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Villo! - Debiting my bank account without my knowledge
Villo! - Debiting my bank account without my knowledge
Dear all,
I took out a Villo! subscription for a year in 2011 when it was first introduced in Brussels. I paid a one off payment of €30.
After checking my bank statement yesterday I notice an amount of €32 debited in favor of Villo. I thought how could that be when I haven't been using their service for 4 years. When I looked at my bank statements for the last 4 years, I saw that Villo has been debited the amount every year since 2012.
When I called their customer service I was told that to cancel the subscription I have to send a letter in writing and that this is clearly mentioned in the terms and conditions. Now I know that I should be reading the small print, but let's be honest, how many of us actually do (unless one is a lawyer). They refused to refund me back the amount for the previous years.
I just wanted to bring this to the attention of others who like me once subscribed to Villo that they should contact Villo to cancel their subscription to stop this day light robbery.
Bonjour,
sorry, for me it's not robbery, it's their business: IT'S A LEGAL CONTRACT you signed. An annual subscription for whatever you have to cancel in written (and in Belgium best to send by registered letter, normally with a 3 months cancellation period).
Full stop - no more to add IMHO.
And yes, I read the T&A before subscribing / ordering goods, booking hotels ...and I am not lawyer at all. Life got complicated these days ;-).
Yes, it's quite clear when you sign up, in big letters. You have to inform them if you want to cancel your standing order.
If you are not aware that the norm in Belgium is that you have to give written notice to cancel anything that is your fault not Villo's.
If you were not aware that someone was taking €32 from your account each year for the past 3 years you clearly have more money that I have!
Other European countries, France for example, have this automatic renewal of contracts system too.
To determine the contract, you have to give three CLEAR calendar months notice before the renewal date, in writing, signed and sent by registered post to the appropriate address - so for a contract due for renewal today (4 June) the notice must have been received by the other party no later than the last day of February. Some contracts have different notice periods or procedures, if they do it will be spelt out in the contract.
You will almost always be able to opt for a variation to a contract without notice IF that variation results in you paying a higher price.
If it's any use to anyone, here's what the Villo website says.
http://en.villo.be/Telechargez-les-CGAU
The subscription is renewed automatically at the end of the first year unless the customer gives the provider express notice of termination by post no later that one month prior to the anniversary date. The customer’s attention is drawn to the fact that the subscription will be automatically renewed on the price terms applicable at the time of renewal. Following automatic renewal, the customer may nevertheless terminate the subscription free of charge at any time on giving two months’ notice from the date of the provider receiving the letter of notice. Termination results in the closure of the client’s account and reimbursement of the unused period of subscription, after deduction of the two-month notice period.
