Domestic and General, uh? Scam?

houndofculaine

I recently noticed a direct debit in my bank account for 'Dom & Gen' and wasn't sure why I was paying them £7.50 for several months. So I emailed them and they told me it was for an extended warranty on a Sony TV I'd bought from John Lewis about 6 years ago.

Well I don't buy extended warranties, never have belived in them, as far as I'm concerned goods have to be of quality and expected to last a reasonale period, and I'd say 5 years was minimun (and I see the EU now agrees with me) on a £600 TV.

So I went back to them and after a series of emails it seems I had a five year FREE warranty with the TV (which yeah rememer John Lewis were cheapest for the TV and gave a free warranty so I thought why not), when the waranty ran out they claim they sent me a letter explaining they would now charge £7.50 a month to continue the warranty. Well thing is I moved from the address I bought the TV about 3 years ago. And it's difficult enough going through all the proper change of addresses we all have to do, and the last thing I was going to do was contact a company I had a warranty with for a TV I sold before I moved house!!!!

Of course they're claiming they entered into this agreement in good faith! But fro my piont of view it's pretty dirty practise to run this 'we're going to automatically start taking money unless you tell us not to', surely it should be a letter asking if you like to take out extra cover? They way they're doing things is damn shoddy.

What can I do to get my money back? And if I do cancel are they going to try and pull a fast one like, 'well this is a five year agreement with a pently clause for early cancellation.

This is legalised theft!

wealdroam

houndofculaine wrote: »

This is legalised theft!

On the face of it, it looks like it doesn't it?

However, how did D&G get your account details?

At the time of the TV purchase, is it possible that you authorised this direct debit?

If you did not authorise this DD, get onto your bank and point them at the Direct Debit Guarantee.

houndofculaine

As I said I wouldn't have authorised a DD for a free warranty, all I can think is the TV might have been 0% over 12 months, which I'd go for knowing I'll pay it off the day before any interest is paid.

wealdroam

houndofculaine wrote: »

As I said I wouldn't have authorised a DD for a free warranty, all I can think is the TV might have been 0% over 12 months, which I'd go for knowing I'll pay it off the day before any interest is paid.

Well it appears that someone authorised a DD.

Why not get you bank to show you the authorisation that they hold?
If they cannot do that, then surely they must refund the money taken.
Sometimes these 'authorisations' are retained by the Originator, but either your bank or D&G should be able to show you the authority under which they are acting.

Remember, if the amount being taken by DD changes, then the originator must notify you of the change beforehand. That is also in the DD guarantee.

I_luv_cats

Normally D+G get your appliance details when you fill in the postal or online warranty card (Survey) and they contact you to sell you an extended warranty by either a one off payment or regular payments. (for regular payments they tend to make it cheaper for the first term)

You would have to give them some method of payment.

Are you really sure it is a 5 year minimum term. I've checked the D&G website (and I have used them in the past) and you can cancel at any time>

Change your mind at any time
You may cancel the plan at any time before the end of your manufacturer’s (parts and labour) guarantee period or until 14 days after you receive your plan document (whichever is later) and receive a full refund, unless your equipment has already been replaced or written-off. If you have already received a repair we reserve the right to charge a £10 administrative fee.

You may cancel the plan at any time after the “right to change your mind” period outlined above, and we will refund a proportion of your plan fee relating to the remaining full months outstanding, unless your equipment has already been repaired, replaced or written-off, in which case no refund will be due.

https://partners.domgen.com/Quote/summaryOfProtection.do?callSource=WEB1

maninthestreet

Michael, you need permission from the Forum moderators if you wish to post as a company representative.

tomj777

maninthestreet wrote: »

Michael, you need permission from the Forum moderators if you wish to post as a company representative.

I think in fairness that Michael was quoting from either the website or the letter one receives from DomGen when touting for buisiness (I'm looking at one right now in front of me).

Tom

bod1467

????

I think you're replying to a post which was replying to another post that has been deleted in the meantime. I luv cats is not Michael (AFAIK).