Virgin media took unauthorised payment

[julie1961]

In December my mother paid my virgin media bill on her credit card as I didn't have enough funds in my account.
I have just received a bill dated 11/1/08 stating they took the payment my mother authorised last month but have also take a payment this month for this months bill without her authority. Surely they shouldn't be allowed to do this. I have just phoned them & they said if a credit card payment is made the automatically take payment form that card again for the next bill.
They have offered to pay the money back to my mothers account but my mother said leave it now & just pay it to her credit card myself. Are they allowed to do this? I am furious.

[Aaron_H]

Originally Posted by julie1961

In December my mother paid my virgin media bill on her credit card as I didn't have enough funds in my account.
I have just received a bill dated 11/1/08 stating they took the payment my mother authorised last month but have also take a payment this month for this months bill without her authority. Surely they shouldn't be allowed to do this. I have just phoned them & they said if a credit card payment is made the automatically take payment form that card again for the next bill.
They have offered to pay the money back to my mothers account but my mother said leave it now & just pay it to her credit card myself. Are they allowed to do this? I am furious.

I would say this is theft. It's unathorised & unless you have a direct debit, its illegal for them to take the money. Complain to Virgin & tell them you are going to complain to Visa/Mastercard/your parents local bank, etc. unless the money is put back & you are compensated.

Can a company legally keep credit card details like this without your permission? I wouldnt have thought so.

They can have the facility to accept card payments withdrawn for this.

You should at least be able to squeeze 1/2 price line rental for a while or some other free service as compensation.

[indebtstudent]

They shouldn't have done this, your bank will have some sort of VISA dispute policy. The trouble is the money is owed BUT I would imagine they would want to keep this away from any sort of regulatory body.

[2Grumpy]

When you pay Virgin by credit card they save the details & use it again the next month unless you ask them not to. They don't tell you that they have done it.

I don't think that they should do that without your permission.

Grumpy