Warning Ahh bra / Free & Easy

stevepas

Anyone run into something like this?
My partner wanted to buy some bras off ahh bra as
advertised on the home shopping network.

Unfortunately the items didn't fit so my partner returned them for a refund.

All was fine she was refunded as per ahhbra conditions.

A couple of months later we discovered a debit of £99.99
on her bank statement to a company called Free & Easy.
(same account used for bra purchase).
A couple months later that's an 'unusual' procedure.

After a chat with an ahhbra customer service person,
we found that Free & Easy, Ahhbra are 'sister' companies along with about 30 other companies.

The £99.99 is a membership fee for some sort of 'club/scheme'.
When you make a purchase from one of these 30 sister companies
they seem to share your card details and you are supposed
to get an after sale phone call to invite you to join this 'club',
we didn't get that call and neither did other 'customers'
You are also supposed to get a welcome letter and info pack, again
we didn't get the info pack and neither did other 'customers'.

to repeat we had absolutly no contact in any way from 'free and easy/ahhbra' re any club or scheme.

The ahhbra operator knew nothing of the free and easy services/club membership.
To get our money back we had to pay for the 0871 'special services' rate.
Whilst on this number I asked for a contact address,
the reply was 'the only one we have is a spanish one'
the operator neglected to tell me of the company registration details that show an office in Devon.

This info was gleaned from the website 'whocallsme' for
the phone number 08712242255 where you will find tons of other angry customers.

If you do your purchase via a website you may have a tickbox
as an alternative to the 'invitation' phone call.

If you shop via TV keep a close eye on, terms/conditions and your statements for £99.99 !

paddyrg

That is OUTRAGEOUS

Report it to asa.org.uk - they should at least make a real point of the conditions in the ads as it is a significant condition

Azari

You should have reported it to your bank as a fraudulent debit.

If people continue to 'sort it out' with the company concerned, they (the company) are pocketing money from their premium rate line and also from anyone who fails to notice the rogue debit.

Report it to the bank and make them sort it out.

stevepas

Bank gaves us phone number and suggested we contact them.
We did get the money back.
the devious sods just try and stay with in the boundary (99.99) some reckon they hope that you will not notice the extraction of money from your account by taking it well after the 'legitamate' purchase date and if you do spot it, to stay 'legal' give you a refund only to charge you for this 'phone call refund service'

stevepas

If you read page 12 of the whocallsme results for the free and easy number
you will find a post from the ex-wife of one of the names behind the free and easy (with your money) project.
well worth a read she is more than happy to divulge info about him !!!
also worth checking for names like 'spacebags' 'pressplay' 'break for free' etc etc etc
(just to clarify etc etc etc isn't one of his dodgy companies:D)

It reveals quite a nasty little web of companies all with the same m.o.

I feel a meldrew moment coming, I don't belieeeeeeeve it.

Astonishing world we live in.

Someone has contacted the OFT regarding this raft of companies

[Deleted User]

phew. I am glad I read this thread. I was thinking about getting some. Thank you op for the warning

heretolearn_2

I'd been thinking about these too,thanks for the warning.