Scam recovery 11 March 2020 at 12:45AM in Reclaim Bank & Credit Card Charges 3 replies 112 views

Sunny_Day

Helping a neighbour who has had numerous people ringing to offer "insurance" for many unnecessary items.  Clearly scams.  Seems to have been talked into some and has paid by his debit card, and there also appear to be some direct debits.  Has nothing to show for anything but single page letters saying that he now has cover for his wotsits (no policy documents as such).  I've cancelled 15 direct debits on the account and am trying to wring some more information from the bank (not being particularly helpful, they say the DDs were set up electronically, but I'm being very pushy) and claiming under the DD guarantee.  I read on this MSE site about "chargeback" on debit cards and wonder if anyone has experience of this in similar circs?  Noted from MSE that one is supposed to phone the company first, but these all have phone lines saying, "Leave a message, we'll get back to you."

[Deleted User]

Doesn't seem to be any scams here, just buyer  (or carer) remorse 

Any "chargeback" can (and will) simply be recharged unless the amounts have definitely been taken fraudulently. 

So I  wouldn't be spending any of these "refunds"...

-taff

Have you also cancelled the 'services' being given in return for the DD's?

[Deleted User]

-taff said:

Have you also cancelled the 'services' being given in return for the DD's?

If the OP hasn't cancelled with the companies concerned prior  to cancelling the Direct Debits, the neighbour will  find himself getting letters about unpaid debt in the near future. 

It may well be that the neighbour has been too easily persuaded to take out "unnecessary" insurance, but simply cancelling the Direct Debits will not automatically mean cancellation of the insurance policies. 

In addition, claiming back refunds under the Direct Debit Guarantee could be initially successful but will simply be reversed if the Bank find that the OP agreed to the policies and no error on their own  part. 

The  OP seems to have   decided the policies are "scams" based simply because they  are  large in number, but nothing in the original post leads me to believe that they definitely are. 

The OP might  "help" the neighbour far more by contacting a member of their family so that they can arrange, for example,  Power Of Attorney (if appropriate). 

If the neighbour has definitely become a vulnerable adult who can no longer act for himself, he  will   require professional  help.