Scam operating as www.mymanuals.net operated by Squirrel Web Ltd registered in Dublin

Please read all the reviews on trust pilot about "mymanual.net" .I was looking for a manual for my TV. "mymanuals.net" came up first when I seached on Google .I did a search on the site and they said they had the manual to download .It was £1.49 or I could get monthly access to  it for for £4.95.I tried to pay but it would not accept my credit card only, my Visa debit card .I paid .I looked on site and there were no manuals for any TV sets.They then sent me a manual for a fan oven .I then phoned up and was told to wait  and then they will send me the right manual .I said I want my money back and  I was told the £1.49 was for a trial period of 3 days and then I will be charged automatically £24.95 per month.THey said it was in the term and conditions. THey must have done this to thousands of people running into millions of euros.When I asked for a refund of my money they laughed at me.THe company is registered as Web Squirrell LTD in Dublin.

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  • edited 8 September 2021 at 12:52PM
    [Deleted User][Deleted User]
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    edited 8 September 2021 at 12:52PM

    THey must have done this to thousands of people running into millions of euros.
    I very much doubt it. Most people will get the manuals from one of the many free sources. It's a modest income, but low effort, operation. 

    Cancel your subscription. Then check the terms you agreed to to see you have any case for a refund. However, it's unlikely.

    It's certainly not a scam website, just poor value.
  • PollycatPollycat Forumite
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    Please read all the reviews on trust pilot about "mymanual.net" .I was looking for a manual for my TV. "mymanuals.net" came up first when I seached on Google .I did a search on the site and they said they had the manual to download .It was £1.49 or I could get monthly access to  it for for £4.95.I tried to pay but it would not accept my credit card only, my Visa debit card .I paid .I looked on site and there were no manuals for any TV sets.They then sent me a manual for a fan oven .I then phoned up and was told to wait  and then they will send me the right manual .I said I want my money back and  I was told the £1.49 was for a trial period of 3 days and then I will be charged automatically £24.95 per month.THey said it was in the term and conditions. THey must have done this to thousands of people running into millions of euros.When I asked for a refund of my money they laughed at me.THe company is registered as Web Squirrell LTD in Dublin.
    It is:
    For only £1.49 for 3 days followed by an automatic renewal of £24.90 per month for a duration of three years, which can be cancelled at any time!


    Source:
    Download your User Manual and Register - MyManuals


  • edited 9 September 2021 at 12:36AM
    MalMonroeMalMonroe Forumite
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    edited 9 September 2021 at 12:36AM
    A few months ago I also fell for this kind of thing but it was run by a UK company. Not sure it's a scam though - more of a very lazy and easy way to make money by using people (they call customers) who are not particularly tech savvy. It really should be stopped because most manuals are online and you can normally download them yourself, free of charge. I wanted the manual of a no longer produced vacuum cleaner so I could give it to a friend complete with instructions - but it wasn't online because the vacuum was old although in good condition.  

    I think I only paid 99p for the manual though. I thought they would be able to locate the manual for the old vacuum but when it came via email, it was for the new and modern updated version so I contacted them, told them that they'd not sent me the exact manual I wanted and asked for my money back. I did get a refund. Then printed out the free updated version myself.

    This is an Irish company though, so I'm not sure if they will be covered by the same distance selling laws as in the UK.

    I agree with zx81 - cancel the subscription, you can do so any time. Fortunately, even if you can't get a refund, you've not lost a lot. 
    Please note - taken from the Forum Rules and amended for my own personal use (with thanks) : It is up to you to investigate, check, double-check and check yet again before you make any decisions or take any action based on any information you glean from any of my posts. Although I do carry out careful research before posting and never intend to mislead or supply out-of-date or incorrect information, please do not rely 100% on what you are reading. Verify everything in order to protect yourself as you are responsible for any action you consequently take.
  • edited 9 September 2021 at 11:17PM
    ThumbRemoteThumbRemote Forumite
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    edited 9 September 2021 at 11:17PM

    THey must have done this to thousands of people running into millions of euros.

    It's certainly not a scam website, just poor value.
    If they claim to have a particular manual, take your money, and don't have that manual, then it does appear to be a scam. 
  • rabbitloverrabbitlover Forumite
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    I 'fell' for this.  They are disreputable, to say the least.  They rely on people being anxious to order their manual and not realising they are signing up for £24.99 monthly subscription  Yes, 'buyer beware' but this company is couching its advert & website in such a way that so many people are being enrolled in this subscription scam (scam in that who actually wants a subscription to a company supposedly supplying manuals and who would have signed if they had realised).  I was, to begin with, offered the incorrect manual and had to contact them again for the correct manual - and even then it was incomplete.  I truly believe they had sent me the wrong manual in a deliberate attempt to encourage me to contact them again and end up signing up for a subscription because I was in a hurry.  I did get my money back but was informed that it was not my business to try to help others get their money back.  I have posted on a well-known Review site but unfortunately people are still falling for this 'trickery'.  
  • jonesey1985jonesey1985 Forumite
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    I 'fell' for this.  They are disreputable, to say the least.  They rely on people being anxious to order their manual and not realising they are signing up for £24.99 monthly subscription  Yes, 'buyer beware' but this company is couching its advert & website in such a way that so many people are being enrolled in this subscription scam (scam in that who actually wants a subscription to a company supposedly supplying manuals and who would have signed if they had realised).  I was, to begin with, offered the incorrect manual and had to contact them again for the correct manual - and even then it was incomplete.  I truly believe they had sent me the wrong manual in a deliberate attempt to encourage me to contact them again and end up signing up for a subscription because I was in a hurry.  I did get my money back but was informed that it was not my business to try to help others get their money back.  I have posted on a well-known Review site but unfortunately people are still falling for this 'trickery'.  
    And as long as people don't bother to read what they're signing up for, it'll continue to happen.  You can lead a horse to water and all that.

    It was covered quite nicely years ago in the South Park episode "HUMANCENTiPAD"
  • cx6cx6 Forumite
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    Seems pretty clear to me...

  • Jb59Jb59 Forumite
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    Unfortunately my husband searching for an obscure manual paid his £1.49. He didnt get the manual and unbelievably has put his email address in wrong so I cant cancel as his email isnt recognised. I noticed the subscription terms so have cancelled his card and requested a new one. They can have the £1.49 but am making sure they dont get any more money. Who would pay that for 3 years when they  didnt have the manual he wanted anyway. It is a scam but not illegal. Have I done enough by changing our debit card? 
  • No - you need to cancel the contract.

    The payment will carry over to your new card as you've already authorised it.
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