Advice Req: company stored bank details & debit money without permission

MsBooty

I bought a product from Appliance online in November 2018. Bought onlnine and paid for it by card. I needed to replace a part so I sent an email and enquired whether they do replacement parts. I received an email telling me they did the part, advising me of the cost and that I should phone to place the order.

I did not phone as I was not interested in buying the product until the end of the month. So I was very surprised when I got an email and subsequent text to say my order was on the way. I then spotted money had been taken from my account.

I emailed them asking them why they had replaced an order without my permission and also why they had stored my card details from my previous order and used that, (again without my permission) to pay for the item. I told them I wanted my money back and that I wanted my details removed from their files and confirmation of this.

They confirmed they have refunded the money and I can keep the item as a gester of goodwill, no confirmation of deleting my details.
This cannot be legal. Companies cannot be storing your details when you purchase online unless you specifically check that box to do so and even then, that is just for your use in the future, not theirs. How many times have they done this to others who have not noticed money have been debited and probably think that they have been lucky and sent a freebie.

Where do I stand legally? How do I ensure that when I use my card online my data is not being stored for the company’s use?

Thanks in advance for your help/advice

LadyDee

Is it possible that you actually have to opt out of the storing of your bank details, rather than opt in? There's obviously been crossed wires regarding the enquiry/order thing but now you have the part free then I think the company's gesture is good customer relations. Enjoy your freebie and just write to the company formally requesting they remove your details from their database.

MsBooty

LadyDee wrote: »

Is it possible that you actually have to opt out of the storing of your bank details, rather than opt in? There's obviously been crossed wires regarding the enquiry/order thing but now you have the part free then I think the company's gesture is good customer relations. Enjoy your freebie and just write to the company formally requesting they remove your details from their database.

Thank you but I dont think they can get cross wires with "Do you sell replacement parts" with "I would like to buy a part"
Also the the email they sent me with the details of the product stated "please call this number if you would like to purchase this item" which I did not do

I also had not opted in or out of storing my info. I just purchased an item online as I do and have done in the past with other company.

Bermonia

You’ve got the item for free (whether you ordered it or not) and you have asked them to remove your details... what more do you want?

IvanOpinion

Obviously there has been a miscommunication or an operator accidentally pressed the wrong button - a simple mistake that has been rectified in your favour (since you did say you intended to buy the product at the end of the month).

Assuming you are only concerned about your deleting your card details, then that may or may not be possible (depends on their systems - but these days you would expect it to be possible for future transactions, however not necessarily for historical transactions).

Potbellypig

Since you're not interested in receiving the item, I'd suggest sending it back as a gesture of goodwill for them deleting your details from their system.