Music and Film sending threatening letters, please help!

Niblet_Spacemonkey

Hi there, I was hoping the wonderful people on these boards might be able to give me a bit of advice? I'm not sure if this is the right board but I know how helpful you all are from my lurking!

A few months ago I ordered some cheap DVDs from a link on this forum. I received the two DVD's (one of which was the wrong one) and thought nothing more of it. A few months later I received a letter demanding payment for £25 for a Charlie and the Chocolate DVD which I had never had. When I ordered the DVDs I had no idea that it was a ‘club’ I was signing up for; it was certainly not made clear.

The problem has now escalated with them slapping on a charge of £25 every so often with the total at £139 and the matter with a debt collection agency for a DVD I never received. The latest letter I have had is a solicitors one. (I should say I’ve been in and out of hospital the past month or so, so this hasn’t been dealt with as quickly as it should have. My bee brained sister was meant to be sending a cheque for the £25 which I thought was close the matter and I could put it down to experience.)

I sent this letter a while ago and had a response saying I owed for the DVD, £18.99 plus £25 to ‘cover admin costs’.

I received your letter of dated 25th March 2006, today 18th April 2006 and am duly responding to your demand for payment for unspecified goods or services. This is the first such correspondence I have received from your company and I am deeply disturbed by the threatening tone of the letter. Having received no prior correspondence on this matter I am unable to explain for what or why you believe I owe you this sum of money. I should add that I have not received any goods or services from your organisation which would merit such a sum.

Attempts to contact your organisation by telephone have failed and therefore I am left with no option but to write this letter. I also find it totally unacceptable that the letter is dated 25th March 2006 but was clearly not despatched until 10th April at the earliest (according to the postmark on the envelope). According to the date on the letter, the two week deadline you arbitrarily impose, passed some time ago.

In order for me to pay this supposedly outstanding sum I require a full break down of all charges and the goods/services for which those charges were made (as I am entitled to under English law). As your letter to me stipulates that I only have 14 days to pay, I must insist that you provide this information within 7 working days so that I am able to respond in sufficient time.

If this information is not forthcoming I will have no option but to file a complaint with the police for attempted fraud as you have provided no evidence that your claim is genuine. I will not hesitate to do so if you do not respond in good time. I will also be informing Trading Standards and the local and national media of your ‘scam’.

I should remind you, that even though your company purports to operate from Jersey, if trading in the UK, you are still bound by UK law. Please note that this letter has been sent by recorded delivery and therefore I expect a prompt reply as I will know when it has been delivered.

After a search on the forums, I know other people have had problems but haven’t been successful. Surely these people should be reported to the Trading Standards for what they’re doing?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=202531&highlight=music+film
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=93626&highlight=music+film

Sorry for the mammoth post but I’m at my wits end, as I really can’t afford to pay it and don’t know where to go from here.

Any help would be really really appreciated! Thanks for reading!

Warriorsith

I'm Sorry for your situation, but I signed up with them some time back and I realised I was becoming a member after checking the website. They also send you a quaterly catalogue which states you have to purchase a certain number of DVD's or Cd's for atleast £8.99, if you fail to purchase anything they'll send you the Dvd stated but a set date, hence the intial charge. I admit their customer services are poor and so too is their response time.

I wouldn't say you'll take them to the police for fraud as they know they would have sent it you, just ask for details on date etc it was sent and see what happens from then, perhpas it was stolen via the post office you never know.

Keep me up to date as I'd like to know how the situation progresses.

Niblet_Spacemonkey

Thanks for the reply.

That was the next thing we were going to do, ask for the original contract and prove of them sending the DVD, as we certainly have not received it! We've definitely never received any catalogues either and it really wasn't clear at the time it was a membership club, that's what's so annoying.

Will let you know how it goes.

Niblet_Spacemonkey

Anyone else any ideas? Much appreciated

Arch-Angel

My OH had a nasty letter off these people claiming that she hadn't paid for a film - she had paid it 4 weeks before she received this letter. One phone call later - OH can be rather forceful! - and problem resolved.

I agree with previous posts - this company doesn't market itself correctly as a company where you have to purchase one item every 3 months. However, I 've copied this from their T&C off their website:

All we ask from you is that you buy at least 6 DVDs, videos and/or CDs at the Musicandfilm Price.

You must buy at least one of those six Products every three months after you join. If you fail to fulfil this agreement by not selecting a Product in any one period of three months, we will recommend a Musicandfilm Selection to you that we think matches your preferences in music or film.

NB: The Opening Offer, free items, sale or promotional price or loyalty price Products don't count towards the Musicandfilm Agreement.

However the last order form that OH received from them states the following:

Remember, that part of your agreement requires you to buy at least one MusicandFilm title every 3 months.

Seems to me there's a T&C loophole that could be exploited here...thoughts anyone?

If this is not the case it seems to me that buying the cheapest thing (that's not on sale etc.) may be the simplest way to get away from this company. Keep track of how many you've bought and then cancel after 2 years. Not ideal I know - but it will minimise the damage.

HTH

go4it

this company is pants..

I signed up via Quidco and ordered 3 DVDs, in total came to 14.99. I realised it was a club (it is not made very clear on the website) but decided to see what offers they had in their catalogue. They then sent me only 2 DVDs and a catalogue of overpriced DVDs. I promptly returned them and got my 14.99 back.

Needless to say they haven't paid Quidco yet for my referral.

Pont

Take a look at 'Music and Film Con/rip off ' in this forum. I too had threatening letters from Music & Film, solictors, credit collection agencies etc. etc. It's now been over 3 months since I sent my last letter, not a peep back. Stand firm!