Automatic renewal
Discussion
Hi guys,
Does anyone know the legalities of automatic renewals for online subscriptions?
My parents signed up to a website last year that finds dog sitters when you go on holiday.
The minimum sign up period was 3 months at £19 a month.
I've been through the whole site and all it says is there is no obligation to renew.
3 months has gone by and they have been charged another £57.
When they complained they were told its in the t's and c's that it would be automatically renew.
After checking them it does say that but at no other point during signup does it tell you this will happen.
Is this legal, seems very shady to me.
Can I post a link to the site or is that against forum rules?
Does anyone know the legalities of automatic renewals for online subscriptions?
My parents signed up to a website last year that finds dog sitters when you go on holiday.
The minimum sign up period was 3 months at £19 a month.
I've been through the whole site and all it says is there is no obligation to renew.
3 months has gone by and they have been charged another £57.
When they complained they were told its in the t's and c's that it would be automatically renew.
After checking them it does say that but at no other point during signup does it tell you this will happen.
Is this legal, seems very shady to me.
Can I post a link to the site or is that against forum rules?
This has been happening with all types of things for years...
If you sign up with your credit card or debit card it can be quite difficult to get your bank to stop the payments, which is why I always try to pay via Direct Debit, Standing ORder or Bank Transfer.
That's not always possible tho.
I don't know the rules/law, but you can ask your bank to reverse the payment and prevent future payments on the basis that you only asked for 3 months, were not aware of the auto renewal, did not get an auto renewal notice and have been charged for something you did not ask for. I have had success with this approach in the past.
Alos ask the company for a refund. If no joy, report to BBC Watchdog/Daily Mail for two, to at least let others get to know.
If you sign up with your credit card or debit card it can be quite difficult to get your bank to stop the payments, which is why I always try to pay via Direct Debit, Standing ORder or Bank Transfer.
That's not always possible tho.
I don't know the rules/law, but you can ask your bank to reverse the payment and prevent future payments on the basis that you only asked for 3 months, were not aware of the auto renewal, did not get an auto renewal notice and have been charged for something you did not ask for. I have had success with this approach in the past.
Alos ask the company for a refund. If no joy, report to BBC Watchdog/Daily Mail for two, to at least let others get to know.
Annoyingly there isn't much you can do to get this money back as you have agreed to it. All you can do is go through the cancellation process and stop future payments. the term Minimum period for sign up should have been a clue - especially to make a diary note to ensure cancellation in time
There has been nothing illegal or shady happening
There has been nothing illegal or shady happening
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