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Recurring Transactions/Automatic Billing to credit cards. Banks "powerless" to stop

watred
watred Posts: 2 Newbie
edited 24 July 2010 pm31 3:38PM in Credit cards
I have had some transactions appear on my credit card bill and when I looked into them in more depth it appears it was for a dating website which I had a look at last month.

I did not know I was going to be automatically billed, and furthermore when I log into the site I cannot find my card details anywhere.

I have tried phoning the company but cannot get through (surprise surprise) so I have emailed them requesting that my membership be fully cancelled and that they dont bill me again and also destroy my card details.

I also thought Id contact my bank (the card issuer), to try and put a stop to the billing. apparently they cant do this. Any small transactions are under a certain floor limit and are automatically accepted, plus they are only a 3rd party in the agreement and have to honor the transaction.

I suggested closing the account or having a new card issued, but they advised that the company would have rights to bill the new account even if I changed bank.

Apparently, to stop this I have to write to their disputes department and they will try and do something about it. It seems crazy that I do not want to spend any more money with a particular company yet the banks seem powerless to instantly stop it. Or are they just making more money by turning a blind eye?!

The bank was obviously aware this goes on, and explained to me how compaines are able to commit "fraud" by working the system and using lots of small print to get you tied into a recurring bill to your credit card. I have to ask myself, if we as a society and the banks know this is so wrong and that it is so rife then why isnt the process to stop these transcations taking place so much easier than having to go through a long process by written letter (a usual put off tactic by most companies!)

surely as consumers we should have more powers to say, I dont want company x taking any more money from my credit card as they are billing me for something I do not want!? and the bank should take immediate action.

:mad:

Comments

  • debsy42
    debsy42 Posts: 1,751 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Have a read here
    ITV Winners Club #87 :eek:
  • Thanks for that, I had found the thread and have been reading it.

    I'm certainly very much put off from having any credit or debit cards in the future and feel like once I've sorted this out will be getting rid of as much plastic as I can.

    This is clearly fraud on a grand scale, think of all the millions of unwanted transactions what must take place every day! still, we are powerless, the banks are powerless and companies are handed a "blank cheque" in the form of our credit card numbers.

    very wrong!
  • YorkshireBoy
    YorkshireBoy Posts: 31,541 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    watred wrote: »
    I did not know I was going to be automatically billed
    Did you not read the T&Cs?

    Which dating agency was it?
This discussion has been closed.
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