How do we stop a payment going out?

mstopham

My wife has ordered a free trial of a supposedly wonderful product that aids slimming, she did this without my knowledge in the build up to the wedding. Packages arrived from China, I spoke to her to advise they had and she said she was expecting something from USA. Now. I didn't ask any more questions at the time because she had told me not to pry into what she was ordering as they were to be suprises (viel and underwear were ordered as well off ebay).

She has now informed me that is was Green Tea Purity and a "free" trial. Though the T+C's make it plain that it is not free unless you send back within 14 days etc etc. With the wedding planning and other things she hadn't checked the card til today. They have taken out £204 in the last couple of months.

I doubt there is much chance of recovering the money but what I would like to know is how to stop anything further going out.

mbh has contacted the Halifax regarding this and they have told her because she "agreed" to it then they cannot stop further payments going off her card. I guess there is to be a battle ahead but I would appreciate it if anyone has any advice on how to stop ANY further payments going off the card. I have some thoughts but want to get expert views on the way forwards.

CannyJock

Not sure if the distance selling legislation we have here applies to purchases from China. And I don't think you can argue fraud even if the advertising and T&C's don't make it immediately obvious you'll be charged after 14 days.

So long as you've not signed up to a subscription you might get off with just the one charge. I'd definitely write to the company and tell them that you no longer wish to receive or be charged for any products from them (quote your order number/delivery note number or invoice number, whatever you have for them to identify you accurately), ask them to confirm that they have not retained your payment details in any way, and that you have not authorised them to record a Continuous Payment Authority for any ongoing charges to your credit card. You would like them to confirm all of this in writing.

I'd also tell them that the goods received were not to your satisfaction and that you would like a refund of all monies paid. Might work, might not, they might just send you a replacement in which case you get double the amount of tea to drink

never-in-doubt

Has the OP actually received anything from them as yet? If not then start chargeback s.75 CCA..... DSR will cover EEA purchases only - and again, with DSR you do get 30 days cooling off period (excludes specific made-to-order items which diet pills are not!)....

http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/legal/distance-selling-regulations/

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002334.htm

Good Luck.....

stephane_2

What about if you cancel the card?? just re-order a new one. That should stop then retrieving any more money

just_about

Agree with the above post. If you are just only interested to stop any future payments been taken , just call the bank and tell them you have lost the card or something and ask them to basically block it. Then they will not be able to take out any payments any more !! Hope this helps :beer:

sparkey1

That may not work.

If you lose a card and you have regular payment s going out they are often redirected by the bank to your new card number.

Its a bit like when you pay your old card number by mistake and the payment arrives against your new card number.

It will have to be a stolen card report or try asking them if they can block all overseas transactions. Dont tell them the reason why and it might work.

td_007

stephane wrote: »

What about if you cancel the card?? just re-order a new one. That should stop then retrieving any more money

That will not work with credit cards. The card company will honor any charges to the card as the customer has "agreed".

never-in-doubt

just_about wrote: »

Agree with the above post. If you are just only interested to stop any future payments been taken , just call the bank and tell them you have lost the card or something and ask them to basically block it. Then they will not be able to take out any payments any more !! Hope this helps :beer:

Mate maybe not, as cannyjock confirmed:

ask them to confirm that they have not retained your payment details in any way, and that you have not authorised them to record a Continuous Payment Authority for any ongoing charges to your credit card. You would like them to confirm all of this in writing.

I agree, with a CPA the only get-out is by asking the subscription service to cancel it. Bummer but true mate :beer:

mstopham

Thanks for the replies. She has called and reported the card stolen and spoken to either a disputes or fraud department regarding this. From what I can gather they have told her that the payment should now be blocked but as it was agreed to then getting monies back will have to be by us going to the company direct or through legal channels.
My OH signed up for 2 lots of pills (different I believe) and has had 3 pairs of money come out on day 0, day 14 and day 28.

With the CPA, if we have asked them to stop already (and have emails to prove this) and they don't what's the next course of action? If there is none then I am going to setup something that has a CPA and ignore any requests to stop charging! Seems like daylight robbery to me.

hoyles10

My sister-in-law did exactly the same thing and the only thing she could do was put a stop on her card. There wasn't a cat in hells chance she could get any of the money back though. Sorry.

ILW

mstopham wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. She has called and reported the card stolen and spoken to either a disputes or fraud department regarding this. From what I can gather they have told her that the payment should now be blocked but as it was agreed to then getting monies back will have to be by us going to the company direct or through legal channels.
My OH signed up for 2 lots of pills (different I believe) and has had 3 pairs of money come out on day 0, day 14 and day 28.

With the CPA, if we have asked them to stop already (and have emails to prove this) and they don't what's the next course of action? If there is none then I am going to setup something that has a CPA and ignore any requests to stop charging! Seems like daylight robbery to me.

For the future I would hide any credit cards from your wife, she seems a little guillable.