Office-PDF Online - is this subscription method legal ?

GrahamMackie

Hi, 

My wife recently needed to convert a picture format file (PNG) to a PDF for a COVID-19 travel document.  She forgot that we already have a full Adobe subscription (she is an author) and went online to get a conversion.  She found this site called Office-PDF that offered to do it for 50p but she didn't notice the small print underneath.  

I was checking the bank statement for something else and saw a £29.90 deduction that I didn't recognise.  It turns out they have started taking money out each month.

The company behind this service looks legit (Colibri Digital) so I am hoping that a note to them to cancel will be enough.

However I am interested in the legality of this kind of payment scam - can they do this just by putting it in a small font underneath ?

Is it worth pursuing a refund ?

user1977

Pretty commonplace to have free (or cheap) initial trial periods followed by full price. I don't see anything unlawful as long as the terms are clear. It might be "small" print but there's not much you need to read to get the idea.

sheramber

Usually you have to cancel the subscription before the free period ends.

Amazon Prime is one example.

Diamandis

I think that it is pretty upfront tbh but no harm in still asking for a refund. I'd suggest bring very nice about it rather than blaming them. 

Olinda99

google brings up many free picture to pdf sites - all free. I have used them.in the past and they work.

custardy

There is no scam. I can read the details in the image let alone further T&Cs no doubt on the site

TELLIT01

If no use has been made of the software they may agree to cancellation and refund, but they don't have to.

pinkshoes

GrahamMackie said:

Hi, 

My wife recently needed to convert a picture format file (PNG) to a PDF for a COVID-19 travel document.  She forgot that we already have a full Adobe subscription (she is an author) and went online to get a conversion.  She found this site called Office-PDF that offered to do it for 50p but she didn't notice the small print underneath.  

I was checking the bank statement for something else and saw a £29.90 deduction that I didn't recognise.  It turns out they have started taking money out each month.

The company behind this service looks legit (Colibri Digital) so I am hoping that a note to them to cancel will be enough.

However I am interested in the legality of this kind of payment scam - can they do this just by putting it in a small font underneath ?

Is it worth pursuing a refund ?

It says "following these 48 hours and without a cancellation on your part, your trial offer will become a subscription without commitment for an unlimited period of time billed at £29.90 per month"

The Trial Offer clearly has an asterisk * next to it indicating something else you need to read. I think this is actually really clear as it is on the main page and clearly flagged. 

Gadjet87

Have just recently fallen for this scam as well. Yes, it is in the small print and should have read that. What I should have had though as well is an email confirming my trial period/subscription and an email with a receipt for the £0.50 paid up front. They don't send either, for the exact reason that people don't realise and won't cancel a subscription they are not even aware of. I am now £39.90 out of pocket for a service I won't ever use. There are other free converters to use, make sure you always read the small print (lesson learned)

powerful_Rogue

Gadjet87 said:

Have just recently fallen for this scam as well. Yes, it is in the small print and should have read that. What I should have had though as well is an email confirming my trial period/subscription and an email with a receipt for the £0.50 paid up front. They don't send either, for the exact reason that people don't realise and won't cancel a subscription they are not even aware of. I am now £39.90 out of pocket for a service I won't ever use. There are other free converters to use, make sure you always read the small print (lesson learned)

Not a scam, you just didn't read what you was signing up for.

RefluentBeans

Gadjet87 said:

Have just recently fallen for this scam as well. Yes, it is in the small print and should have read that. What I should have had though as well is an email confirming my trial period/subscription and an email with a receipt for the £0.50 paid up front. They don't send either, for the exact reason that people don't realise and won't cancel a subscription they are not even aware of. I am now £39.90 out of pocket for a service I won't ever use. There are other free converters to use, make sure you always read the small print (lesson learned)

Yes - it’s in the fine print but the adverting is also pretty clear. It’s different if it’s FREE and then in the terms it says ‘actually it’s free in the sense you pay for it and you’re FREE to leave after you’ve paid us’. 

I think the bait and charge of some companies is unfair and there should be better regulations about it (and enforcement of the current regulations) but this would more than likely be an example of a good way of doing these types of subscriptions. 

Could they do more? Yes of course they could. But the vast majority of some subscriptions rely on the fact that people tend to not cancel them, even if they don’t use the product. In this case, you used the product and then got charged when you failed to cancel. The terms weren’t hidden, and it’s not like you’re a dormant customer who hasn’t used the product in months or years. 

Short answer is - yes read the small print it’s there for a reason!! And read the main print in this case!