Advice needed about Dodgy USA business practices.

[looney]

Long story short.
I came across a book I wanted and it was being offered free, with some free magazines. As it was a US company I would have to pay for the shipping $20, fair enough, I would have paid for the book anyway but thought 3 months of free mags wasn't to be sniffed at.

So i payed for the gubbins on line and got a confirmation e-mail which also said something along the lines of "once your free 3 months subscription to each magazine runs out we will automaticaly deduct the costs of further mags unless you unsubscribe from the e-mail that will be sent saying your free subscription is about to run out".

Now I have a few questions.

since when has it been OK for companies to set up a direct debit without informing you about it and the onus is on you opting out rather than opting in? All I did was pay the shipping costs.

Whats the best way to insure I dont get screwed, contact bank? Or company or both?

This is the third time ive come across this, all US based, is it in opperation here as well?

Cheers.

 

[Aseros]

A lot of companies offer free subscriptions and charge instantly as soon as its over. Would have been in the small print somewhere. They can't set up a direct debit unless you gave bank details. Its a dodgy business if they have actually stored your card details.

I would contact the bank if I were you. Say you don't want the charges coming out.

 

[looney]

A lot of companies offer free subscriptions and charge instantly as soon as its over. Would have been in the small print somewhere. They can't set up a direct debit unless you gave bank details. Its a dodgy business if they have actually stored your card details.

I would contact the bank if I were you. Say you don't want the charges coming out.

No sign of any small print at all, one company charges a $1 to cancell. Cheers will contact bank.

 

[skipper734]

Loads of stuff is set up like that in this country. They rely on the fact that a percentage forget about the cancel e mail. Experian and the other credit score companies do it, so it is sort of official robbery.

 

[Flair]

They did this with Amazon Prime