I think I've fallen victim to a subscription scam

ladyV

Yesterday I went to Pizza Hut and was asked to scan the QR code on the menu and order online from the table, which I haven't done before.
Unfortunately I was distracted and accidentally clicked on an advert in the QR scanner app! 
After I'd entered my credit card details and authorised the transaction, I realised it wasn't Pizza Hut's online ordering system. 
I now have 2 pending transactions for £1 and £1.49 to strea-c.pro
I asked the credit card company to cancel these and any future subscriptions, and they said they would try to, but I have signed up to a subscription and asked me to contact the company.
Action Fraud also gave similar advice.
I googled strea-c.pro and the cancellation link on the website doesn't work. The website is full of waffle and looks dodgy.
There is a live chat on it asking for my full name and email. 
I feel like an idiot as it's the first time I've been scammed.
Does anyone have any advice please? 

pinkshoes

Usually you choose your pizzas and then enter card payments at the end, so are you saying you'd ordered the pizza then this pop up appeared? 

Or you have somehow ended up on a different thing and not pizza hut menu and entered card payments before seeing a pizza menu?

I didn't know QR code scanners apps were a thing! I just use the camera on my phone.

If you have tried to cancel and cannot, then contact the card company again and ask them to cancel the transactions as they have no cancellation process. I would also delete the app for scanning QR codes and just use your camera! 

user1977

pinkshoes said:

I would also delete the app for scanning QR codes and just use your camera! 

That only works if your phone's camera app incorporates reading QR codes, which many don't, hence the existence of separate apps.

ladyV

Hi my phone camera doesn't scan QR codes annoyingly! 

I used my QR scanner app to scan the Pizza Hut QR code, but instead of clicking the link to the pizza hut menu, I clicked on an advert that popped up in the QR code scanner app.

ladyV

Yes, I ended up on a different thing and entered credit card details before seeing a menu.

ladyV

The credit card company said I would need to contact the company to cancel. But I've closed the web browser and don't know what company it is.
It definitely wasn't strea-c.pro as there's nothing to subscribe to on their website. 

superstylin

Hi @ladyV

It looks like strea-c.pro is a company who provides the administrative function of subscriptions for different businesses.

If the credit card company can't stop the recurring payment, can they cancel the card? 

Failing this I think your only option is to contact strea-c.pro, but I would be more inclined to use their email contact than live chat, simply because you have more time to consider any info they provide or requests they make. I don't think you have anything to lose by giving them your name and email address as they already have that anyway. 

ladyV

Thanks superstylin

I was worried about them having my email address, and getting loads of junk/spam. But I could just set up a new email. 

The credit card company could stop the card but they just said I could dispute it if any transactions come up as they are currently pending. I guess I could stop my card too. But they said as it's a subscription they could chase me for payment still. 

superstylin

LadyV,

I think you're only left with contacting strea-c.pro then unfortunately. Good idea re: using a different email address - I had assumed you'd already given your email address when you (unknowingly) set up the subscription. 

BTW my QR reader does the same thing so I understand how you fell foul of it. I've clicked on the wrong link before but thankfully haven't been distracted so was able to backtrack before making a mistake. 

You live and learn!

ladyV

I looked up strea-c.pro and they are called Wilson Titian and have an address in the UK.
When I looked it up on Google maps it's a scruffy looking 3 bed semi. 
But, they are registered with Companies House so hopefully they can help me! 

400ixl

Can't change history, but there are lots of QR scanning apps that do not have built in advertising, so I would suggest changing the App that you currently use.

What phone is it to not have it built into the camera these days? Some do have an option you need to switch on or a mode you set it into when in the camera app to do QR codes, so may be worth investigating.

Good luck in getting the subscription cancelled though, hope you get that sorted.