Late Billing

alecpr

Hi, not really a vent, more of a question, but couldn't find anywhere else to ask...

A friend of mine subscribed to one of those magazine things (you know the sort with the free DVD/figure/game every month making up a collection over the next five years or whatever). He eventually saw the error of his ways and realised that the collection that was originally going to run to 24 was going to be extended and extended until people stopped subscribing.

Anyway, he cancelled the subscription September 2006. He was paying using a credit card that was cancelled some months later.

Today, December 2007, he has had a letter from the company demanding payment of £32, they say he still owes money for the last despatch of goods. He says he checked when he cancelled the account that he did not owe any further money and can't understand why it would take over a year for them to bill him. His credit card has been cancelled and statements have been thrown away from that time.

So without proof that he has paid in full for the goods, is there any course of action he can take from to challenge this bill.

Cheers

KittyKate

As far as I am aware, it is up to them to prove he owes it, they can't bill him out of the blue. Ask him to write to (not phone) the company and ask for a breakdown of the charges, and a copy of the notes on his account (this will show the exact date he cancelled). Companies like this are renowned for randomly billing - it was on Watchdog last week with Britannia.

If they insist he owes money, tell him to take it to a small claims court. It'd never make the hearing, for £32. Good luck.

lucy7509

Hello

Contact his old CC provider, they would still have details of his old account
and may be able to provide a statement showing payment.

Warning, if he has closed the account, they may charge for this service.

Hope all goes well.

Lucy7509

alecpr

Thanks for the advice, I've passed it on, he's managed to get in touch and ask exactly what he is being billed for and as far as he can tell he never recieved the goods, so it's been passed to another team apparently.