SAFE VIP anyone heard of them???

acR

I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum to post this to, perhaps you would advise if another one is more suitable.

Before Christmas my elderly mother received what appeared to be mail shot headed Safe VIP Programme offering her among other things low priced airfares, VIP tickets to events, credit card protection etc etc. It said she should ring a free phone number if she wasn't interested. But if she didn't they would send out a intoductory package for her and for a one off payment of £20 she could have 1 years cover.
I told her to ignore it , she hadn't asked for it and certainly didn't want it. No such package has arrived but today her bank statement shows a £20 debit on the 3rd December to a company called Safe Choice. She has no idea what or who this is. In the interest of her security we are in the process of changing her bank cards and have been in touch with the bank fraud department.
I have searched google and can't find anything on this company, I was hoping somebody on here might have heard somehting about them.

I know its only £20 but for a woman of 75 it is and she is so worried someone has her details.

jonesMUFCforever

How did the company get the card details or bank details?
How did they they get her name and address?

acR

We have no idea!. She had used the card for a telephone transaction to another company that week. Other than that she just uses for her shopping at supermarkets.

pmduk

it sounds like the other company will have "sold" her a free trial to this package. Why not contact them and ask. This sort of inertia selling should be illegal IMO.

[Deleted User]

wow..
didnt know companies can do that
must be in small prints of company :S

acR

pmduk wrote: »

it sounds like the other company will have "sold" her a free trial to this package. Why not contact them and ask. This sort of inertia selling should be illegal IMO.

I understand what you are saying but how did they manage to get her details ? She is adamant she didn't give them to anyone.

There is no company address on the mail shot, only a telephone no. I did ring it and got a message like this , can't remember the exact wording " Hi this is Wayne. I can't get to the phone at the moment . Please leave a message "

pmduk

acR wrote: »

I understand what you are saying but how did they manage to get her details ? She is adamant she didn't give them to anyone."

It works along the lines of you make a purchase from Company A (as in fact you said happened).

At some stage during the call the customer is offered a special offer, a free trial of say, SAFE VIP, "you get it for x days free, if you want to keep it we'll charge you £xx after the trial period." The customer isn't listening properly, only hears free and says yes please.

You've now agreed to the trial and the transaction. The company knows your address and card details from the transaction you have already made.

It's also done online in much the same way, when customers don't read the terms and conditions that they're agreeing to.

acR

OMG !That is an appalling way to do business, especially with the elderly. I have not heard of such a thing. I will talk to my mum and see if she has any memory of such a conversation. Many thanks.

Lansdowne

Shouldn't this come under the distance selling regulations? If so you should be given the opportunity during the cooling off period to change your mind before any money is taken.

I have also never heard of this practice and it sounds to me like a straightforward scam. Either a direct debit or a 'customer not present' card debit has been initiated for a purchase that was never asked for.

pmduk

It's a trial transaction, the Company gives you a free period within which to cancel. That only works if you have paid attention to the original spiel. Many people don't. Ideal World TV and Vistaprint are amongst many companies that have used this sales technique. You'll find many threads on the consumer rights forum relating to vistaprint.

If it ever happened to me I'd be on to my bank complaining that it is an unauthorised transaction.

acR

pmduk wrote: »

It's a trial transaction, the Company gives you a free period within which to cancel. That only works if you have paid attention to the original spiel. Many people don't. Ideal World TV and Vistaprint are amongst many companies that have used this sales technique. You'll find many threads on the consumer rights forum relating to vistaprint.

If it ever happened to me I'd be on to my bank complaining that it is an unauthorised transaction.

I took your advice and complained about an unauthorised transaction and they refunded my mums money no problem at all.

Many thanks to everyone for all your advice.