Fast 4 net incorrect billing

fergusbjek

Has anyone else had a closed account with the internet provider Fast 4 Net reactivated and payments taken (on a daily basis for what would be a monthly subscription fee) from credit cards? I closed my account over a year ago and have been very surprised this month to receive receipt emails for credit card payments (which have been taken from my credit card - now up to 9 payments of £8.99 each). I have tried to call Fast 4 (recorded message - call back later) and have also emailed but have been fobbed off each time. They have admitted there is a database fault that has meant some accounts have been reopened in error but they cannot find my details to cancel the account. I have approached my credit card provider to investigate and hopefully they can get refunds.
I think this is scandalous that a company can keep credit card details and reactivate an account and take payments.
Has anyone any advice on how to stop this happening in future? (bar cancelling the credit card).

CannyJock

Sounds like a variation on the problems others have with a Continuous Payment Authority (CPA) that allow the retailer to make charges even to a closed account.

When you cancel your subscription, you would need to write to them to ask them to confirm that they have not retained your payment details in any way. Overkill, but only way to be sure in this instance.

I'd be tempted to put this down to a one-off thing, annoying as it is.

Inactive

Fast4, as you probably are aware, have a dreadful customer care track record, I wish you luck with this one.

Chris2000

Fast4 started charging my card daily from 16th July, luckily I got them to stop after 2 payments were taken and they refunded my card. They blamed a new database.

My email to [EMAIL="support@fast.net"]support@fast4.net[/EMAIL] bounced straight back and I won't pay to dial their 0871 number to get my own money back. I used the Contact Us box on the website, it says they will only reply to Sales enquiries but they did reply and sort it out for me. They confirmed they have now removed my card details from the system.

I quoted the invoice number and my former customer account number from their email and asked them to remove my card details. I took a print screen before I clicked send, in case I needed to send it to my bank later.

Note that Breathe Networks Limited (aka Fast4) went into administration on 16th July, the same day that they started taking payment from my card. This company has since applied to be struck off the Companies House register and has sold its assets to a new company Breathe Internet Limited which has been set up by the same CEO as the old one. More about this story here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/23/breathe_networks_breathe_internet

I got my refund before the 23rd July, it's possible that you will now have to go to your credit card company for a refund. Since Breathe Networks Limited took payment after going into administration, without providing any service, then a complaint to the administrators may also be in order.