Is this illegal?

morphy_richards

Hello,
I have had a disagreement with a website provider (one.com) regarding an auto-renewal of my subscription.

I have been made to pay for a further year that I did not ask for or want, I've asked for this to be cancelled but told if I do then they will keep my money for the year but cancel my subscription with immediate effect.

So I asked for my subscription to be kept for this year seeing as I have paid for it but NOT to be renewed next year.

This is the reply they gave me:
"Hi there, There is no option even for new orders to disable the renewal. The only one available is for the auto-payment. But this option is only for the auto-deduction of the renewal fees directly to the same card you provided."

This seems wrong, highly unfair and should be illegal, should it not?>

LazyTyper

Check out Ofcom's statement on auto-renewing contracts.

Quentin

LazyTyper wrote: »

Check out Ofcom's statement on auto-renewing contracts.

Ofcom's statement doesn't have any impact or relevance to the op's issue with one.com!

morphy_richards

Thanks,
They arent a broadband provider but this is what I replied with:

...
please note the below:
http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/services-and-billing/Ofcomrollo

Although you are not a broadband provider your practice is clearly highly disreputable and it should be illegal. Please treat this message as a formal complaint as I intend to pursue this issue with viguour through all relevant authorities as soon as I am satisfied that you are not treating this matter for myself and all of your customers as you should.

"Ofcom confirmed in September 2011 that rollover contracts would be banned from December 2011. The contracts, also known as Automatically Renewable Contracts (ARCs), roll forward to a new minimum contract period – with penalties for leaving – unless the customer actively opts out of the renewal."

Quentin

morphy_richards wrote: »

Hello,
I have had a disagreement with a website provider (one.com) regarding an auto-renewal of my subscription.

I have been made to pay for a further year that I did not ask for or want, I've asked for this to be cancelled but told if I do then they will keep my money for the year but cancel my subscription with immediate effect.

So I asked for my subscription to be kept for this year seeing as I have paid for it but NOT to be renewed next year.

This is the reply they gave me:
"Hi there, There is no option even for new orders to disable the renewal. The only one available is for the auto-payment. But this option is only for the auto-deduction of the renewal fees directly to the same card you provided."

This seems wrong, highly unfair and should be illegal, should it not?>

You get 60 days advanced notice of renewal. u can then give them 30 days notice if you want to to cancel.

DCodd

1.6. Cancellation of subscription

a subscription can be cancelled at any time by the customer. Since the subscription period lasts for 12 months and is

automatically prolonged 30 days before the end of each 12-month period, a cancellation must be received by one.com

30 days before the 12-month subscription period, at the latest. The unused portion of any advance payment will not be

refunded. If the cancellation is not sent to one.com in time, the customer is obliged to pay the subscription fee for the

following 12-month period.

cancellation is possible by contacting the one.com support who via e-mail will send a link to cancellation of the

subscription. The mail is sent to the e-mail address which is registered under the subscription's contact information.

4.11. Venue and choice of law


any disputes and discrepancies will be decided exclusively by the ordinary danish courts and in pursuance of danish law

(with the exception of rules of danish law pertaining to choice of law).

morphy_richards

So you are saying you don't think I have a leg to stand on?

morphy_richards

Quentin wrote: »

You get 60 days advanced notice of renewal. u can then give them 30 days notice if you want to to cancel.

Which went straight into to junk mail.

And burying their renewal policy in terms and conditions , most people as I did assume they are paying a fee for a single year.

There is nothing to immediately advertise to customers that this will happen.

Quentin

Others would be pleased they didn't lose their domain because they never received the renewal notice.

You will have agreed to auto renew when accepting their ts and cs before you signed up with them.

wealdroam

morphy_richards wrote: »

Which went straight into to junk mail.

That's your choice. You are responsible for what happens to your incoming emails.

Adjust your email parameters now so that the same thing doesn't happen next year.

LazyTyper

Quentin wrote: »

Ofcom's statement doesn't have any impact or relevance to the op's issue with one.com!

Sorry, I actually didn't check the website. I merely assumed that since the question was posted in the Broadband and Internet board the Ofcom statement was relevant.