paid 3 years for service i cancelled, money taken through paypal pre-approved payments

seatbeltnoob

Hello this is a business query, not a consumer one.

In October 2020 I signed up to a web host and registered via paypal pre-approved payments. The service has a 7 day money back guarantee if you're not happy. The webhost was slow (it was for a blog that makes money and I needed it to perform fast).

I raised a case with paypal and got my refund for the initial payment. But I was completely forgot to cancel my paypal pre-approved payment.

I moved to a different host, and just forgot about it. Kept paying both hosts all this time. The cancelled host I wasn't happy with and the new host.

I have about 15 different hosting accounts for different websites so I didn't do a good job of managing it. The web host renewed and the receipt mentioned the website it was hosting and I didnt check the double payments for that website to two different providers.

I definatrely do not have an account with this cancelled service as I tried to do a login and forgot passward request and it said user does not exist.

Payment set up Ocrober 2020 - paid $28 - cancelled the service got a PP refund.

It renwed on October 2021 - paid $28

renewed on October 2022 - paid $28

renewed on October 2023 - paid $28

Luckily the october 2023 was still within the 180 paypal refund period and I got a refund.

What are the chances that paypal will refund the other two payments if I raise a case with them?

retiredbanker1

IMO none at all you are out of time.
They were not fraudulent in any way so again IMO no refund.

seatbeltnoob

not fraudulent when the service was cancelled and they continued to collect payments?

I know I am partly to blame for not cancelled the preapproved payment on my side. but I would imagine if a busines is using pre-approved payments they have HUGE amount of responsbility to ensure they collect funds corredtly

masonic

seatbeltnoob said:

not fraudulent when the service was cancelled and they continued to collect payments?

I know I am partly to blame for not cancelled the preapproved payment on my side. but I would imagine if a busines is using pre-approved payments they have HUGE amount of responsbility to ensure they collect funds corredtly

You raised a case with Paypal to get the first payment refunded. Did you also cancel the service with the provider in the correct manner as set out in the contract? What does your contract say about cancellation and renewals? What about the jurisdiction of the contract and governing law (as likely the services were not performed within the UK)? Did the provider at any stage provide you with confirmation that the contract had been ended?

born_again

seatbeltnoob said:

Hello this is a business query, not a consumer one.

In October 2020 I signed up to a web host and registered via paypal pre-approved payments. The service has a 7 day money back guarantee if you're not happy. The webhost was slow (it was for a blog that makes money and I needed it to perform fast).

I raised a case with paypal and got my refund for the initial payment. But I was completely forgot to cancel my paypal pre-approved payment.

What are the chances that paypal will refund the other two payments if I raise a case with them?

So the important bit.

Did you cancel with the hosting co? If so when?
While you had a 7 day money back guarantee, what was the contract period?

Sorry but I don't think you will get anything back.
Even FCA/FOS state any payments after 13 months are the responsibility of the consumer. As they say as a customer you have a responsibility to check your accounts.

TBH, only hope would be from company, but is never cancelled as per T/C then even then...

seatbeltnoob

i cancelled immediately, the web host invoiced me for the first payment and i got that refunded.

I did no get any invoices after that, but they still took my money 3 times on anniversary date. the webhost seems like a very small fry reseller. or virtual host. who might have stopped trading long ago.

Zanderman

Your argument is not with PayPal but with the provider of the service.

And if they still think you have a contract (whether you agree or not) they'll try to take a payment again next October too.

As others have said get in touch with the provider, as it's their system that thinks you're still paying.

masonic

seatbeltnoob said:

I did no get any invoices after that, but they still took my money 3 times on anniversary date. the webhost seems like a very small fry reseller. or virtual host. who might have stopped trading long ago.

In that case, the next step would be to cancel the payment plan, which you can do in Paypal via the "Manage your Automatic Payments" option (see guide here). This will prevent further payments being automatically made. Pre-approved payments are analogous to a standing order in normal banking - you have instructed Paypal to make payments annually to the recipient until you cancel. Paypal have merely followed your instruction and the end result is money was transferred to the webhost's Paypal account that arguably was sent in error and belongs to you. However, there is little point pursuing the webhost for the payments you sent in error, as it would likely cost you more to do so than you have paid them so far. A lesson to keep on top of your finances.

seatbeltnoob

too many know it alls who just guessing and disgusing it as advice.

@Zanderman it is a paypal issue, they have a dispute service and i have filed disputes through them.

@masonic, yes i have cancelled the preapproved payments before i posted this thread. any money you wrongfully receive rightfully belongs to the sender. there is no such thing as a "finders keepers losers weepers" rule with bank transfers. if a mistake was made, then action will be take to reverse the mistake.

masonic

seatbeltnoob said:

too many know it alls who just guessing and disgusing it as advice.

If that's the way you feel, good luck getting your money back, I'm out. The quality of responses is always limited by the quality of information an OP provides.