Bier Company - April Fool email [Please Read]

Spinosaurus3000

I still haven't been able to reach them through the phones, and it being a bank holiday means I likely won't have any luck today or tomorrow.

I've noticed on trustpilot they are responding to bad reviews saying they are cancelling the service, but they haven't responded to mine yet (although they did send me a form asking for more information, my order number etc) but I've not had any response still.

I will try again to phone them on tuesday, and if not I'll phone my bank, I'll update here whatever happens

newholme30

My only update is that there is no update, impossible to speak to anyone on the phone despite messages and emails.

What is the solution here, do I need to formally write to them by snail mail and cancel my credit card?

MSE_Laura_F

MSE has just published a news story which is relevant to this.

Fake reviews, subscription traps and unprotected Christmas savings clubs to be tackled under Government crackdown

Here's an excerpt from the subscription trap part:

---
Existing laws will be amended to clamp down on 'subscription traps’ - where businesses make it difficult for consumers to exit a contract. The shake-up will require businesses to:  

• Provide clearer information to consumers before they enter a subscription contract.
• Issue frequent reminders to consumers that a free trial or low-cost introductory offer is coming to an end - and a reminder before a contract auto-renews onto a new term.
• Ensure consumers can exit a contract in a straightforward, cost-effective and timely way. 

---

The Government hasn't announced when these will take force yet though. I'll keep an eye out for updates.

Moneybot

Update

I have spoken to a very polite gentleman on the phone and have cancelled my subscription.

He did offer £10 off next months box or the chance to pause the subscription for a few months but was not all pushy when I said I just wanted to cancel.

Can confirm the subscription has been cancelled as my online account now says

My subscriptions

Active subscriptions

Customer has no active subscriptions.

So for me I got free beer and all I had to do to cancel was one phone call. My son also got the free beer and he got the glass in his box too.

Spinosaurus3000

How long did you have to wait on hold? If at all? The long hold times is what has been annoying me the most. And around what time did you call them?

Moneybot

Spinosaurus3000 said:

How long did you have to wait on hold? If at all? The long hold times is what has been annoying me the most. And around what time did you call them?

I called at 11.56am and the total call time was 8 minutes 22 seconds which included being on hold and the sales pitch.

newholme30

Well it took persistence (repeated calls over a number of days) however I finally also got through to a person and my account also confirms the subscription is inactive. I've enjoyed their products and service in the past so hope they learn from this debacle.

kittycatty

Well I still haven't been able to get through to them and I don't think I am alone judging by trust pilot reviews. Will try again tomorrow as the next box is due on the 1st.

Rigz2022

Like others, Biercompany set up a subscription without my consent, claiming I had won their competition for a free gift.
As soon as I received notice of the monthly subscription I emailed to cancel. I sent several cancellation request emails since 4th April to various Biercompany email addresses, including the customer support address provided by them. I also attempted to cancel via my customer account on their website. This only prompted a pop up advising to call or email customer support. 
So far they have not accepted the cancellation. 
They have now taken a payment 28 days after I first contacted them to cancel. 
I have now raised a dispute via my bank.

Despite my cancellation requests Biercompany today emailed claiming to have dispatched an order to me via Yodel. Tracking number is so far not recognised so I don't even know if this is true. If it arrives I plan to refuse the delivery. 

What else can I do? 

Spinosaurus3000

If you go to your bank in person and show them the evidence that you did everything in your power to cancel then hopefully your bank will refund you and, with any luck, you won't be the only person to have complained about them. You'll be more lucky if you paid by credit card.

I managed to avoid being charged by changing my card on the website to another card that had no money on it so it was declined, but now I'm worried to add any money in case it gets taken then. 

I still haven't got an answer on the phone but I've recieved passive agressive comments on my trustpilot reviews