Can my stored debit card details be used without my authorisation?

NogaBer

Nordic Walking UK took their annual subscription fee without my authorisation. They did send an email 4 weeks beforehand titled "Nordic Walking UK / Membership due for renewal in 4 weeks". I did not read that email as did not want to renew (I read it today - In the email itself, at the very last paragraph they mention that this will be renewed automatically unless you cancel). Then they used my debit card's details stored with them and charged it.
When I called them they told me that if my card was already charged they cannot refund me. when I protested they said that it is MY responsibility, and they can'y help me if I do not read my emails...
Later on (actually, as I was talking to my bank about this), to my surprise, I got n email from them saying that they refunded my money to me.
Yet, it was unnecessary stress and waste of time, not to mention the way I was spoken to. So I still want to try make them abandon their nasty policy...
My question: Is using the details of my debit card (without my authorisation) which I supplied them a year ago legal? Is automatic renewal (without properly consulting with the client) legal? If any of this is illegal, where do I complain?

marliepanda

Are you are you didn't sign up to it being renewed.

I'm willing to take a bet that you did...

wealdroam

NogaBer wrote: »

Nordic Walking UK took their annual subscription fee without my authorisation. They did send an email 4 weeks beforehand titled "Nordic Walking UK / Membership due for renewal in 4 weeks". I did not read that email as did not want to renew (I read it today - In the email itself, at the very last paragraph they mention that this will be renewed automatically unless you cancel). Then they used my debit card's details stored with them and charged it.
When I called them they told me that if my card was already charged they cannot refund me. when I protested they said that it is MY responsibility, and they can'y help me if I do not read my emails...
Later on (actually, as I was talking to my bank about this), to my surprise, I got n email from them saying that they refunded my money to me.
Yet, it was unnecessary stress and waste of time, not to mention the way I was spoken to. So I still want to try make them abandon their nasty policy...
My question: Is using the details of my debit card (without my authorisation) which I supplied them a year ago legal? Is automatic renewal (without properly consulting with the client) legal? If any of this is illegal, where do I complain?

Of course it's legal.

When you first set up your account with Nordic Walking UK you set up a 'continuous payment authority' on that debit card.

In other words, you agreed that your subscription would renew automatically every year using that debit card.

You chose not to read your email.

Nothing illegal took place here.

NogaBer

As far as I remember I did not agree to store my debit card details nor agree to set up continuous payments I never do . Of course it may have been in the 'agreement' in small letters, but it should be explicit. I do not see emails as a valid way - how many times they go to spam?? If they really want to get a proper consent, they should sent a letter. In any case, it is a good way to loose customers.

angryparcel

NogaBer wrote: »

As far as I remember I did not agree to store my debit card details nor agree to set up continuous payments I never do .

what so you think a subscription is ( it is a form of continuous payments) until you cancel, you signed up to a subscription, so gave authorisation for them to charge you when it was due for renewal to the payment source you provided.

NogaBer wrote: »

I do not see emails as a valid way

Maybe not, but it is a valid way to contact customers.

wealdroam

NogaBer wrote: »

As far as I remember I did not agree to store my debit card details nor agree to set up continuous payments I never do . Of course it may have been in the 'agreement' in small letters, but it should be explicit. I do not see emails as a valid way - how many times they go to spam?? If they really want to get a proper consent, they should sent a letter. In any case, it is a good way to loose customers.

I have just done a dummy run at joining nordicwalking.co.uk, is that the company you are talking about, and did not see any link to anything that might've told me I was agreeing to a continuous payment authority, or that my subscription would auto renew, before being asked to enter my card details.

I cannot find any relevant terms and conditions on their website.

naedanger

NogaBer wrote: »

... where do I complain?

If a company or person had taken money from my bank account that I had not authorised then I would contact my bank and demand they refund the money.