Empire Magazine (BAUER CONSUMER MED) subscription nonsense

[Psychoduck]

I need help in a possibly issue I have with Empire Magazine.

 

Just over 3 months ago, I was called up out of the blue by Bauer Consumer group.

They offered me a bunch of subscriptions for magazines, based on some advertising I'd apparently agreed to.

I only ever agree to advertising if it's with a company I trust, and never allow 3rd party.

 

When the lady on the phone began to list off the magazines, I recognised who they were.

 

It was from a website where I'd entered a bunch of competitions, and even won a couple.

I was offered 3 months of Empire Magazine for just £1.

 

I explained there was no point, because I cant afford the £35 payment at the end of it.

She told me not to worry, it's just £1, I can cancel at anytime,

and that I should do it as soon as issue 1 arrives to make sure.

 

Issue 1 arrived, I phoned, I cancelled it, I asked her to double check. She did. It was cancelled.

 

Woke up this morning,

checked my bank due to it being a day when most of my bills go out (everything leaves on the 26th generally, except a few small ones)

and was shocked to see my bank £10 in red, and 1 payment had been cancelled.

It was then that I noticed the £35 payment to BAUER CONSUMER MED.

 

I've explained what happened to my bank, and they've told if I can get it refunded in 5 days,

they wont charge me for going over my set limit which was nice of them.

 

The company whose payment I missed wasn't so kind, and they've charged me an extra £6 because I wont be able to pay them now until next Monday.

 

I phoned BAUER CONSUMER MED up as soon as I'd explained the situation to my bank and the people I missed paying, hoping for a quick resolution.

 

Turns out that there is no record of my phone call when issue 1 arrived.

 

Since I've not had an issue on the subscription yet, I asked can it be cancelled now.

 

Yes it can, but I can't have the £35 back because I paid it and they don't offer a refund unless in an extreme case.

 

They told me they could send me a different magazine from their range instead, but I can't be refunded.

 

I've asked to speak to their manager, who said the accounts team would list to call that is on record (the first one) as it was a trainee and her call was recorded.

 

If I ask her to cancel it on that call, they will refund me.

 

However, I know I don't ask her on that call, because she told me to call after issue 1 to do it.

 

We talked about cancellation, but I never asked to cancel, because technically there was nothing to cancel.

 

Is there anyone out there (on here) who knows whether what they're doing is legal or not.

 

Like I said, I've received nothing from them so far regarding issues on the £35 subscription

and I definitely did phone to cancel it (I'm always quick to do anything like that, my budget is kept very tight and constantly checked)

 

Thanks for any help.

[dx100uk]

its a spoof

 

get onto your bank and DEMAND a chargeback

 

if that wont wash use the CPA rules.

 

you stupidly gave them you debit card details I bet?

 

dx

[Psychoduck]

yeah, I gave them my details, because I used to use the company when I subscribed to Q magazine about 5 years ago. Never had a problem with them before.

[Psychoduck]

just got a phone call from the lady I spoke to at my bank.

 

They've cancelled the Direct Debit agreement (she couldn't see it earlier) and the £35 has been placed back into my account because it was cancelled before the payment was properly cleared, and they've put a block on any more payments leaving my account on behalf of Bauer.

 

So it's got sorted now. Thanks for the chargeback advice though, I was just sorting that out on my online banking when I got the call