SCAM! Free Time program through the post any one had this through?

Tanseycat

The space bags were great, but cannot believe that they can be in partnership with a scam company! I have also contacted my bank and the number for Free Time and also been told to expect my money back!! Thank you to people who have added information about Barnstaple call centre and getting in touch with trading standards! Losing £99.99 the day after Boxing Day is no joke!

Heavenv22

I got the brochure on a day I was working nights an threw it on the side it slipped down the back a month later I was in new york when the bank rang me I wasnt sure if it was a payment I had made for my car rental or hotel or wifi access in new york so I said i would investigate on my return 2 weeks later needless to say I forgot.

Doing my christmas clear up i found the brochure down the back of cupboard. I investigated my credit card and found the details on there.

I have just rung them and wanted the details of what I have purchased that would have started this they said there are 400 companies attached I said I want to know which one as I wish to prosecute them for passing on my personal credit card details they said they would cancel and refund my money ... waiting to see!! but the call cost a fortune!!

Heavenv22

I got the brochure on a day I was working nights an threw it on the side it slipped down the back a month later I was in new york when the bank rang me I wasn't sure if it was a payment I had made for my car rental or hotel or wifi access in New York so I said i would investigate on my return 2 weeks later needless to say I forgot.

Doing my christmas clear up i found the brochure down the back of cupboard. I investigated my credit card and found the details on there. I have just rung them and wanted the details of what I have purchased that would have started this they said there are 400 companies attached I said I want to know which one as I wish to prosecute them for passing on my personal credit card details they said they would cancel and refund my money ...

HAS ANYONE BEEN REFUNDED YET??

waiting to see!! but the call cost a fortune!!

SteD

Heavenv22 wrote: »

I got the brochure on a day I was working nights an threw it on the side it slipped down the back a month later I was in new york when the bank rang me I wasn't sure if it was a payment I had made for my car rental or hotel or wifi access in New York so I said i would investigate on my return 2 weeks later needless to say I forgot.

Doing my christmas clear up i found the brochure down the back of cupboard. I investigated my credit card and found the details on there. I have just rung them and wanted the details of what I have purchased that would have started this they said there are 400 companies attached I said I want to know which one as I wish to prosecute them for passing on my personal credit card details they said they would cancel and refund my money ...

HAS ANYONE BEEN REFUNDED YET??

waiting to see!! but the call cost a fortune!!

They should refund you but if you need to call again use Freephone number (from landline) goes to Devon Call Centre where this scam is operated from 0800051 2121.

kaiess

Heavenv22 wrote: »

HAS ANYONE BEEN REFUNDED YET??

waiting to see!! but the call cost a fortune!!

I had the unauthorised £99.99 taken from my account on January 10th and after numerous calls to the [FONT=&quot]0844 441 2898[/FONT][FONT=&quot] number, (and to my bank)[/FONT], the money has been refunded to my bank today. Customer Service was generally polite but they won't send confirmation emails so one can't relax till the money actually appears.
I am very relieved. I wanted to buy some more Spacebags but there's no way I will ever buy from them again and will be warning my friends about them.

Carmen52

beckyjm wrote: »

We moved house and had the post re-directed, some post came from the old house re-directed today, the Mr had a pack from some company called Free Time, it basically rambles on about how they have given him a free 30 day trial after he purchased something via mail order (which he has not done) it looks timesharesque it goes on to say further to the phone conversation they had with him to confirm after a month they will take £99 for membership .... no 2 things the mr hasn't ordered anything mail order and hes not spoken to anyone on the phone, the phone at the old house was disconnected 6 weeks or more ago, and this membership pack is only dated days ago it is in his name but the old address??

there is a number to ring to cancel it but he has checked and it is a premium rate number??

they are based in spain, have now website or email details on the brochure or letter, nothing but a marbella address and the premium number?

now were wondering if the content of the letter is in itself a con to get you to ring the number up to complain/cancel and then they get their monies worth trapping you on a premium phone line!

has anyone else seen or hear of them or come across this, the Mr is fuming and basically saying leave it as he hasn't ordered anything they cant have the details and would all be incorrect as we have moved etc

i'm thinking he might be right that its a phone trap?

Customer Services - Spacebags UK supportuk@spacebags.com
14:15 (10 hours ago)

to me
Dear Carmen
Thank you for your email.
After purchasing an item from Spacebags you may receive a telephone call from us to check everything was okay with your order. In this telephone call you would be offered a free trial with ‘Free Time’. On agreeing to take up the free trial your address details were then passed onto ‘Free Time’ and an information pack was sent out you.
The welcome pack fully explains the terms and conditions of the club and there is a telephone number listed for you to call to cancel if you do not wish to continue membership of the club after your 30 day free trial. If Free Time do not receive a cancellation request within the 30 days as mentioned in the welcome pack you will automatically be upgraded to a fully paid up member. It does say clearly on the envelope that the contents are not junk mail and that time sensitive documents are enclosed.
We offer our customers this trial membership as we feel it offers a very good opportunity to benefit from the discounts they offer and even receive a free weeks holiday accommodation in Spain which is very good quality. The whole process is very transparent and their number is on the welcome pack letter, every page of the brochure you received, and also printed next to the annual payment on your statement. Customers should be told both on the phone and in the welcome letter that their payment details will be charged for the annual fee if they do not cancel within the 30 day trial period. We apologize that this club has not been of use to you in this instance.
Assuring you of our best attention at all times,

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Kind regards,
Emma
Customer Care Team

zagfles

Unbelivable! I suggest you forward that email to your bank's fraud department for info. To pass your name and address to another company is one thing, but it sounds like they are passing them your credit card details without even telling you that they are! And then charging the card without gaining your explicit consent!

Unless you agreed to this "free trial" at the time of giving your credit card details to buy the "spacebags", or gave your explicit consent for your payment details to passed on later, I really can't see this being anything other than unauthorised charging of your card.

malc5656

I too have fallen foul of this unethical practice, having intially purchased Space bags. Following some of the advice on this forum I contacted Pressplay Call Centre. The young Lady, who indicated she had worked there for quite sometime, stated she had never heard of Free Time Holidays and refused to give me her surname. I have promptly called my bank and had my current card block, with the reassurance that any attempt to withdraw funds will be dealt with by their fraud team. I am undesided as to whether I should enter into any correspondance with either Free Time in Spain, Space Bag or Pressplay. Does anyone have a view on the latter?

SteD

malc5656 wrote: »

I too have fallen foul of this unethical practice, having intially purchased Space bags. Following some of the advice on this forum I contacted Pressplay Call Centre. The young Lady, who indicated she had worked there for quite sometime, stated she had never heard of Free Time Holidays and refused to give me her surname. I have promptly called my bank and had my current card block, with the reassurance that any attempt to withdraw funds will be dealt with by their fraud team. I am undesided as to whether I should enter into any correspondance with either Free Time in Spain, Space Bag or Pressplay. Does anyone have a view on the latter?

malc5656 Do not waste time corresponding with the Spanish address believe me it is all run from Pressplay in Devon. Speak to Jenny Meredith or Amy Vesty, however nothing will be achieved as any complaints are more or less ignored. They will cancel your 'membership' though.

wiltlad

I have also just received a Free Time Holidays brochure through the post without request. I only received a call asking if I would like to look through a holiday brochure and if I was not interested in it "...just bin it. " No mention of the £99.99 to be taken from my account. The caller told me this offer was following my recent purchase of Space Bags. I immediately phoned my card company, told them of the scam and who operated it and they cancelled my card and issued another one. Today I phoned 0844 441 2898 and spoke to Lyn and cancelled my supposed membership and she told this had now been done and no money would be taken from my account. I also told her that I was unhappy with this way of doing business and that I had changed my card details.