If you've ever found yourself in a situation where you've been charged for a subscription you never signed up for, you're not alone.
One Which? member's elderly mother was charged £1.99 and then £70 by Easylife for a subscription to a rewards club she never asked for.
When questioned about it, Easylife claimed that she had agreed to the scheme during a previous phone conversation, but the member's mother denies this.
Easylife Catalogue Stealth Sign-Up: How to Join Without Being Noticed
According to Luke Jeffery, a Which? consumer rights expert, any company that wants to send offers and promotions to customers must obtain explicit consent first. They should also make it clear what they intend to do with customer data, using plain language that's easy to understand.
Companies are also obligated to make it easy for customers to opt out of any marketing or correspondence that they didn't ask for. This article will explore the issues raised by this case and offer advice on how to deal with unwanted subscriptions and direct marketing.
This case highlights the importance of companies obtaining explicit consent from customers before sending them offers and promotions, as well as making it easy for customers to opt out of any unwanted marketing or correspondence.
Key Takeaways
Tell your bank to block future recurring payments
Dealing with direct marketing
Find Trusted EasyLife Group Reviews for Nov. 2023
Tell Your Bank to Block Future Recurring Payments
If you suspect that you have been charged unauthorised payments by Easylife, you can ask your bank or credit card provider to block future payments to Easylife. Under the Payment Service Regulations 2017, you have the right to ask for a refund for any unauthorised payments made. You can also cancel any future payments using the Direct Debit Guarantee.
Easylife claims that no customer is signed up without consent, and all calls are recorded for verification purposes. However, if you believe that you did not provide consent for the payment, you can still ask for a refund. Easylife operates an unconditional cancellation policy, and refunds are processed promptly, with over 97% processed within 48 hours.
To block future payments, you can contact your bank or credit card provider and provide them with the necessary information. You can also ask for a refund for any unauthorised payments made. It is important to act quickly to prevent any further unauthorised payments from being made.
Overall, it is essential to keep track of your finances and monitor your bank statements regularly to detect any unauthorised payments. If you suspect any fraudulent activity, you must act quickly to protect your finances.
Dealing with Direct Marketing
If you're tired of receiving unwanted marketing calls and emails, there are several steps you can take to put a stop to them. First and foremost, it's important to know your consumer rights. Companies that mishandle your data and breach data protection rules can be fined substantial amounts.
One way to reduce unwanted marketing calls is to register your phone number with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). This is a free service that allows you to opt out of receiving unsolicited sales and marketing calls. Once you've registered, companies are legally required to stop contacting you, unless you've given them explicit permission to do so.
If you're still receiving unwanted calls, you have the right to object to any activity from companies under the Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR). This includes processing information used for marketing purposes, such as unwanted calls. Companies must inform you of your right to object to the processing of your data in their privacy notice or the first time you make contact with them.
To stop receiving marketing emails, you can unsubscribe from the email newsletter.
Most newsletters have an unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. Clicking on this link will take you to a page where you can confirm that you want to unsubscribe from the newsletter. Once you've confirmed your request, the company should stop sending you marketing emails.
If you're concerned about how an organisation obtained your data and is using it, you can make a subject access request (SAR). This right of access means you can ask to review and verify the lawfulness of the processing of your personal data.
To stop Easylife from processing your personal data for marketing purposes, you'll need to explicitly state that you're asking the organisation to stop processing your personal data in accordance with Section 47 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR). You'll also need to date your notice and give the company a reasonable deadline by which to comply with your request.
The best way to do this is via email, as it automatically means you have a copy of your notice and a paper trail to refer to.
In summary, if you're tired of receiving unwanted marketing calls and emails, you can take steps to put a stop to them. Registering with the TPS, objecting to the processing of your data, unsubscribing from email newsletters, and making a subject access request are all effective ways to reduce unwanted marketing.
Easylife Rewards Club - Targeting Vulnerable Customers
The Easylife Rewards Club has been accused of preying on vulnerable customers, signing them up for unwanted subscriptions without their consent. Many customers have reported receiving unsolicited phone calls from persistent salespeople who refuse to take "no" for an answer. The company has been fined £1.5 million for a serious breach of data protection rules, including using personal data to target customers with unsolicited marketing calls. If you have been affected by the Easylife Rewards Club, you can contact them at their email address [email protected] to seek help with your consumer rights.
Find Trusted EasyLife Group Reviews for Nov. 2023
EasyLife Group has received mixed reviews from its customers. While some customers are satisfied with the products and services offered, others have reported issues such as unwanted subscriptions, poor quality products, and unauthorised payments.
Here are some trusted EasyLife Group reviews for November 2023:
Trustpilot: EasyLife has a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on 34 reviews. Some customers have reported issues with unauthorised payments and unwanted subscriptions. However, others have praised the company's customer service and delivery times.
Sitejabber: EasyLife has a rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars on Sitejabber based on 12 reviews. Customers have reported issues such as poor quality products, unauthorised payments, and unwanted subscriptions.
Resolver: Martyn James, the founder of complaints website Resolver, has accused EasyLife of exploiting its customers. He believes that older and more vulnerable people are less likely to complain or know their rights. James advises customers to check their bank statements and dispute unauthorised payments with their bank.
Citizens Advice: Camden Council in London has urged anyone affected by EasyLife to report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506 or online at citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards.
It is important to note that while some customers have had negative experiences with EasyLife Group, others have reported positive experiences. It is recommended that you do your own research and read reviews from multiple sources before making a purchase from EasyLife Group.
Why is it difficult to obtain a refund from Easylife?
Easylife offers trial subscriptions to its customers, which they can accept while placing their order or by being contacted via their partner call centre. The trial subscription costs either £1.99 or £2.99, depending on the offer taken, and customers receive literature through the post informing them of the start of the trial and a welcome pack.
Once the trial starts, customers have 14 days to decide whether to subscribe or not. If they do not want to subscribe, they have to call, email or post back the welcome pack. If they fail to do so, they will be charged for the yearly subscription.
If customers agree to take the trial, they will be charged the trial amount and then receive literature through the post informing them of the start of the trial and a welcome pack. The customers have 14 days to decide, after which they will be charged for the yearly subscription. If the customer gets charged and wants to cancel, they can either contact Easylife's partners directly (with the contact details they receive by post) or they can call Easylife. Once the customer requests their refund, they should get it within five to seven days.
However, some customers have reported difficulties in obtaining refunds from Easylife. For example, a customer who did not want to receive a discount card from Easylife was charged £2.99 for the card's delivery. When she requested a refund, the Easylife staff member became patronising and said that the matter would be taken up with head office, which would listen to the recording of the first phone call. The customer was promised a response within seven days but did not receive any communication for two weeks.
Another customer received a letter from Easylife about Easylife Supercard membership services. The customer realised that, were she to use the unwanted discount card, she would be committing herself to the annual £69.99 fee. She sent the card back along with everything else she had been sent from Easylife. However, this led to Easylife debiting her account with £2.99, which infuriated her.
Customers who have been charged and want to cancel their subscription can either contact Easylife's partners directly or call Easylife. Once the customer requests their refund, they should get it within five to seven days. However, if customers have difficulty obtaining refunds, they should quote the above information to Easylife.
Comments