the order

Unusual.

bobblebob

The supplier i use have a site that you can update your card details on. Would simple putting in fake details be enough to stop them?

Note: Im not wanting to stop mine, and the company i deal with have good CS. Just a hypothetical question