Attempting to get a refund/part refund on my credit card...

ZOOTV_UK

Hi,

So very very recently i decided to join a dating website, took advantage of a £1.99 for 3 days offer. All my details where put in, I clicked payment, only to see the default amount had, well, defaulted to £119.99. I was utterly livid, I sent their 'supoort' team an email. I thought, it will be sorted, so I sent a few messeges, now I realise by doing this (am in day 2 of my membership btw) I have blown my 'cooling off period' and will not get any money back.

I think was a genuine sneaky trick by the website, ok, part my fault clicking, but I tried to stop the transaction, and couldn't, and I cannot afford such an amount. I spoke to my credit card people and they have said it would be up to the website to refund or part refund my money. The website said I have used my account so I won't be getting a refund, even though I stopped using it all together, as I only wanted it for 3 days anyway. Any advice?:(

InsideInsurance

The main advice is to be careful on what you click on. Dating sites and other subscription based sites are famous for doing this kind of practice where it defaults to the longest option even if you get through to the signup process via a promotional short trial.

Their other common trick is auto renewing you at the end of the current membership so make sure that you do cancel the account before you have to pay for a second year!

Hominu

I'm surprised, a dating website which offers a free trial for £1.99, I would expect to offer a years subscription for £199. That way, you see the same figures on each screen as only the decimal point has moved. By the time you notice the amount on your statement, its too late.

Anti Virus and Internet Security companies are good for this as well.

Another good scam by dating agencies is to offer £1.99 for 3 days and automatically renew for a full year at the beginning of the 3rd day. You don't realise unless you have read the T&Cs.

themightyn

Speak to your credit card company about doing a chargeback under section 75.

The first people at the call centre may not have heard of this. But it effectively means that you are holding the bank as liable as the Merchant who charged you. So ask to speak to a supervisor.

It sounds like you have a case here or misrepresentation and unfair terms and conditions.

By law you have a 7 day cooling period under the distance of sales/services act. Even though the merchant may disagree with this. Its the law and if you fail with the merchant, then the credit card company has to step in.

Most credit card companies are very helpful (apart from a few). But don't worry. Fill in the paper work they send you and put your evidence etc.... so print off a screen shot of the page you signed up on and what you throught and how you think this was misleading.

Also make sure you are seen to work with the merchant. Give them a chance to put things right. This will score major browny points.

To clarify... this is only on credit cards. Not bank or charge cards.

Good luck!

themightyn

Hominu wrote: »

I'm surprised, a dating website which offers a free trial for £1.99, I would expect to offer a years subscription for £199. That way, you see the same figures on each screen as only the decimal point has moved. By the time you notice the amount on your statement, its too late.

Anti Virus and Internet Security companies are good for this as well.

Another good scam by dating agencies is to offer £1.99 for 3 days and automatically renew for a full year at the beginning of the 3rd day. You don't realise unless you have read the T&Cs.

I should also point out.. Key information within any contract must be clearly shown at time or purchase.... However in the world of business... it is a very grey area... what key information is.

InsideInsurance

themightyn wrote: »

Speak to your credit card company about doing a chargeback under section 75.

The first people at the call centre may not have heard of this.

They wont have heard of it because you are blending two terms. You either make a chargeback or you make a claim under section 75. Chargebacks are nothing to do with section 75.

The distance selling regulations do apply to services however the rights to cancel stop as soon as the service has been performed. The OP paid for the service of access to the dating site and they have received that access (and by the sounds of it used it) thus the cooling off period expired.

I agree it is an underhanded mechanism to default to the most expensive option however it is what the OP agreed to have and there is no requirement in law for an exit clause for a service once cooling off periods have ended.

At the end of the day there is no harm in submitting either a chargeback or a S75 claim but I wouldnt hold up much hope of either working

dalesrider

themightyn wrote: »

Speak to your credit card company about doing a chargeback under section 75.

The first people at the call centre may not have heard of this. But it effectively means that you are holding the bank as liable as the Merchant who charged you. So ask to speak to a supervisor.

Section 75 & chargebacks are totally seperate.
Please if you are going to put forward options ensure they are correct....

You need to talk to the Disputes department on this matter. They are the people who will deal.

themightyn wrote: »

It sounds like you have a case here or misrepresentation and unfair terms and conditions.

Sounds to me like someone did not select the correct box and selected the year subscription. Which no doubt be selected by default.

themightyn wrote: »

By law you have a 7 day cooling period under the distance of sales/services act. Even though the merchant may disagree with this. Its the law and if you fail with the merchant, then the credit card company has to step in.
Good luck!

Yes, DSR do give you 7 days to change your mind. That is something you have to take up with the company and not your card provider.

Your legal rights have nothing to do with chargebacks. Which in this case is destined to fail, as the co will simply provide conformation of the ticked payment box (been there, done that seen the proof)

Section 75 is also destined to failure as there is no breech of contract or missrepresentation.
Contract is there to be used.
Missrepresentation, well how do you prove that one. Given the co will provide proof of a years subscription being requested.