Catalogue payment scam

Cata_2

First time poster long time reader

I have a catalogue with a big brand. They have sent me a notice of variation that has a schedule of charges.

If I want to pay by cheque they will charge me to process the cheque. Post office and paypoint payments carry a different charges. If I want to speak to an advisor. they will now charge me £5 to take my payment!!!! They have said there are free ways such as using the automated service, via their website or via a bank.

I find this disgusting! I want to talk to an advisor to make a payment. I shouldnt be forced to pay or use an automated service or website! Its a scam! They said I can go to the bank, but why should I? If I did I asked would they refund my bus fares, they said no.

Is there anyway I can make them take a payment via an advisor for free? Why should I be punished. One manager said the change is so customers who want to speak to a human should cover that charge, I say its a money making scam!

balmk

Do you have a particular aversion to paying using automated means? The advisor you are speaking to in order to take the payment is using the exact same system as you would be if you used the automated system or paid online.

As an alternative, you can also probably pay by direct debit.

Unfortunately the cost of human interaction is now increasing. Absorbing this cost increases overheads which ultimately increases the cost of goods supplied. Even if they conceeded and gave you free access to telephone advisors you would still end up paying the premiuim in the goods that you order.

George_Michael

How can it be a scam if they have contacted you in advance to advise you of changes that they are making?

If you don't like or agree to these changes, all you have to do is to cancel your account with the catalogue company and sign up with one that has different payment terms.

There are plenty of scams ongoing in the UK at the moment, but I don't think that this is one of them.

tomwakefield

It's not a scam. They've told you in advance of how you can pay and the various charges you incur. Certain payment methods cost them more. And unlike a company such as Ryanair, the free methods are hardly obscure (presumably everyone with a debit or credit card can make a payment through their website).

Cata wrote: »

I want to talk to an advisor to make a payment.

You can, if you are willing to pay the costs

Cata wrote: »

I shouldnt be forced to pay or use an automated service or website!

You're not. You don't have to shop there. But you don't have a right to insist on a company using a charges structure that suits you

Cata wrote: »

Its a scam!

Really? A company is scamming you because they want to charge you for additional costs incurred?
[...]

Cata wrote: »

Is there anyway I can make them take a payment via an advisor for free?

No

Cata wrote: »

Why should I be punished.

Who is punishing you?

I know we're meant to be nice to new moneysavers and there's no such thing as a stupid question. But some new posters really push that to the limits.

Apples2

It's a catalogue for goodness sake, of course it's a scam. Paying three times the price of something on the highstreet?

Not a scam in the way the OP reckons though.

An automated service is well, automated. If they have to pay someone to monitor a phone just in case Cata decides to make a payment, why shouldn't Cata pay those wages?

I don't think Cata is coming back though, nobody has given any cuddles or joined the crusade.

Februarycat

I use several catalogues and always pay by cheque at my bank and not been charged extra. Not sure which Catalogue Cata is using but I have most of the well known ones and buy things from them.