URGENT ADVICE PLEASE..is this illegal....

notanotherbloodyusername

OK, OK I should have been checking every CC statement entry every month. But I didn't. Wait for it.... I have been billed for over 3 years by sodding VP Rewards for a discount service that I definitely never ordered. It started in Nov 2007 at £9.95/month, they automatically increased it to £12.95 in Y2, then £15.95 per month in Y3 and subsequent years! I have been conned out of over £500.... and I don't accept that it's all my fault for not checking my statements (I tend to look more carefully at the larger amounts). How guilty does a victim of sharp-practice (that's the kindest description) have to be? Not noticing you're being charged for something you didn't order surely doesn't make it legitimate. Stupid? Yes. Cheated? ....

I called them (which also probably earns them a few pence per minute) and got the 'you signed up online' standard reply. They had all my details including of course my creditcard. How?? I asked them how. They repeated I must have elected to pay 'by checking a box' and they held no records of where I did this. BUT THEY NEVER MENTIONED VISTAPRINT GAVE THEM MY DETAILS. Is being economic with the truth a lie? It's certainly sharp practice and not fully honest (note: being careful not to call them dishonest etc. They have my £500 to pay their lawyers if they choose.)

<<<Slight correction. Have just received an email from VP Rewards confirming my cancellation (in fact I got 2). The email title is "VistaPrint Rewards Cancel Confirmation for Membership"... so I guess they're not hiding it (after you've cancelled, at any rate). So I guess my gripe is actually still with Vistaprint, class action / severance or no.>>

The day on which they claim I signed up for their 'rewards' subscription, I checked on my CC statement that I had also ordered cheap/free (?!?) business cards from Vistaprint (this was before I read this forum thread and connected the VPs). Elsewhere in this forum there is mention that Vistaprint severed relations with VP Rewards after a class action which apparently Vistaprint successfully defended (jolly well done chaps. Makes me feel a whole lot better about you), but the fact remains they gave them my credit card details.

It seems they hold no evidence that I did sign up (surely case proved mi lord)... but according to VP Rewards this means I must have (huh?!?). They claim to have sent me an email confirming the subscription. I have all the emails from Vistaprint confirming my print order, but no mention of VP Rewards in any of them, and no emails from VP Rewards direct. Either they are lying or it was lost in my junk mail. Either way, surely they need a more positive purchasing directive from me. I simply don't accept that Vistaprint have no responsibility for passing on my details without my express instruction (and even then I find the idea that they could hand over my credit details to someone else a worrying idea).

I want all my money back, and have written to VP Rewards requesting a full refund. If they fail to reply or stick to their 'you must have agreed' nonsense, then I will put it in the hands of the Small Claims Court as a minimum redress.

....and if Vistaprint want to own up honestly and fairly to their involvement, then so much the better.

babypie85

Hi Everyone,

I'm writing to say a HUGE THANKYOU for all of your posts!!
Yesterday, (14th Jan 2011) I noticed on a bank statement, that 2 amounts of £15.95 had been taken from my account without my authorisation.
I had NO IDEA what they were for.
Googled them both and came across this forum.
Turns out, when I ordered some 'Save The Date Cards' from Vistaprint last week, these companies took it upon themselves to sign me up to their membership schemes, so I phoned the Customer Service number someone had given on here, and asked for a refund for the £30 they owed.
I was on hold for 25 minutes, so as you can imagine, wasn't a happy bunny.
After lots of backwards and forwarding, and a tiny of but of huffing and puffing, the woman at Vistaprint informed me, that these companies had actually been taking £15 a month from my account ever since I ordered some business cards from Vistaprint 4 YEARS AGO!! I know . . . Stupid me for not noticing . . . BUT due to this, they're actually now refunding me £575.35.
I'm advising ANYONE who notices either of the 2 compaines mentioned above, on their bank statement, to call the Customer Service Centre at Vistaprint . . . . And RECLAIM straight away!!

BarbieDoll_2

HELP, I have just found out I have sadly and very stupidly been charged by VP Rewards since 2006!!!!
Yes, I realise I should have noticed, but equally so, this should not be happening -
I have sent them a message to say CANCEL Account, etc and that I would very much like a refund??? They put the amount up every February!!!!
I am totally gutted - I will ask for a Refund over the telephone (if I can get thru) There should be some help out there - don't think I will sleep much tonight - ANy advice MUCH appreciated as it is a whole lot of money -

BarbieDoll_2

I am willing to contact WatchDog too - I have foolishly missed it too, sadly since 2006 !!!! The more the merrier in contacting Watchdog - maybe Martin could help?????

triticale

I think the most shocking thing about this is how little some people seem to check their accounts. :eek:

No disrespect, I just can't imagine that, I check my bank account almost daily and my cc at least weekly!

[Deleted User]

vistaprint new freephone number

0800 496 0356

tksingh

Ordered some stuff from vistaprint a week ago. Was going to order some more today when i came across this forum. lucky for me i didnt get charged yet BUT i would have next month if i had not phoned in to cancel the subscription. I think this is absolutely outrageous and they cannot get away with this scam.......

marvoging

newlywed wrote: »

Thanks - was looking at vista print for hubby's business cards. Will steer clear now.

To offer a balancing view;
I have just this week taken delivery of Vistaprint business cards.
The quality is fine. They do send marketing emails.
I have had no trouble with spurious payments to any rewards scheme.

starlight_xx

marvoging wrote: »

To offer a balancing view;
I have just this week taken delivery of Vistaprint business cards.
The quality is fine. They do send marketing emails.
I have had no trouble with spurious payments to any rewards scheme.

Same here, Ive used them about 8/9 times in the past year for a variety of things. Ive had some brilliant offers from them, loads of freebies, only having to pay a couple of £s postage. Never had a bit of trouble with them. Ive actually been recommending them to people...

browdee

I have just had one month of billing from Vistaprint.

I paid by PayPal, and its VERY easy to cancel a monthly agreement (you just look at your transactions and cancel any you don't like). This, in in conjucntion with your bank, means that you have two methods of cancellation (although your transaction/DD agreement would be with PayPal) (I just like clicking!)

In addition, if you don't like VP, then get them to remove you from their database. To do this, visit the website of the Government's Information Commissioner's Office, and go to the Prevent Processing of Information page. It gives details of how to get yourself removed. I feel that rather than threatening to sue, everyone should just stop companies like this from owning their personal details. That is how they make more money - through direct marketing and from selling lists of online buyers to their partners etc.

They (VP) appear to have been particularly crafty about this particular payment. I remember that there was no option to not join their club. I guess that cheaper postage meant that they were losing their margin and that they wanted to get it back. VERY CHEEKY!!