Defrauded with proof but bank won't help

khainestar

Hi,

Not posted much on here but have read a few threads. Was after a little advice about by credit card. I made a purchase from vistaprint and they passed my details on to another site, who set up a reoccuring payment from my account. I first tried to contact the company, at first they were unwilling to speak to me without me giving them my membership number, which I don't have, or my credit card number, which I was unwilling to give them. With no joy from them I contacted lloydstsb and stated my case. The company involved then sent me "proof" of my sign up which clearly shows that the information was gathered from the actual purchase made. Lloydstsb, after they messed around for a couple of months, sending me what I could only describe as a sales pitch for the fraudsters. Have today informed me that since it was a re-occurring payment there is nothing they can do and that my only recourse is to contact the company and try to get a refund. So I am stuck between a bank that won't help and a company that won't talk to me.

Do I have any other options rather than getting a lawyer involved and sueing?

moonrakerz

If it on a Credit Card the first thing to do is, DON'T pay it.
Secondly if, you haven't already done so, tell your bank in writing that you did not authorise this transaction.
If they still hassel you - complain to the Financial Ombudsman and tell the bank that you are going to /have done so.

Remember - it is not your money that has been misused, it is the banks - it is their problem, NOT yours !

narabanekeater

if you google vistaprint this is very common and has happened to me also. If you phone vistaprint or write I got a full refund

khainestar

I have tried contacting the company, this is the response I got.

Dear Mark

In reference to your email received on 16 June 2009, requesting the documentation proof of enrolment for Premier Club. Please find enclosed a visual representation of the option form that was filled out and an online proof of enrolment, which has your IP Address. All computers have a unique IP Address ad the only way we can obtain your IP Address is by you entering our site, completing our form and submitting it.

Premier Club is a special discounts programme that offers its members a whole host of benefits from a number of famous high street and online stores. As a cancelled member you will no longer be entitled to the great savings offered through this programme at HMV, Dixons & B&Q to name just a few.

If you have any queries now or in the future, please feel free to contact our Membership Services Department, during normal office hours (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

We are always happy to help and welcome the possibility of you subscribing to Clubprem in the future.


Yours Sincerely


Hilary Leslie
Senior Customer Services

I know that what they have said is total pap. IP addresses are only unique if they are statically applied, In this case it is a static ip, which points to their servers. So the "evidence" of my sign up is their servers signed me up with details supplied to another site. One of the problems is that I have paid the bill already. It is an automatic payment from my account, so I don't forget.

I am going to try contacting the Ombudsman and trading standards. If this goes on much longer I am going to take legal action against them as it is past a joke now.

Jemma-T

Not sure how people are being signed up for this 'service'. I've used VistaPrint 3 times this year and not had a problem.

Are people actually agreeing to something? I don't see mention of "Premier Club" in any of my dealings with them.

khainestar

Its not always clubprem that does it. Check your statement for 11.95 or 9.95 payments, they have a wide range of cons. I have used vistaprint a couple of times, was only the last time that it happened. Still not sure how, they claim I clicked a banner ad. I certainly haven't done that.

furndire

They are renowned for this sort of thing - just put vistaprint in the search
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=202892&highlight=vistaprint&page=27

Jemma-T

Not really interested in links to links. I'm interested in whether adults are agreeing to things and then changing their minds when they realised they've been stupid and trying to blame anyone apart from themselves.

MSE seems to be bursting at the seams with people who want to blame other people for their stupidity or ignorance. If VistaPrint are taking the money without authority then they will have to give it back.

Like I said, I've never heard of this service and this "problem" is probably down to people's greed or ignorance.

furndire

Jemma-T the idea of this site is to be helpful - not judgemental. People make mistakes, but when the same "mistake" recurs over and over again to different people it often shows there is a problem. Giving a link to where the same thing has happened over and over again should give some help as to how others have dealt with the same thing and thus OP should be able to work out what to do next and possible outcomes.

Often things come to light when people talk about them, and hopefully someone else doesn't fall into the same trap.

Cons happen because people keep quiet and are often too embarrassed to say that they have been conned.

This may not be a "deliberate con" as such, but it is very close to it.

INT1

I used Vista Print and got signed up for this "Service" they refunded me no questions asked when I called them up and stopped the recurring trnsaction.

People seem to think that banks don't help, but at the end of the day think how many people have done the same as us!
That's why Vistaprint is so cheap for stationary.

[Deleted User]

khainestar wrote: »

Dear Mark

In reference to your email received on 16 June 2009, requesting the documentation proof of enrolment for Premier Club. Please find enclosed a visual representation of the option form that was filled out and an online proof of enrolment, which has your IP Address. All computers have a unique IP Address ad the only way we can obtain your IP Address is by you entering our site, completing our form and submitting it.

This is also complete and utter crap. Try going to http://www.whatismyip.com and have a look... nobody completed a form and submitted anything before telling you that.

And by the fact they misspelt "and", I'd guess this was a quick fob-off email rather than official company line.