Clothes company folds then gives my details to a new company? Stitch fix/Outfittery

squashykat

I used to subscribe to Stitch Fix to get a quarterly box with 5 garments to keep or return. Loved it but just as I was thinking about pausing/cancelling due to a full wardrobe and trying to cut back, they sent an email saying they were no longer going to be trading. This was last November. 

This week I spotted an email from a company called Outfittery with an invoice for over £500 attached complete with a list of 9 clothing items they are sending me. An email search shows that this company has taken over my stitch fix account, there are emails asking me to click to activate my new account over the last few months but never paid them a second thought or made the connection, certainly no link was clicked. To be honest there was also one saying I could click within 2 weeks if I didn't want to proceed with the transfer but I didn't see it. I use gmail which puts all sales stuff into a promotions folder which I only ever glance at, I have never heard of the company any therefore never opened any of their emails, assumed to be spam.

I am unable to see any full details without following links to presumably accept and set up an account which I don't wish to do. 

I am hoping that I can just return the items with no financial penalty, but where do I legally stand about my information including payment card details being given over to a new company without my explicit permission?

Any advice or experience?
Thank you 

Aylesbury_Duck

squashykat said:

I used to subscribe to Stitch Fix to get a quarterly box with 5 garments to keep or return. Loved it but just as I was thinking about pausing/cancelling due to a full wardrobe and trying to cut back, they sent an email saying they were no longer going to be trading. This was last November. 

This week I spotted an email from a company called Outfittery with an invoice for over £500 attached complete with a list of 9 clothing items they are sending me. An email search shows that this company has taken over my stitch fix account, there are emails asking me to click to activate my new account over the last few months but never paid them a second thought or made the connection, certainly no link was clicked. To be honest there was also one saying I could click within 2 weeks if I didn't want to proceed with the transfer but I didn't see it. I use gmail which puts all sales stuff into a promotions folder which I only ever glance at, I have never heard of the company any therefore never opened any of their emails, assumed to be spam.

I am unable to see any full details without following links to presumably accept and set up an account which I don't wish to do. 

I am hoping that I can just return the items with no financial penalty, but where do I legally stand about my information including payment card details being given over to a new company without my explicit permission?

Any advice or experience?
Thank you 

It's going to depend upon the nature of the 'takeover'.  If the new company simply took over the old contracts, and they notified you of that at the time (which the bolded part of your account suggests did happen), then I'd have thought that as long as they're sticking to the terms of that contract, they're correct to assume you're a continuing customer.  It sounds as if they gave you an option to withdraw, and you missed it.

The precise wording of that email is important - can you post it here?

Alderbank

squashykat said:

This week I spotted an email from a company called Outfittery with an invoice for over £500 attached complete with a list of 9 clothing items they are sending me. 

What does 'a list of 9 items they are sending me' mean?

Have they actually sent the items or do they mean they're all packed up to go, just waiting for you to give the OK?

Sending an invoice doesn't mean they have any financial details or access to any payment methods. In fact it suggests they don't have any.

It sounds like they have said something like:

'Hi there, we have put together this selection of items which we're sure you'll love. Just make your payment of £xxx to xxx and they'll be on their way to you.'

Can you clarify?

born_again

I would just contact them via details on their website & say no thanks. Please stop emailing me. 

user1977

Perfectly normal for companies to be taken over, without each and every customer having a veto on whether their account can be passed on to the buyer.

saajan_12

squashykat said:

Loved it but just as I was thinking about pausing/cancelling due to a full wardrobe and trying to cut back, they sent an email saying they were no longer going to be trading. This was last November.  

This is the stage where you should have gone ahead and submitted your cancellation request / notice / whatever to the company in force at the time. A prospective email about "going to" stop trading isn't enough to expect that's it forever. 

squashykat said:

 where do I legally stand about my information including payment card details being given over to a new company without my explicit permission?

Any advice or experience?
Thank you 

I expect the new company effectively steps into the shoes of the old company for the portions it buys. Sharing data with an acquiring company would be part of the 'reasonable' sharing of data in the course of business. Same as if the sales team needs to share data with the accounts team.. you don't give permission to individual humans either, its all part of the same permission. 

squashykat

Alderbank said:

squashykat said:

This week I spotted an email from a company called Outfittery with an invoice for over £500 attached complete with a list of 9 clothing items they are sending me. 

What does 'a list of 9 items they are sending me' mean?

Have they actually sent the items or do they mean they're all packed up to go, just waiting for you to give the OK?

Sending an invoice doesn't mean they have any financial details or access to any payment methods. In fact it suggests they don't have any.

It sounds like they have said something like:

'Hi there, we have put together this selection of items which we're sure you'll love. Just make your payment of £xxx to xxx and they'll be on their way to you.'

Can you clarify?

The parcel has been dispatched to me and they are using the card I have on file from my subscription at the old company. The subscription isn't like for like however, as it was only ever for 5 things and more reasonably priced. This one includes dresses for £99.

squashykat

Aylesbury_Duck said:

squashykat said:

I used to subscribe to Stitch Fix to get a quarterly box with 5 garments to keep or return. Loved it but just as I was thinking about pausing/cancelling due to a full wardrobe and trying to cut back, they sent an email saying they were no longer going to be trading. This was last November. 

This week I spotted an email from a company called Outfittery with an invoice for over £500 attached complete with a list of 9 clothing items they are sending me. An email search shows that this company has taken over my stitch fix account, there are emails asking me to click to activate my new account over the last few months but never paid them a second thought or made the connection, certainly no link was clicked. To be honest there was also one saying I could click within 2 weeks if I didn't want to proceed with the transfer but I didn't see it. I use gmail which puts all sales stuff into a promotions folder which I only ever glance at, I have never heard of the company any therefore never opened any of their emails, assumed to be spam.

I am unable to see any full details without following links to presumably accept and set up an account which I don't wish to do. 

I am hoping that I can just return the items with no financial penalty, but where do I legally stand about my information including payment card details being given over to a new company without my explicit permission?

Any advice or experience?
Thank you 

It's going to depend upon the nature of the 'takeover'.  If the new company simply took over the old contracts, and they notified you of that at the time (which the bolded part of your account suggests did happen), then I'd have thought that as long as they're sticking to the terms of that contract, they're correct to assume you're a continuing customer.  It sounds as if they gave you an option to withdraw, and you missed it.

The precise wording of that email is important - can you post it here?

Here it is, unfortunately I didn't see it at the time. 

Dear ****

Today, we want to provide you with an important update regarding your account. As you may have heard already, Stitch Fix shipped its last Fix in the UK on October 31st.

We were moved by the outpouring of love and support our clients shared with us after our initial closure announcement, so we are pleased to inform you that going forward we have arranged for Outfittery to provide their service to Stitch Fix UK’s customers.

Outfittery is the leading provider for online personal styling in Europe, serving more than 1 million clients over the past 10 years across 10 countries. Now, they’ve come to the UK.

To begin this new style journey with Outfittery, your Stitch Fix UK account will be transferred to Outfittery on December 6th.

For the purposes of data protection law, Outfittery will be the new controller of your personal data. Outfittery will process your personal data fairly, lawfully and in accordance with your  expectations. Further information is available at link removed.

Whilst we believe Outfittery will provide the perfect alternative to the styling services you’ve enjoyed with Stitch Fix UK, whether you continue the service with Outfittery is entirely up to you. If you wish to opt out, click here and your account will not be transferred.

Thank you again for being a Stitch Fix UK client. It has been our pleasure to serve you, and we leave you in good hands with Outfittery.

Stitch Fix


Happy to accept that it is my fault for not seeing this email but I am surprised that it's ok without actively opting in. As mentioned, the subscription isn't like for like as it is more garments, more expensive items, only 7 days window to return items after which I will owe the full amount which I believe will just be debited from my card. I will naturally be straight on the case returning these but imagine if it had come whilst I was on holiday last week?

squashykat

If it makes a difference the closure annoucements initially just said they were closing down, nothing about a takeover. Then a few weeks after the goodbye and thank you emails they then sent the new one posted above.

HillStreetBlues

squashykat said:

I used to subscribe to Stitch Fix to get a quarterly box with 5 garments to keep or return. Loved it but just as I was thinking about pausing/cancelling due to a full wardrobe and trying to cut back, they sent an email saying they were no longer going to be trading. This was last November. 

This week I spotted an email from a company called Outfittery with an invoice for over £500 attached complete with a list of 9 clothing items they are sending me. An email search shows that this company has taken over my stitch fix account, there are emails asking me to click to activate my new account over the last few months but never paid them a second thought or made the connection, certainly no link was clicked. To be honest there was also one saying I could click within 2 weeks if I didn't want to proceed with the transfer but I didn't see it. I use gmail which puts all sales stuff into a promotions folder which I only ever glance at, I have never heard of the company any therefore never opened any of their emails, assumed to be spam.

I am unable to see any full details without following links to presumably accept and set up an account which I don't wish to do. 

I am hoping that I can just return the items with no financial penalty, but where do I legally stand about my information including payment card details being given over to a new company without my explicit permission?

Any advice or experience?
Thank you 

https://www.outfittery.com/howitworks

Receive your box

Try at home: Discover and try on your selection in the comfort of your own home, with 7 days to decide your favourites.No obligation: Tell us online what you liked and what you want to return. You only pay for what you keep.Free returns: Too big or too small? Just send us back the items that do not work for you. Both shipping and returns are free of charge.

Just return them for free.

Alderbank

I think you misunderstand how data protection works.

You need to log in to your account to prove to them that you are the owner of that account. Once you establish that, you will be able to cancel or return goods in transit and close the account, if that is what you wish. 

That is absolutely as it should be.