I think Railcard.co.uk is doing something really deceptive and I'm unsure what to do about it

Kushan

I have an eyesight problem so I'm entitled to a Disabled person's railcard. It was up for renewal so I've gone via the website to get it done, which was relatively painless.

However once I had purchased the renewal, I was greeted with a full page official looking form to fill out for cashback. I like to think of myself as fairly savvy so I knew there was a catch to this, but it took me far too long to spot the small print that this cashback requires signing up for a £15/month service! Take a look at the full thing yourself:



I've seen these kinds of things before and they're basically a scam, but I wasn't expecting to see it from the official railcard site and I think the whole presentation is incredibly deceptive. I'm disabled because I have an eyesight condition, but I work in IT for a living, I know how to spot a scam because it's literally my job, I can't imagine other people being so lucky. The whole presentation is just wrong.  

Surely there's got to be some kind of legislation to prevent this kind of marketing?

MobileSaver

To be fair it clearly states at least three times that you will be billed £15 a month so I am struggling to see how that is deceptive.

eskbanker

Kushan said:

I've seen these kinds of things before and they're basically a scam, but I wasn't expecting to see it from the official railcard site and I think the whole presentation is incredibly deceptive. I'm disabled because I have an eyesight condition, but I work in IT for a living, I know how to spot a scam because it's literally my job, I can't imagine other people being so lucky. The whole presentation is just wrong.

'Scam' is a bit strong, if you get what you pay for?

Kushan said:

Surely there's got to be some kind of legislation to prevent this kind of marketing?

There doesn't seem to be anything applicable from what I can see in The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 or associated guidance documents:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284446/oft979.pdf
https://www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_section/03.html

Aylesbury_Duck

I don't think it's deceptive, or a scam.  For a start, you've got to do a lot of form-filling before you're anywhere near committing to anything.  I'd rather these sorts of things didn't exist, but I suspect that because railcards are so often discounted (they're a bit like those pizza restaurants where you never need pay full price if you do a cursory google before going), these sorts of promotions are subsidising the number of railcards they sell at less than the £30 face value.

Alderbank

OK so it's the inertia sell where they hope you will sign up then forget to cancel but you will have seen that before surely and as MobileSaver says the terms are very clear.
As you are a money saver you might even make some extra 10% savings during your trial period. 
Just don't forget to cancel!

Offer and billing details 
Sign up for complete savings FREE for the next 30 days and pay for only £15 a month thereafter.
You can cancel at any time...
If you cancel during the first 30 days you will owe nothing.
Your £16.87 cash back is yours to keep just for trying Complete Savings.

On-the-coast

Considering the OP has sight problems, & that’s the whole point of them getting the railcard, I do have some sympathy. All the signup stuff is big & and in the front.  You do have to read carefully to work out what you’re commuting too. 

I hate these sort of schemes. 

Ultimately buyer beware…

km1500

Probably a silly question, but you were on the official Railcard site when you renewed?

Kushan

MobileSaver said:

To be fair it clearly states at least three times that you will be billed £15 a month so I am struggling to see how that is deceptive.

I disagree that it "clearly" states this, that's my point. It does say it more than once though.

On-the-coast said:

Considering the OP has sight problems, & that’s the whole point of them getting the railcard, I do have some sympathy. All the signup stuff is big & and in the front.  You do have to read carefully to work out what you’re commuting too. 

I hate these sort of schemes. 

Ultimately buyer beware…

That's exactly it, I don't like this because it's designed to look like an official document and I'm nervous because of others who are classed as disabled will potentially fall for it.

km1500 said:

Probably a silly question, but you were on the official Railcard site when you renewed?

Definitely, I've loaded the renewed card into the app and everything. 

MobileSaver

On-the-coast said:

Considering the OP has sight problems... I do have some sympathy.

Kushan said:

I'm nervous because of others who are classed as disabled will potentially fall for it.

Playing devil's advocate, if someone knows they have a sight problem then I would think that person has a responsibility to take even more care before signing up for something online whether that be by double checking what they think the offer is (which is what the OP did), getting a second pair of eyes to check it over or making a phone call to confirm the details.

born_again

km1500 said:

Probably a silly question, but you were on the official Railcard site when you renewed?

Yes they were. 👍
This page shown will be the page after purchase when you click on "Discount" being offered.

They are one of the many companies that partner? With Complete Savings. There was another thread about this recently asking how they signed up. This is exactly how, & how clear they make it. In OP's case even the OP with poor eye site, clocked it. 

Good part is even when you sign up & pay them, they will refund without any issues, so long as you have not claimed any cashback from a further linked site. 😁

user1977

I don't think eye sight is really relevant, unless the web page doesn't work well with screen reader software (which in itself would be cause for complaint).