Rights When Business Removes an Offer - Cybersecurity Services

MakingLifeMine

I signed up for some cybersecurity services in January this year.

I was called and told there was an offer in January that I would get the first 6 months free if I signed up. So I signed the contract online.

Now, they are charging me after telling me that I would get the first 6 months free and now saying that no offer was applied to my account.

Do I have a leg to stand on here?

Savvy_Sue

Have you got a copy of what you thought you signed up for?

MakingLifeMine

The offer was made to me via the phone.

I was taking my time to sign up (as it was a five-year contract), so they added this as a January promo. They said if I signed the contract, they were going to send an adjustment letter afterwards to confirm the free six months, but they didn't.

MakingLifeMine

Five years' worth of technical support and cyber security. Tbh, I overlooked the 5 years until after I signed it.

There was no cooling-off period, and the contract seemed to lean heavily on protecting them, not me. When I looked into getting out of it due to unfair terms, I could do nothing as it was a B2B contract. I'm not happy about it, but you know, you live, and you learn.

Even so, I at least wanted to get my 6-month free period, and when I challenged it, I have heard nothing but radio silence.

Savvy_Sue

You say you signed after being offered the free 6 months. Do you have anything in writing? And what is the 6 months worth?

As you've learned, B2B are very different to consumer contracts 

MakingLifeMine

Savvy_Sue said:

You say you signed after being offered the free 6 months. Do you have anything in writing? And what is the 6 months worth?

As you've learned, B2B are very different to consumer contracts 

I was offered the 6 months verbally. It's worth about £600 (they would have been protecting more than one user).

I signed on the condition that I would get the first 6 months free. I asked for written confirmation, and they said that once I sign, they will post the amendment to my office.

I did not receive the amendment. They then started charging me, and when I questioned it, they denied the deal. I have followed up several times and heard radio silence since then. 

To be honest, I did not follow up on the written confirmation. It escaped me until I started seeing the charges debiting my account.

I have memory issues, so I'm used to making bad decisions when I don't have anyone around. I am entitled to a carer to help me with these decisions, but sadly, I have had issues getting consistent carers/support workers, so I just tend to get on with things.

I then pay the price IF I make a bad decision because I didn't read something properly or thought I understood something.

If someone had been around, I am sure that I would not have made this decision, or it would have been pointed out before I signed that it was 5 years. It's not an excuse; it's just a sad reality.

I guess I just have to keep paying them, as it's my word against theirs.