Chargeback- £50 admin fee???

the_matrix

Hi all

I need some advice please. :beer:

I bought a domain from fasthosts and set auto-renew off. Fasthosts auto-renewed and took my money :mad::mad::mad:. Fasthosts claim I did not turn auto-renew off. I have checked my email and as it turns out I noted the date and time when I turned auto-renew off. It was 11th October 2011 @ 21:17.

They have this in their T&C:

6. Chargebacks
6.1 If You withdraw any payments made via a bank, credit card or PayPal account (a "chargeback") You may be subject to a administration fee of £50, should Fasthosts deem the chargeback to be unfair. Fasthosts also reserves its right to defend such chargebacks and recover the original monies from You or the card issuer.

6.2 If a chargeback is made, Fasthosts reserves the right to interrupt, suspend or cancel the Services. Such interruption, suspension or cancellation does not relieve You from paying the original Prices which are overdue and payable to Fasthosts.

Can they do this? I believe it is unfair. If they do this can I take it to Financial Ombudsman?

MamaMoo_2

Seems like scare tactics to me.
Let them attempt to claim it from you. They'd have an impossible job making it stand up.
Do you have proof that you turned auto renew off?

the_matrix

MamaMoo wrote: »

Seems like scare tactics to me.
Let them attempt to claim it from you. They'd have an impossible job making it stand up.
Do you have proof that you turned auto renew off?

The only proof I have is I saved the date and time in my email calendar.

MamaMoo_2

Does the calendar show when it was noted (so it is clear you made a note at the time, and haven't just done it since)
Sounds like it'll be more proof than they have, if you definitely turned it off.

*LolaB*

Hi

Did they charge your credit or debit card? If credit card, is it Visa, MasterCard or Amex?

arcon5

MamaMoo wrote: »

Seems like scare tactics to me.
Let them attempt to claim it from you. They'd have an impossible job making it stand up.
Do you have proof that you turned auto renew off?

Why would they?

Their merchant account supplier will charge a fee in dealing with chargebacks instigated, so if the chargeback can be deemed unfair I don't see why they should suffer a loss nor why it wouldn't standup in court.

arcon5

the_matrix wrote: »

The only proof I have is I saved the date and time in my email calendar.

MamaMoo wrote: »

Does the calendar show when it was noted (so it is clear you made a note at the time, and haven't just done it since)
Sounds like it'll be more proof than they have, if you definitely turned it off.

Op making a note on his calendar isn't really proof. I've just written 'Paid 3 months rent to landlord' on mine, doesn't prove much.

A screenshot or email confirmation would be more appropriate.

Are you sure you turned it off correctly op?

meer53

How much was the renewal ?
If you're sure that you turned off the Auto Renew why not let the card issuer do the chargeback, if what you say is correct the chargeback shouldn't reject so you won't have to pay the £50 admin fee.

bod1467

But who determines if the chargeback is valid? Fasthosts? If yes then it's going to fail - they've already disputed the Auto Renew setting.

*LolaB*

meer53 wrote: »

How much was the renewal ?
If you're sure that you turned off the Auto Renew why not let the card issuer do the chargeback, if what you say is correct the chargeback shouldn't reject so you won't have to pay the £50 admin fee.

It will depend on the card scheme as to whether a chargeback could be done & be successful. Visa will accept the date of cancellation (the date the auto renew was turned off) MasterCard require written proof & the op's diary note is not sufficient for this. The merchant can also reject the claim should they believe the charge is valid, although they would need some form of proof to support this.

texranger

arcon5 wrote: »

Op making a note on his calendar isn't really proof. I've just written 'Paid 3 months rent to landlord' on mine, doesn't prove much.

A screenshot or email confirmation would be more appropriate.

Are you sure you turned it off correctly op?

i have domains with fasthost and when i turn off auto renew i get an email confirmation of what i have done to the registered domain admin email addreess.