Can I get a refund for a service I haven't used and didn't want

naedanger

Mell24 wrote: »

To the last comment - no I defiantly didn't confirm to start it when she rang I asked for information to be sent out and that all I had to do was ring up and confirm if I wanted to go ahead with it, so I had no idea that the membership had started till the stuff came through the post and yeh someone is suppose to be listen to the recording and ringing me back, but they haven't as yet.

Well as you never agreed to the contract in my view you should be able to get your money back, and as you paid by direct debit I believe your bank should refund the money taken without authority.

My understanding is the bank should refund the money if the company cannot provide evidence you gave authority for the payment to be taken. (Giving the company your bank details, in the circumstances you have described, would not be sufficient authority in my view.) If your bank refuses to refund your money then ask for a copy of their complaint procedure and their reasons in writing for refusing to refund. Then follow that procedure until the end.

Mell24

Ok thank you for your help i will do that.

wealdroam

Mell24 wrote: »

Yeh it went out as a direct debit, but I have rang my bank up and they are also looking into it. The only information they put on was the around about dates of when the pound will be taking out and the full subscription. I just feel a right idiot!

Speak to your bank again.

Speak to them in more forceful terms.
E.g. "I definitely (not defiantly) did not agree to this ongoing subscription and therefore under The Direct Debit Guarantee I expect you to refund that £98 forthwith".

Read The Direct Debit Guarantee here.
In particular, this bit:

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the organisation 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

Also instruct your bank to cancel the direct debit so that no more subscriptions are taken.

unholyangel

Mell24 wrote: »

Yeh it went out as a direct debit, but I have rang my bank up and they are also looking into it. The only information they put on was the around about dates of when the pound will be taking out and the full subscription. I just feel a right idiot!

Then they can't charge you. Report them to your local trading standards.

As I quoted above, they cannot begin provision of the service until after they have provided you with the information listed in the link below in a durable medium.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/3134/schedule/2/made