A word to the wise, Beware the "Gadget Helpline"

[DerekG]

Just signed up for a new mobile phone from mobiles.co.uk. I noticed
on the order acknowledgement an additional Item I had not ordered Viz.
membership of their "Gadget Helpline" service provided by someone
called TMTI at �3.99/month billable 6 months at a time in advance.

They say this is a service to help people who have problems operating
their phones, cameras, kettles (IKYN)

mobiles.co.uk gave our bank account details to TMTI so they could set
up a direct debit without reference to me, but now mobiles.co.uk say
they cannot accept my instructions to cancel the service because it
would conflict with the Data Protection act.

Definitely taking the piss.

Of course attempting to cancel is a convoluted process requiring
reference numbers they emailed to me weeks ago plus me to divulge my
bank acct. details they already have and my email address I could be
spammed by.

Best way to retaliate anybody ?


DerekG

[Olav M]

Once had similar problem...
Cancel your DD with Bank immediately to stop further payments.
Unfortunately if a payment has already been taken, you may be on weak
ground, to get repayment. The bank may take the attitude that you "allowed"
a DD to be set up. But ask them for advice/help anyway. Mine helped. Best of
luck!!

--
OlavM
Overlooking the Clyde where it meets the Sea
"DerekG" <geldar...@memaw.com> wrote in message
news:4c3cj814bi2gp7t7p...@4ax.com...

[Dave Liquorice]

On Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:54:59 +0000, DerekG wrote:

> Best way to retaliate anybody ?

Got online banking? Just login and cancel the relevant DD. Or wander into
a branch and get them to do it. I bet they will be in touch with you
within a week, if not sooner.

You can then explain nice an politely that you didn't order the service
and they need to cancel it.

--
Cheers
Dave.

[Graham.]

On Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:54:59 +0000, DerekG <geldar...@memaw.com>
wrote:

They might claim you did order it, you just omitted to click the
relevant link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/g3zvt/8530738267/in/photostream/lightbox/

That takes you to the following text:


1 Month FREE Trial

Don't waste your precious time trying to call the manufacturer,
waiting on hold for half your lifetime, then ending up talking to
someone in a foreign country that you struggle to understand.
Take advantage of this generous offer with a great service ...
1 months FREE FULL Technical Support, for YOU and ANYONE in your
household, for your mobile phone and most electrical appliances in
your house.
Get the help you need, when you need it, for your phones, laptops,
computers, DVD players, Televisions, kettles, blenders ... you get the
idea!
No premium rate number to call - Just 5p per minute at all times from
BT landlines which may vary from other networks and mobile operators
All of the Technical Support team are based in the UK - Easy to
understand
Quick answering times - Get talking FAST
Highly trained staff, with a HUGE database of product information -
Get the ANSWERS you need from proven experts.
The 1 months free trial will automatically be supplied to you when
your order your handset. After the first month you simply pay a small
premium of �23.94 (inc VAT) every 6 months (equivalent to �3.99 per
month) by Direct Debit to "Talk Me Through It". This service gives
your the reassurance that you can simply pick up the phone, dial a
5p-per-minute number, speak with the Technical Support Team who are
based in the UK, and get your query answered quickly and easily!
TMTI can be cancelled at any time after your account has been
finalised, which is usually two or three days after delivery. You can
also cancel during the free trial, by simply contacting TMTI or ending
the Direct Debit instruction. A more detailed explanation of the
service provided will be emailed or posted to you shortly after your
new handset arrives.

The Direct Debit Guarantee
This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that
accept instructions to pay Direct Debits
If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your
Direct Debit TMTI Ltd will notify you within 10 working days in
advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you
request TMTI Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and
date will be given to you at the time of the request
If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by TMTI Ltd or
your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and
immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society
If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back
when TMTI Ltd asks you to
You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your
bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please
also notify us.


It stinks to high heaven but it looks as if they've been getting away
with it for years.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=1669359

Did you need/want the "phone care policy" insurance?

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

[Onetap]

On Tuesday, March 5, 2013 3:54:59 PM UTC, DerekG wrote:
Ring bank. Cancel DD and ask them to recover the payments taken without your authorisation.

Santander did this for me over the phone when Virgin Media had taken payments for a service they hadn't provided and hadn't billed me for.
VM threatened dire consequences and my credit rating would be affected; nothing happened.

You haven't asked for the service, there's no contract, you don't have to even discuss it with TMTI or mobiles.co.uk.

The convoluted process (on a premium rate number??) and long reference numbers are merely flannel to confuse the gullible.

[Mike Humphrey]

Olav M wrote:
> Once had similar problem...
> Cancel your DD with Bank immediately to stop further payments.
> Unfortunately if a payment has already been taken, you may be on weak
> ground, to get repayment. The bank may take the attitude that you "allowed"
> a DD to be set up. But ask them for advice/help anyway. Mine helped. Best of
> luck!!

Not at all - Direct Debit Guarantee. Claim the money back from the bank
under the direct debit guarantee, and it's up to them to reclaim it from
the company. Then if the company still wants paying *they* have to take
*you* to court,

Mike

[Tim Lamb]

In message <4c3cj814bi2gp7t7p...@4ax.com>, DerekG
<geldar...@memaw.com> writes

>
>Just signed up for a new mobile phone from mobiles.co.uk. I noticed
>on the order acknowledgement an additional Item I had not ordered Viz.
>membership of their "Gadget Helpline" service provided by someone
>called TMTI at £3.99/month billable 6 months at a time in advance.

Also beware something similar on the Airparks site.

Having given your bank details to secure the parking, the website
changes to an application for a FairFX currency card using the details
you have just given. More alert brains than mine would probably have
spotted the shift:-(

After lots of mails and calls they refunded the £10.00 worth of Euros at
a net cost to me of £0.50. The card duly arrived and went through the
shredder.

--
Tim Lamb

[Jules Richardson]

On Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:54:59 +0000, DerekG wrote:

> service provided by someone called TMTI

teenage mutant tosspot iguanas?

[Brian Gaff]

Is this not illegal in the same way as ppi?

Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email: bri...@blueyonder.co.uk
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"DerekG" <geldar...@memaw.com> wrote in message
news:4c3cj814bi2gp7t7p...@4ax.com...
>

[Lobster]

On Tuesday, 5 March 2013 15:54:59 UTC, DerekG wrote:
> Just signed up for a new mobile phone from mobiles.co.uk. I noticed
>
> on the order acknowledgement an additional Item I had not ordered Viz.
>
> membership of their "Gadget Helpline" service provided by someone
>
> called TMTI at £3.99/month billable 6 months at a time in advance.

Take a chill pill!

The insistence of all the carphone warehouse companies on bundle this poxy Gadget Helpline offering with all their deals reaally pisses me off too; however in their favour (and this is the only good thing I can say about them) at least it's dead easy to dump. Same applies to their poxy compulsory insurance policy. (Incidentally I'm pretty sure they do tell you about both "services" before you press the "buy" button).

Just go to http://blog.gadgethelpline.com/contact-us/ and follow the cancellation instructions. They will email you back with confirmation of this within the day, and that will be the end of it. At least you don't have to post a hard copy letter or phone a premium-rate number to do it.

I've cancelled the Gadget Helpline countless times over the years; four of us in my family take out new mobile contracts every time they expire in order to get cashback deals, and they are frequently with CPW companies. Never had any problem with them not cancelling a d/d, or being spammed.

--
David

[maiac...@googlemail.com]

This has happened to me before. I thought that they signed me up without knowing but after looking in to it, they do tell you about the insurance and gadget helpline before you sign up to anything. It's displayed in the basket before you even put your details in. You get your first month free and you can cancel at anytime. I just cancelled the direct debit on my online banking and everything was fine.

Hope you get yours sorted.