SocaDeals BEWARE

wanttobreakfree

I found a site called Socadeals, looked very much like your typical voucher site, Groupon or Living Social. I ordered a couple of things from them, checked that I recieved an e-mail saying that my order was confirmed and thought everything was in order UNTIL.... a further £49 was taken from my bank a/c!!

When I questioned this, they told me that there was a note on my e-mail stating: You've enjoyed 20% immediate discount on this purchase as part of the 48hrs free trial to Soca Premium Membership

Sure, two days is enough time to fall in love with Soca Premium. But just when you are getting used to enjoy an additional 20% discount on an unlimited number of purchases, your free trial will be over and you'll be charged. So don't forget if you don't want to continue your free trial you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking "Cancel" button in your account, if you do not unsubscribe you will be charged Quarterly GBP 49 at the end of the free trial period.

Please be aware everyone, I stupidly took for granted that this was just another shopping deal site but it appears I 'subscribed' to them and had just 2 days to change my mind. Their items are not fantastic value, and anything I find on there can usually be found even cheaper on Ebay.

I feel totally scammed by this and want other shoppers to be aware.

ryz143

Hello,

socadeals is big scam I have been victim of this site as well.

Brought powerbank for £11 and they charge me £49 for soca premium service.

I immediately dispute it but they wont return money, they are based out site of uk and once they get your card detail they keep charging £49 every 3 months.

Please do not get tempted by cheap price you will end up paying lot more.

Never ever buy anything from this website socadeals

BlueEyedGirl

Both of you should have checked the small print. It things are cheap and look too good to be true, they usually are...

wealdroam

They are indeed based 'out site of uk'.

From their Terms of Service:

By using this Site, End User agrees that: (1) any claim, dispute, or controversy End User may have against SocaDeals arising out of, relating to, or connected in any way with this Agreement, this Site, or any Microsite, or the purchase or sale of any Voucher(s), shall be resolved exclusively by final and binding arbitration administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre ("SIAC") and conducted before a single arbitrator pursuant to the applicable Rules and Procedures established by SIAC ("Rules and Procedures");

Good luck with that.

samanthaknd

ryz143 wrote: »

Hello,

socadeals is big scam I have been victim of this site as well.

Brought powerbank for £11 and they charge me £49 for soca premium service.

I immediately dispute it but they wont return money, they are based out site of uk and once they get your card detail they keep charging £49 every 3 months.

Please do not get tempted by cheap price you will end up paying lot more.

Never ever buy anything from this website socadeals

I know this might seem like a kick in the teeth but homebargains do a powerbank for £3.99

ryz143

You are right its been lesson learn never ever trust any outside website. Hope by posting my experience I will be able to save any more victim like me.

wanttobreakfree

The item I received from them on the 17th September was damaged.....I demanded a refund and 47 days later nothing!!!! Please spread the word and tell people NOT to order from this site!

sugarpops99

oh my god. Do I feel like a right plum or what?!! I have just been scammed too and I am usually so bloody careful too. I feel such an idiot. I ordered stuff last week and just happened to check my account today and noticed the £49! I wish I read this first!

I have emailed them today but according to what you all say its lost cash! I have cancelled my premium subscription and looked via their website and it certainly is not clear that they take this off quarterly.

I have also sent a message to my bank asking them to refuse all these payments but I don't expect this to be straight forward either.

Is there anything else I could or should be doing here?

SnowTiger

sugarpops99 wrote: »

oh my god. Do I feel like a right plum or what?!! I have just been scammed too and I am usually so bloody careful too. I feel such an idiot. I ordered stuff last week and just happened to check my account today and noticed the £49! I wish I read this first!

I have emailed them today but according to what you all say its lost cash! I have cancelled my premium subscription and looked via their website and it certainly is not clear that they take this off quarterly.

I have also sent a message to my bank asking them to refuse all these payments but I don't expect this to be straight forward either.

Is there anything else I could or should be doing here?

They appear to rely on pre-ticked a box to sign you up to their £49 per quarter "Premium membership":



I thought such things had been made illegal some time ago and that customers had to specifically opt in to things:

Published on 13-12-13

A new set of stronger EU consumer rights come into force today as the deadline passes for member states to introduce the EU's Consumer Rights Directive into national law. The new rules will protect online shoppers in particular, banning pre-ticked boxes on websites and safeguarding consumers from those hidden "cost traps" on the internet.

[...]

3. Pre-ticked boxes on websites banned

When shopping online, say for a plane ticket, consumers can be offered additional options during the purchase process, such as travel insurance or car rental which may be offered through so-called pre-ticked boxes. Currently, consumers are often forced to untick those boxes if they do not want these extra services. Under the new rules, pre-ticked boxes will be banned across the EU.

If I were you I'd contact my bank and attempt to get a refund on the basis that you didn't actively opt in to the service.

Not sure whether it should be treated as an authorised transaction or Chargeback though. You may be able to leave that decision up to the bank who will probably process it as a Chargeback.

wealdroam

SnowTiger wrote: »

I thought such things had been made illegal some time ago and that customers had to specifically opt in to things:

Published on 13-12-13

A new set of stronger EU consumer rights come into force today as the deadline passes for member states to introduce the EU's Consumer Rights Directive into national law. The new rules will protect online shoppers in particular, banning pre-ticked boxes on websites and safeguarding consumers from those hidden "cost traps" on the internet.

[...]

3. Pre-ticked boxes on websites banned

When shopping online, say for a plane ticket, consumers can be offered additional options during the purchase process, such as travel insurance or car rental which may be offered through so-called pre-ticked boxes. Currently, consumers are often forced to untick those boxes if they do not want these extra services. Under the new rules, pre-ticked boxes will be banned across the EU.

If I were you I'd contact my bank and attempt to get a refund on the basis that you didn't actively opt in to the service.

Not sure whether it should be treated as an authorised transaction or Chargeback though. You may be able to leave that decision up to the bank who will probably process it as a Chargeback.

Is that legislation/rules enforcible against a trader based in Singapore (see post#4)?

In other words, the seller may not have broken any laws and therefore does the OP's bank have any right to claw back money from a legally operating seller?

SnowTiger

wealdroam wrote: »

Is that legislation/rules enforcible against a trader based in Singapore (see post#4)?

In other words, the seller may not have broken any laws and therefore does the OP's bank have any right to claw back money from a legally operating seller?

A Chargeback may still work and is worth a try.

Sometimes dodgy companies won't dispute them.

Also, there is an argument that not unticking a pre-selected box doesn't give consent; therefore it was an unauthorised transaction.