https://cardtopup.co.uk/ SCAM? / RIP OFF

sandyring

So I purchased £10 top up code for a giff gaff number approx a month ago from this site, it took an age to actually get the code and I had to chase and chase them, eventually I got it.

Now I find out that I have a £27 payment taken by them; of course there is some loop hole according to them that when you make any purchase you are signing up to a contractual monthly £27; so anyway I told them to cancel this subscription it is not something I knowingly signed up for.

I did go back and look at their website and it does say this, however I cannot recall seeing this when i intially made the purchase.

Now having come to terms with the fact that they have 'ripped me off' I wanted to know what i am actually getting for this £27, guess what, they have removed my account.

I did since google their website and there are seemingly a lot of unhappy 'customers' - obviously they won't voluntarily refund the fee which in my experience means they are not morally great.

Is there anything here as a consumer I can do?.

jon81uk

It's a rip off but they do explain its a subscription service. Best thing you can do is read thoroughly before purchasing anything, don't think you'll get a refund.
https://cardtopup.co.uk/subscription-terms shows its a subscription.

There is very small print on each item page of:
"Take advantage of our discounted gift cards thanks to our 72H trial offer, followed by a monthly subscription without commitment for an unlimited period for £27.90 per month."

Aylesbury_Duck

Why did you purchase from them, as opposed to directly from giffgaff?  

born_again

Not scam or rip off. 
It's another case of needing to read, what is being agreed too.🤷‍♀️

When making the purchase you tick the box agreeing to the T/C. Which we take you did read...

https://cardtopup.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

5. Payment of Fees

To access the Services, you must pay the amount of the monthly subscription for Services (the « Subscription »), or only the amount of the trial offer, as described on the Website. The prices of Subscriptions are indicated on the Website, in pounds (£) TTC (All taxes included) and they take into account the amount of VAT applicable on the day of the Subscription.

Any Subscription to the Services will continue for an indefinite period from the date of Subscription. A Subscription is cancellable at any time.

CardTopUp reserves the right to change the amount of the Subscription and of the trial offer. You will be informed of such change at least 10 days before the end of your Subscription period, and you will then have the freedom to not renew your Subscription.

The Subscription and trial offer are payable in advance, by direct debit to the payment method indicated on the Site. In the event of non-payment, CardTopUp will represent the payment and, in the event of further non-payment, may freely terminate the Services, without compensation, but without prejudice to its right to demand payment of the amounts due and any compensation it deems necessary.

Ectophile

It's going to be a rip-off for most people, even if it's not a scam.  At £27 a month, you would have to spend about £135 a month on gift cards and top-up cards to have any chance of even breaking even on those fees.

outtatune

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Why did you purchase from them, as opposed to directly from giffgaff?  

Presumably because these types of site charge less than the face value of the topups, and people get obsessed by that and don't pause to wonder how the sites are going to make a profit out of the transaction.

sandyring

to be fair to them they did refund which i am minorly shocked at...