Citi Marketing Ltd

[madasamuppet]

Has anyone every head of these people. Story is that I got a contract mobile from O2 last week got phone call one evening last week about phone insurance and that special offer on. Instead of £7.50 a month for 18 months could pay 5 monthly instalments of £17.99 and if didn't make a claim within the 18 months would get a third back. Payable via debit card so went ahead. I was under impression these people were O2 customer services/sales people . Told would get documents in post prob by monday. Nothing has arrived so phoned O2 they say no you don't have insurance on your contract, checked banking and a payment has been sent to citi marketing for £17.99, O2 have said they are nothing to do with them could not find a phone number for these people. Have since phoned my bank who don't have any other info about them and because it is on my switch and they have my details am a bit dubious of this and because no docs and no relation to O2 am going to cancel card and get new one issued.

Just wondered whether any one has had dealings with these people or has a tele number for them. And if they are not with O2 how the hell did they get info that I had new phone and my x-directory phone number.

[Chesterexpress]

Not sure if these are the same people; Citi Marketing Ltd

Category: Advertising Agency Services
Phone: 0845 0176857
Address: 326b Hollyhead Road, COVENTRY, West Midlands, CV5 8LH

[old_andrew2007]

Hi

I'm not too sure that cancelling your card will stop the payments, as you may have agreed to a continuous debit (this happened to a friend), can you not telephone Citi assuming they left a contact number.

Regards

Andy

[madasamuppet]

When my card is cancelled and a new one sent it will have a new number and if they try to use the old debit card number they won't get anything (that is my understanding of it).

Tried the phone number and get a message saying number not available.

[buzby]

No - the replacement card will be linked to the old one (by the bank), as the company uses the debit card as a continuous mandate, and the banks cannot cancel these. One of the few occasions where a Direct Debit trumps a card transaction for consumer safety.

[old_andrew2007]

Originally Posted by buzby

No - the replacement card will be linked to the old one (by the bank), as the company uses the debit card as a continuous mandate, and the banks cannot cancel these. One of the few occasions where a Direct Debit trumps a card transaction for consumer safety.

That was my understanding, although you worded it better, is there a way for the OP to cancel further payment, as I stated in an earlier post this happened to a friend, although for a smaller amount.

Regards

Andy

[buzby]

Only with the agreement of the creditor/merchant making the debit - which to my mind is a dreadful state of affiars, leaving the OP without proper control and having to trust the creditor to play fair.

As far as I can recall, the ONLY thing that trumps a merchant request is a fraudulent card replacement, and a new expiry date - although in some instances, the bank will pay out without reference to this.

[madasamuppet]

Hiya, thanks for that, been in touch with bank and they said will get new card with new long number different to one before and will have new expiry date. Was due a new one in august anyway so just a few months early.

After all that, I got stuff in the mail today from them they use the name Network Cover for their insurance contracts but did say that debit payments would show as citi marketing ltd. Have since written to them today and told them that I want to cancel the contract. In their terms it says can do this within the 7 day cooling off period. As they took payment on 23rd April and only sent letter out postmarked 29th April and sent second class I told them I would take my seven days from the day i received their docs am I right in thinking that I can do this. Told them in the letter that my bad was stolen and as such all cards have been stopped so they know they can't get any further payments and that I want a refund of my first payment via a cheque or bank transfer (I will give them the details to pay in) as if they try to chargeback to my card (old one) I assume it won't go through as it has been cancelled. What a complete hassle, I am now without a card for at least a week. Never mind lesson learnt I suppose.

[ada.london]

hello every1

i have had the same problem as *madasamuppet* but this *citi marketing ltd* has already taken £79.99 from my boyfriends account, when i tried to cantact 02 they said that they dont know nothing about this insurance company and therefore they can not do anything about it. I went to the bank and they said that they could not do anything as the money has been taken out already is for citi marketing ltd to return the money back which i think they will not do so. Now i dont have any contact details for these people as the phone number that *Chesterexpress* has posted it says that is unavailable and i have not recieved any letter frim CM ltd either. can someone advise me on this as me and my boyfriend are still arguing on how to get the money back and why have i been so stupid but i seriously thought that these people were calling from O2 but apparently they weren't. Please if anyone can help would be much appriciated. thank you in advance.

ada

[buzby]

£80 is a lot of money for insurance! How was the money taken, and did your b/f ever give his details to them, and why?

[ada.london]

i know but i thought that £79.99 it was for the whole year but apparently it isnt, cuz i recieved another call from someone today offering me another deal and when i said to him them i already had the insurance he said that i didnt cuz his records showed so i asked him to call me later on, but didnt understand anything till i actually phoned O2 and they explained to me everything. I gave the details to this person around 7th of may thinking that he was phoning from O2 as he said he was phoning regarding my O2 account and sounded like an adviser from O2 little i knew that he was a dogdy seller and i gave him my b/f details thinking that i was being offered a great deal but not so great after all. The money was taken by direct debit cuz me the ''thick'' one gave him all the details and now i dont have no idea whats going to happen. if you need anymore details pls just ask. thnx for ur help n advice

[buzby]

If you're sure it's a Direct Debit, you can get it back for a number of reasons; (1) They have to have sent him a bill confirming the amount and the date it would be taken. If not, it breaks the Guarantee and can be reversed. (2) He didn't authorise the DD - although you were well-meaning, you did not have the authority to do so (and they hadn't the authority to take it)!

[ada.london]

Originally Posted by buzby

If you're sure it's a Direct Debit, you can get it back for a number of reasons; (1) They have to have sent him a bill confirming the amount and the date it would be taken. If not, it breaks the Guarantee and can be reversed. (2) He didn't authorise the DD - although you were well-meaning, you did not have the authority to do so (and they hadn't the authority to take it)!

sorry for the confusion
my b/f just phoned the bank and they are saying that it was switch transaction because i have given them all the details and the insurance company actually thought that it was my b/f talking to them so i think they did have the authority to , cuz im not good when it comes to banks and that but we have now actually cancelled the card so will they be able to get any money if they want to do so in the future because the bank is saying that they can't? And do u think that we can get this money back but i do not know how to get hold of the company?

thank you

[stardust_john]

Same company I believe rang me and led me to believe they were o2. They say concerning your o2 account and why would we think they are anyone else. It was also so noisy in the background did they sound as if they were ringing from a train station to you? Said about your phone insurance and I luckily enough clicked, but they were pretending to try to confirm bank details relating to the o2 account after I repeatedly said I had no and wanted no insurance. Then phone went dead, o2 said they had no idea who they could be. But they must be somehow giving our numbers to them as I ticked box saying no sales on contract, so how else could they get number.

[ada.london]

stardust_john i was so surprised when i phoned O2 and they said that they didnt know anything about it. i didnt hear any noise from the dogdy insurance company probably because i was in uni and it was noisy and i didnt suspect anything as this is my first contract phone and havent had any experience on how this works. O2 is now claiming that they havent issued me with the iphone either , they are the company that issue the number but thats all about it. When i said that i have dialled 202 (costumer services) he denied it saying 'no, we havent issued your phone and you must have ordered it online or in a carephone warehouse' and i was fuming because i am sure i ordered it by phone on 202, but nevertheless they are saying that they can not offer me the insurance as the 14 days period has expired already when it is not my fault as i thought that i already had the insurance. So apparently they dont know who i ordered the phone from and dont have no idea of who this citi marketing people are. What a mess eh, you try to save money by getting a contract phone and in the other side you spend double of the money and stress.

[buzby]

In answer to your questions, yet cancelling the card will not prevent further debits - and there is no consumer protection for this. However, irrespective of what the the insurance firm thought, your b/f can honestly say he did NOT agree to the insurance as the details were erroneously given by a third party. That said, you can further complain of misrepresentation due to the confusion marketing used by the firm - it would also appear you have insurance for a phone you don't have either! Your b/f should write to the firm stating that he neither requested or requires insurance and to require them to refund all money taken within 28 days. Failure to do so will result in a court claim for the money taken, plus expenses and interest.

[madasamuppet]

Hiya, just to let you know that I received correspondence from them and will look this out because it has their new address and telephone number. I phoned them but couldn't never get through but wrote them a letter and copy email explaining my situation and that I wanted to cancel the insurance I told them the card was cancelled and that I wanted a refund by cheque. It has been cancelled and they did a charge back to my cancelled card. I queried this with the bank and was told they could refund to the card but would not be able to use the details that they had to gain any futher payments. Will post later with their contact details.