Can I cancel online renewal on same day as renewal for service?

Li142why

I had a standing order with a small business that on the date of renewal I sent the following:

"Just to confirm that I wish to terminate my membership of ****** at the earliest opportunity. I have concluded that our arrangement is not viable for me."
I (my mistake!) noticed monies still leaving my account four months later via SO. I therefore asked them to return the funds to me. However, they said that they did try to contact me regarding my email and as I was paying, they assumed I wanted the service, which they have kept open and provided for me. 
Just wondering where I stand in this - would that email count as cancelling my renewal if the automatic renewal was on the same day? 
Thanks in anticipation

bris

You need to read the T&C's you signed up too. Some require 30 days, 7 days, nothing or anything in-between but only you have the contract to check and see.

amandaooo

Thank you! - it doesn't state any time as such - just states after a year has elapsed unless told differently your membership will continue for a further twelve months which will automaticlly be renewed every twelve months thereafter. So by that wording - it looks like automatic renewal doesnt even kick in until the second year? Hmm

Sandtree

And presumably this is a business purchase and so doesn't get consumer rights?

Even if it was a consumer purchase cooling off periods end once a service commences (with a few exceptions in financial services etc). So if they renewed you and instantly gave/maintained your access then service commenced and cooling off period ended.

No, its saying unless you tell them otherwise they'll autorenew you after the first year and every subsequent year (ie indefinitely). So you need to inform them before the renewal date that you dont want the following years service. There would ideally be a section on cancellation but its very likely that there are no mid term cancellation rights.

amandaooo

Thanks for your response Sandtree - IT was providing an advertisment service for financial services. It doesn't state it's an automatic renewal until the second anniversary, looking at the wording I printed above (I hope!) - they are saying it was now itthough! However, if we are disputing this and it was cancelled as per the termination membership... it just says "you may leave at the end of 12 months without any other financial implications. It doesn't state that we have to cancel day before - doesn't state it's an automatic renewal on that date in the contract etc - we forgot SO and now that's the words that are being used. Hope that makes sense! 

Savvy_Sue

I'm with Sandtree on this, those are fairly standard terms. You cancel before the renewal date or it rolls over. Somewhere I'd expect it to say how much notice you need to give.

amandaooo

Thanks Savvy_Sue - it doesn't state it's an automatic renewal - it's only been stated it was after the time it was cancelled by email on the same day (not ideal granted). There is nothing to say it was an automatic renewal in my contract - I was just wondering about automatic renewal legalities as that's whats now - after the fact - being claimed it was. 

Sandtree

amandaooo said:

Thanks Savvy_Sue - it doesn't state it's an automatic renewal 

It doesnt have to literally use the word automatic; for a start some will call it an assumptive renewal. But from the below it clearly states that with no further action  then after 1 year you the contract will be restated for another 12 months

amandaooo said:

ust states after a year has elapsed unless told differently your membership will continue for a further twelve months which will automaticlly be renewed every twelve months thereafter. 

As a business agreement the nanny state has very little to say, if it were a financial services product (eg an insurance policy) then there are certain codes of business and cooling off periods that are required to be offered to SMEs such as giving you appropriate notice of the renewal period etc. 

You state however this is an advertising service so highly unlikely to have regulatory requirements and so they simply have to do what the contract states they will. Unless you have negotiated in a notice or cooling off period then its likely they will want the renewal to be as frictionless as possible and no right of cancellation after other than to lapse at the end of the current membership year.