Have you or anyone you know ever been locked into a subscription for an offering you didn’t sign up for? You are not alone.
As part of National Consumer Week, the Department for the Economy’s Trading Standards Service is warning Northern Ireland consumers about the pitfalls of subscription payments linked to free online trials or samples.
Each year Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service receives dozens of complaints from consumers who have become locked into a subscription for a service they did not sign up for or were not aware they had signed up for, otherwise known as subscription trap scams. The most common types are for free-trial slimming pills, anti-aging products, health foods, on-demand TV services, streaming services and audio books. In many cases, consumers can unknowingly end up making monthly payments ranging from between £10 to £70 per month for a product or service they didn’t want.
Subscription traps work by misleading consumers into signing up for a subscription to goods or services after seeing an advert on social media or a pop-up on a website. This is commonly done by the retailer promising a free trial, a reduced rate trial or sample goods where the consumer only has to pay for postage and packaging using a credit or debit card. The card details provided are then used to take recurring payments for a subscription using a continuous payment authority (CPA). The terms and conditions often don’t make this clear to the consumer, usually burying the key information in lengthy or unclear terms and conditions.
Sharon Muldoon from the Trading Standards Service said: “Free-trial offers are often extremely misleading, devised by fraudsters to deceive consumers and trick them into parting with their cash.
“It is essential that consumers are aware of what is involved in accepting offers or incentives to take up a subscription. When providing bank details for online offers always read the terms and conditions carefully to make sure you do not get more than you sign up for.”
Trading Standards offers the following advice to consumers when dealing with subscriptions:
- Check that the company is genuine. Does it have a padlock symbol on the website and a proper contact address and working telephone number? Research the company also by reading online reviews of the site.
- Look carefully at the wording of the advert. Does it make clear that in order to take advantage of an offer you will be enrolled onto a paid-for subscription plan? This information must be presented prominently in the ad itself (not buried in the terms & conditions)
- Check payment methods and full cost before you agree to the contract.
- Check if you can withdraw from the purchase. You have the right to a 14-day cooling-off period for distance purchases of goods within the EU. If the trader has not informed you of your right of withdrawal, the withdrawal period is extended by 12 months.
- Do not use the product when delivered and return the unused product ensuring you get a shipping receipt.
- Contact your bank - you may want to cancel your bank card to prevent the company from withdrawing more money from your account.
- Finally, regularly check your bank statements for any unexpected payments and query them if you don’t know what they are for.
If you feel you have been misled into signing up for a subscription you can get advice by contacting Trading Standards Service Consumerline helpline on 0300 123 6262 or by email consumerline@economy-ni.gov.uk
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.