I cancelled mine via email also, after spending 45 mins on the phone waiting in a queue.

Sent the mail telling them the date i was cancelling the direct debit.

I had no problems cancelling

Whenever you cancel a subscription on DD, always go to your bank and delete the DD as well. That way, there's no chance of the 3rd party taking a payment. If you don't do this, and the 3rd party do take a payment, then you're eligible from an immediate refund from your bank. How this works in practice is unknown to me! I suspect that your bank will deal with it, but you may need to spend a fair amount of time on the phone to sort it out. So, just delete direct debits from your bank account when you cancel any agreements.

It was not a DD, no DD was ever set up it is just a recurring card payment with PS as I paid yearly.

I'd always avoid setting up recurring card payments if at all possible for this very reason. With DD's it's you that's in control, whereas with recurring payments it's the 3rd party that has to cancel the arrangement (until the card expires). It sounds like you caught it before any payments were taken, but for anyone that does find themselves in a position where payments have been taken when they shouldn't, rlhttps://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/recurring-paymentsrl has details of the steps to take to get your money back.

fella no one sets up "recurring 3rd party payments" PS just take the money using the last card details they have kept on file on the due date.

Bad practice.

PS do say that they will continue to take payments until cancelled. They also say that "The easiest and quickest way to subscribe is on our secure website where you can pay by credit card or set up a direct debit." If you use a credit card to set up the subscription, then it will default to be a recurring payment.

I am not sure what you are saying really, the point of the OP is that despite cancelling via email they still didn't actually cancel the item despite that being an official way of cancelling.

I was pointing out to people that if they simply phone to confirm it will save them have to cancel DD or get the money back afterwards.

Keep up

I was just trying to help! The problem is that even by ringing up, you can't be 100% sure that it's been cancelled, and a safer way is to avoid recurring payments for subscription services altogether if you can. DD's can only be set up on bank accounts (using sort code and account number). If you give the "long number" on a card then you're implicitly accepting recurring payments against that card.

I agree with HXSparky based on what I know of personal finance.

I have worked in the banking industry for 30 years, We all know about DD, and SO, but if you pay for something , anything on a card, you run the risk of them taking a further payment regardless.

I paid a one off years ago by card over the phone, before they even had a login system to do it and since then they have taken without my authorisation. This practice happens, there is nothing you can do about it, except setup a DD or cancel your card etc...

PS should not take payments from people who have not authorised it, but like anywhere there is nothing to stop them and regulation is crap in this area.

Agreed Sadfish, you have more control with a DD and I think that was the point our Fax friend was making. Thankfully credit cards can now have short expiry dates but like you say they shouldn't take an unauthorised transaction. If they did you have a right to appeal.

As for unauthorised transactions and having to appeal against them, don't dare get me started on the concept of contactless payment cards. I hate the things yet the ombudsman can't and won't enforce financial institutions not to push them onto debit/credit card holders.

Cancelled mine today, offered me it at £4 per month for a year but I declined. Emailed me reference.

Anyone cancelling online, take a screenshot.

I’ve had a right game with them. Cancelled in December, and that months payment went out (no argument on that one), but then January went out too and they claim never to have had it cancelled and that they can’t check on their system (bull). Apparently because I didn’t take a screenshot of everything I do online then it’s my fault.

Scum company. Glad to be rid of them.

if you cancel by dd, go into your bank and instruct them to cancel, they cant take money out of your account

ive dont that in the past with gyms