eHarmony Subscription Auto-Renewal Refund?

Rich86_2

Good Morning Money Saving Folk!

As per the sticky, I'll be brief!

I signed up to eHarmony 3 months ago. My subscription has just auto-renewed to the tune of £80 I didn't want to spend.

• No notification renewal was imminent although date was available buried in settings.
• No notification they had taken the money.
• FAQ states no refunds for renewals
• Auto-renewal is not something I requested, appears to be set as default.

My thinking is new payment => new 3 month contract => 7 working day cancellation as per distance selling regs (It's been 3).

If I'm wrong, well, I just have to accept I've been done and get over it.

So:

• Is there any reason the distance selling regs shouldn't apply?
• Am I within my rights to get a refund?

It's more their underhand money taking tactics that makes me want to cancel and get a refund. I don't like dealing with companies I don't trust.

All help/suggestions welcome, Rich.

wealdroam

I fear Distance Selling Regulations won't help you.

If you agreed that the service starts immediately (I am pretty sure that would be in the small print you agreed to), then you have waived your cancellation rights.

Check exactly what you have agreed to.

Fosterdog

It would have been in the terms and conditions when you signed up that you agreed to auto renewal along with how to cancel if you chose not to renew.

As you already have access to the service and this is just a renewal DSRs don't apply.

It may be worth sending a polite email explaining that you didn't realise and ask if they would consider cancelling and refunding, although if they do this it is purely a good will gesture and not something you are entitled to. They may agree a partial refund to cover their admin costs in dealing with it.

Rich86_2

Thanks wealdroam & Fosterdog. That doesn't sound like good news. I guess I'm stuck with it then. I did try an email first, they basically politely told me to jog on.

Stupid thing is, I was contemplating a 12 months subscription as it represents much better value, but after this I shan't use them again so they've talked themselves out of more money.

Guess I have to chalk this one up to expensive experience.

FYI - T's & C's
eharmony.co.uk/about/terms

wealdroam

Rich, you are not the first...
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2648281
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4431867

It seems that others have received partial refunds.

Be aware that a lot of companies use the same auto-renewal tactic.

paddyrg

if you *did* want the annual upgrade, I'm sure if you talk to them they'll put the 3-month money towards it if it means more cash upfront.

Then you have a whole year to cancel - if you haven't met someone by then, it's clearly not worth it!