Thanks very much for the comments. To clarify slick's query, I was caught up in a house move after my initial contact with LC and only remembered about them when I received notification that £19 had been taken from my Paypal account and I was now liable for the full year's subscription. I cancelled at once via both Paypal and the LC website, but was informed by automated e-mail that this was too late and I now had to pay the full amount. I appreciate that LC operate within the bounds of legality, but I find their entire set-up, communications and procedures thoroughly disreputable and in nowise consistent with any respectable form of professional business. Perhaps, given the error I made, my only course of action is indeed to hand over the £278 that they are demanding. I have received nothing in return, and the bitterness I would feel at doing so is the price I have to pay for my carelessness. It seems wrong, however, to be encouraging LC's financial [problem] and maybe supporting them in their vindictive pursuit of other victims who are quite blameless (compared to me) but who might get bullied into paying because of the threat of debt collectors and court claims.

Like others here, I will be interested to hear how Danielle's mediation works out on Friday and wish her well for that. Unlike most others here, I must confess to having failed to cancel (either by Paypal or via the LC website) within the 14 day period. This was my mistake, as I was caught up in a difficult property transaction and simply forgot. The LC answer to my query was useless, but I had so much on my mind at that time that I was only dimly aware of the T&Cs. LC recently texted me to say they are passing the matter to the debt collectors. I have reported them to Action Fraud and BBC Watchdog, and my prime reason for not wishing to pay the £278 is that, by doing so, I feel that I am a) supporting and financing what I regard as fraudulent activity, and b) betraying others who are making a stand, and weakening their chances of winning their case. However, I am not sure if my circumstances make it worthwhile letting LC pursue me to the small claims court. If a solicitor thought he could win the case, I would far rather pay him or her a greater sum, if only to prevent LC profiting from their unpleasant tactics. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

I have been caught out in precisely the same way as almost everyone else on this thread (and the related ones on MSE and elsewhere.) Today I submitted a report about Legalcare's conduct to Action Fraud and BBC Watchdog, and would urge others to do the same. Although several forum members are rightly pointing out that Legalcare have some claim to legality with regard to their T&Cs, it seems to me equally clear that their aim is to ensnare people - especially vulnerable people, who are in urgent need of legal advice but cannot afford a solicitor - in order to obtain their financial details, and then force victims of their 'sting' to pay disproportionate sums for services that may not ever have been used. This may not constitute fraudulent activity in everyone's eyes, but I believe Legalcare's operations need to be investigated.