Standing Order refund

Allan87

I signed up for a cleaning service but found a more competitive quote elsewhere. I requested cancellation 2 days after the signing (before any work had commenced), which was at my home, but the first month's payment was already taken, am I entitled to get this back as part of a cooling off period?

gik

Did you cancel the SO with your Bank?

Allan87

Yes but not in time for the first payment to have already been taken.

agrinnall

Standing Orders are not taken, they are paid by your bank on your behalf at your instruction, in this case it's the equivalent of having handed over cash to the cleaning service. So you'd need to look at the contract you signed to see what their cancellation terms are.

frugal_mike

It's not clear from your OP, but are you saying that the cleaning company came to your home and that is where you signed the contract? If so The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008 may apply.

If so and you served your cancellation in writing as specified in the legislation then you should be due all of your money back.

See legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1816/contents/made

Even if those regulations do not apply then I believe they cam only keep their costs incurred under the contract so far. If they have done no work then that would just be the admin involved, so should certainly get some of the money back.

arcon5

What date did you sign up?
What date was work supposed to commence?
How did you engage the company? IE home visit, telephone, etc etc

SOs cannot be recalled by the bank. You'd have to liaise with the company.

More importantly you should have shopped around before signing contracts. I know it's too late now and hopefully lesson learnt.

Personally i'd probably just allow them to clean for the period you've paid for then change company by providing required notice.
OR
Phone them and see if they'll price match.