Recurring Annual Direct Debit

geoffreywhereveryoumaybe

My son took out an annual direct debit to pay for a training course from an American company last year and was charged £800.  He took a course last year but has taken no further training.  He has just been hit with a recurring direct debit payment of £800.  He contacted the company to claim the money back as he has taken no further training but they have refused.  Has he got consumer rights to challenge this recurring annual direct debit?

born_again

You need to be clear here.
Is this a Direct Debit or a continuous payment authority (based on card details) As they are totally different.

A CPA unless it has been cancelled prior to payment taken has no rights to a refund. Unless company are willing to provide one. They also do not need to advise that the payment is due to be taken. That is up to you to make a note when it is due (good practise for all annual payments anyway)

la531983

It wont be a Direct Debit.

geoffreywhereveryoumaybe

I asked him today and they took the money out of his account - I don't know how and neither did he - but it looks as if it is something he should be able to recall?

born_again

geoffreywhereveryoumaybe said:

I asked him today and they took the money out of his account - I don't know how and neither did he - but it looks as if it is something he should be able to recall?

It should clearly state on account how it was taken. Try clicking the actual transaction to get more details.
DD would be direct debit. Would also be listed in the DD section of the account.
Vis or Mas will be a card payment. Many do not have lists of CPA.

If card payment, then unless cancelled prior to being taken, no way to reclaim.
DD, which pretty sure will not be given US co. He would have got a reminder about payment being taken, if he did then no way to reclaim.

Aylesbury_Duck

He needs to read the terms he signed up to, and understand what payments he authorised and by what method.

sheramber

Did he sign up to an ongoing subscription?  If so, the fact he has not used it will not make any difference.

If he does not want to continue it he needs to check how he cancels the subscription.

user1977

And bear in mind that any consumer rights are (probably) those of the US state where the company is based, nothing to do with UK laws (and depending on what sort of training we're talking about, he might not be a "consumer" anyway).