scaryjim
Why not? You are essentially signing a contract when you agree to T&Cs, so you *should* always read them in full. The fact that most people (myself included!) are too lazy to read them doesn't make that expectation unreasonable. I guess one of the risks of online transactions is that you can't just say “are there any other charges?” and get an answer, like you could in person or on the phone. I guess the real lesson to learn is always read the T&Cs ;)
Well, since the terms and conditions that you are confronted with when installing software are, I reckon, not going to be enforceable in UK courts, it's perhaps not surprising that people over here click right through stuff on the web - it's become a sort of reflex.
Here are the
terms of service from Shopper Discount & Rewards' web site.
They're clear as mud, in my view.
This is my favourite section, cos it doesn't even say how much money you're going to pay and then adds insult to injury by saying that you can actually only read the original terms that you agreed to on the original web site where you got had - and, I'd be pretty sure those will only be visible at the point where you went to that feeder site originally.
“Membership Fee: Member will be charged a monthly, bi-monthly (every two months), quarterly or annual membership fee. The amount of this fee and its frequency is explained to Member at the time that Member joins Shopper Discounts & Rewards (the ”Membership Fee“). The Membership Fee will be billed automatically to Member's designated payment vehicle, which may include credit or debit card, ISP account, DDA account, debit account, mortgage account, and/or other or charge account(each a ”Billing Device“) during the initial membership term and each renewal term. WL may from time to time change the Membership Fee during any renewal term (but will not change the Membership Fee in relation to the initial term). Member will be notified at least twenty eight (28) days in advance of any revised charge applying.”
Furthermore and unlike reputable companies, it seems that this mob never sends out the terms or any type of follow-up email - knowing full well, of course, that a large number of people won't notice the small amount of money being syphoned out each month.
If - rather than just wading in with an off-the-cuff comment - you do take the trouble to read around what this outfit is up to - and what the firms that provide the links are letting it do - I reckon you'll really understand why right thinking people think that this is a scam and one that has been widely exposed over a number of years but is still going on up until this day.
Someone needs to stop this sort of stuff cos it seems this mob is far from being alone - it's only one of a number who are running such a businesses which, quite understandably really, leave people feeling scammed - and until the government and other authorities take some action, such firms are going to keep on lifting money - huge sums of money in total - out of the accounts of people who've no idea at all that this is a happening until after the event, leaving them feeling ‘had’.
Bob C
