Amazon!!

[cupotee2]

I have just checked my bank statement to find Amazon have charged me £49 for membership of AMAZON PRIME which is a yearly payment for free delivery!

I rarely buy from Amazon and definitely not made a purchase in the last 6 months.

Apparently, I may have clicked on the free trial, but why I would do that when I have only browsed the site. However after a one month free trial you are charged regardless.

Seems its a problem with many people.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/sho ... ?t=1800095

I have taken the advice from the above link and used the free phone number and the charge will be reimbursed into my account within 2 days..

Worth checking your bank account, in case its something you don't want.

[ladybirder]

Yikes! I ordered from Amazon last night. I'll check. Thanks for the warning cupotee.

[mccfluff]

i took out the free trial and then cancelled it before they were due to take the money.
amazon made it very clear that i was taking a free trial and unless i cancelled it,then the money would be taken from my account for the year on x date

its not really amazons fault people don't read beyond "free" (although i accept they do hope to take advantage of that)

[jno]

sometimes an item is labelled "free delivery with Amazon Prime"; maybe you clicked on that.

[boxtops]

I order from Amazon frequently, the last one only last week - I've certainly been paying for my deliveries (when the item I buy doesn't qualify for free delivery anyway).

[cupotee2]

I've not made a purchase on Amazon since last summer. I have browsed the site tho.

I thought it worth highlighting the issue as many others seem to have had a similar problem.

[Frank97]

I love the way they describe it as "free delivery", after you've paid £49 for it.

[bibblebub]

The standard practice these days seems to be that when you sign up for something it's up to you to tell a company that you don't want to extend a contract, whereas in the past it used to be that the company would contact you to enquire whether you want to continue with it and would cancel unless you replied with a yes. I've just cancelled a phone contract at the end of the 2 years that I signed up for because if I hadn't done that then they would have simply carried on charging me.

[gness]

I always sign up for the free trial period when I order then when my free delivery registers I immediately click the box that says I don't want to carry on after the trial period.....well my helper does......☺

[gingejbee]

I have to agree with mccfluff...you can't blame Amazon if you don't read AND ACT ON the small print. I had a free trial of Prime too and cancelled a few days before it "matured"....Result was no charge made.

[sandmaster]

JNO is probably correct. When ordering from Amazon you are often told your purchase qualifies for free delivery. In fact if you accept this you are accepting a free trial of Prime, followed by a charge for a year's membership. To be fair Amazon will usually refund the money if you complain you were mislead. I do think it is misleading and no doubt many who accept the 'offer' do not bother cancelling. No doubt if you make regular purchases it can save you money.

[grasscarp]

I took the month free trial and wrote amazon trial on my calendar to remind me to cancel.

[cupotee2]

I also think many don't check bank statements thoroughly so won't realise they have been charged.

There was no bother getting it cancelled verbally with an email to follow confirming the money will return to my bank within 2 days,

I am also let to believe the charge will be going up shortly to include extra access to the videos, the price will be £79 next time you need to pay up.

Well worth keeping your eye on that little gem

[Chris38]

This is a vile inertia selling technique and totally unworthy of Amazon. By andl large, internet sellers seem to think they can get away with tricks that would be stopped in other media. The message is - NEVER accept any so-called "free" offers over the internet - they are usually intended to deceive and, even worse, usually involve another vile business practice - the credit card continuous payment authority.