Magazine subscription Hearst Magazines

boomish

I took out a 6 month special offer form Hearst Magazines for Country Living, I noted the order date and wrote in my diary when to cancel, just a few days ago I noted money go out of my account, I checked my diary sure enough the date to cancel is next week! I phoned them and they refused to refund us our money. They said they wrote to us confirming the date of the subscription , I can't remember ever seeing this letter and as I rang I have no email record.

So A . Either I wrote down the wrong date (I am meticulous with this sort of thing) or B they are trying to pull a fast one, trouble is without that letter I have no idea of the original agreement.

Do I have any grounds to get a refund? we haven't received any goods yet, we weren't told about the renewal before hand, is that right?
I certainly WONT buy from them again!! they were unhelpful and rude on the telephone.

Appreciate any help, its huge amount of money but it really matters to me, I'm basically paying the same amount for 6 issues that I could get 12 for right now!

unholyangel

Do you still have the details of the offer? What exactly was the offer?

agrinnall

I haven't dealt with this particular organisation for subscriptions, but my experience of other organisations is that they do write to you with cancellation information, usually in the first part of the subscription period. I tend to cancel as soon as I know how to in order to ensure it doesn't get missed at the end of the period, you still get all the issues that you've paid for anyway.

boomish

All I can remember it was a 6 month trial of the magazine Country Living with an optional discounted gift. You had to ring though to place the order so I had no email confirmation.

boomish

I've no had 2 replies from hearst, I wondered if anyone can help, they say the contract start on the 17th of April so I should have canceled by the 17/Oct . My bank statement shows the initial payment was taken on the 21st April and I rang on the 21st Oct to cancel..
Their reply was so kind and courteous
"
Thank you for your email.

By providing your bank sort code and account number, you have entered into a direct debit agreement. Only payments made by credit/debit card are one-off.

I am truly sorry to read of any confusion regarding the direct debit payment method, all direct debits are an ongoing process until the instruction is cancelled by yourself or your bank.

This is indicated when ordering online (or letter if ordered via phone/fax/post) that the first debit payment will be taken on a specific date and then at the designated period 'thereafter'. This method allows you to ensure the continuity of issues and the ease of receiving magazines directly to your door.

Once a Direct Debit Agreement is completed, it remains active until cancelled. This means that we will continue to take the payment due until the Agreement is cancelled by you at your bank and/or with ourselves. Unless we change any information on the Direct Debit schedule (term, claim date or payment) we will not send a reminder to advise when the next payment is due. Once a payment has been collected, any cancellation will be from the next claim date of the payment. You have the right to cancel your Direct Debit in accordance with Direct Debit Guarantee below. If you do cancel, you will receive only the issues you have already paid for.

Our records show that the first claim was set for 17/04/14 and the second claim was therefore set to be taken 6 months later on 17/10/14.

As we did not receive a cancellation request prior to 17/10/14, the subscription has continued. Unfortunately it is not the publisher's policy to refund but to cancel on expiry as advertised.

The Direct Debit Guarantee

This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit Hearst Magazines UK will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Hearst Magazines UK to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Hearst Magazines UK or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Hearst Magazines UK asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any further assistance."

Any suggestions on what to reply?

Appreciate any help..I would;t mind but my reply was kind & polite asking them to understand that I did phone within the 6 months and will take out a further 12 month sub but not at this inflated 6 month DD renwal price..
Now my wife doesn't want their stinking magazine at all!!

keyser666

You are pretty much stuck with it as you only notified them on the 21st.

boomish

really? But does the contract start the day they say or the day they take the money out?
I'm still going to argue the toss they have hardly been helpful or understanding.

molerat

The date you entered into the contract is the date you placed the order, if it was a written contract it would be signed and dated, no difference here.