Television X and Wescot debt collection agency.

[ZeuZ]

So. I signed up for television X on British digital free-view. On the screen it said £5 for a night or £9.99 for a month. Rung them and eventually it offered the £9.99 a month option, so as soon as the voice said that I clicked the appropriate telephone number and payed. Little did I know that AFTER she says this she then says something like "there is a compulsory minimum subscription of 12 months", but I did not hear that as I had already pressed the number, so she did not say this at all during my phone call.

 

I hardly used the channel. The quality was frankly as good a channel five late night movie. Only watched a few times in the first week then got bored.

 

Then a month or so later I went on holiday to thailand for 5 weeks. Came back to a little letter from Wescot debt collection agency. I also got a letter from television X warning of further action if I did not pay.

 

"TO AVOID WESCOT TAKING FURTHER ACTION, YOU MUST:

 

PAY THE DEBT IN FULL TO [ADDRESS]

 

OUTSTANDING BALANCE £99"

 

I think that the card I used ran out of money after 2 months or so. I have all my bank statements from any month to hand.

 

Also, I found this online which could apply to me.

 

Originally Posted by OFCOM

Ofcom Advertising complaints bulletin 5 July 2004

 

Misleading Fantasy Channel TVX Subscription Offer

 

Issue

 

An advertisement offered subscriptions to The Fantasy Channel (TVX). A viewer complained that the advertisement did not make it clear that there was a compulsory minimum subscription of 12 months.

 

Response

 

The Fantasy Channel explained that customers were given this information when they telephoned to subscribe.

 

Decision

 

We require that all important limitations and qualifications be made clear in the advertising itself. This is regardless of what information is given to a customer when he or she contacts an advertiser. As there was no indication in the advertisement that subscription was for at least 12 months, we found it to be in breach of Advertising Standards Code Rule 5.2.3 (Qualifications).

 

Conclusion

 

We required that the advertising should not reappear without the important qualification to the offer being made clear in the advertisement.

 

 

So, what to do? Do I ring Wescot? Television X? Or dont ring anyone?

 

???

[unclebulgaria67]

I have just had a quick look at their internet site about freeview option and it says that a minimum subscription may apply.

 

You have to phone to find out the terms of any subscription, so if they definately did not tell you, then I would suggest that you send a written complaint to the TV X people and send a copy to Wescot.

 

In regard to the OFCOM bit, I would suggest that you mention this and tell them you will report this to OFCOM if they don't back down, as clearly they have not complied with their ruling.

 

Nb. Why pay to watch chubby chavs, when their is apparently loads of free stuff online.

[j_semple]

I had the same thing from Wescot last September but wanting £179. Disputed the charges and they buggered off (Wrote it off altogether) May well be worth disputing. And of course DON'T ring them. Email them if you can.

Edited October 22, 2010 by j_semple

[Revenant]

I'd just send a letter to Wescot denying/disputing the aleged debt, point out that you're aware that OFCOM upheld a complaint for the same thing in the past (No need to mention the date make them work) and based on the information you have a complaint to OFCOM will be made because TVx still do not make the subscription terms clear from the very begining

Advise Wescot that as the matter is now in dispute collection activity must stop (Print your name . . do not sign) send the letter recorded delivery and then make your complaint to OFCOM enclosing the Wescot letter

I think you've more than enough to see them off and make life awkward for them at the same time

Good luck

R

[ZeuZ]

Sent a copy of this to television x and wescott.

 

To whom it may concern,

 

I am writing to dispute the £9.99 charge, and also the subsequent £99.90 charge, on the grounds that the phone call used to make the subscription did not make it clear that there was a compulsory minimum subscription of 12 months. This is a breach of Advertising Standards Code Rule 5.2.3. I am aware that OFCOM upheld a complaint for the same thing in the past.

 

I was happy to pay the first installment of £9.99, as this is what was made clear I would have to pay.

 

Awaiting your prompt reply,

 

xxxxxxxxx

[ZeuZ]

Just to say after sending that letter, and a few emails to a few people, I have not heard back from either Wescott or Television X since.

 

I think we can presume this is case won

[Revenant]

Just to say after sending that letter, and a few emails to a few people, I have not heard back from either Wescott or Television X since.

 

I think we can presume this is case won

 

Sounds good ZeuZ

R

[panther12]

As an aside have they relaxed the rules on what these adult channels can show on brit tv, or is it still soft core crap? Made me laugh when it was reported one of the channels were warned because it accidently broadcast a hardcore movie by mistake and people complained!! You’d have thought if they tuned in to watch porn they’d have been happy - but there’s no pleasing some folk ;-)

[j_semple]

As an aside have they relaxed the rules on what these adult channels can show on brit tv, or is it still soft core crap? Made me laugh when it was reported one of the channels were warned because it accidently broadcast a hardcore movie by mistake and people complained!! You’d have thought if they tuned in to watch porn they’d have been happy - but there’s no pleasing some folk ;-)

 

Would that be tease me TV and the lollipop thing by chance? OFCOM took all the tease me channels off air because they had been warned various amounts of times and there was a incident with a lollipop and that was the last straw for them.

[panther12]

Would that be tease me TV and the lollipop thing by chance? OFCOM took all the tease me channels off air because they had been warned various amounts of times and there was a incident with a lollipop and that was the last straw for them.

So it came to a sticky end...lol

[j_semple]

So it came to a sticky end...lol

 

When you put it like that lol they renamed themselves xcite for a while (didnt last long though)