Do You Read Terms & Conditions? I Wish I Had!

[Caran]

I ordered some face cream on August 8th. It was a freebie and only required postage to be paid. Had a comfirmation of the order on the 12th.
Heard nothing after that. I emailed them this morning asking for delivery details.
Had the parcel delivered this afternoon. When I opened there were two different creams in it. The paperwork said returns are only allowed within 14 days from ordering. They have already charged my card £59.99 for one and £54.99 for the other.
I telephoned them and got the usual foreign gentleman who was not very easy to understand.
I explained I only had the delivery today, and that there was no mention of any payment in the advert, just postage. I had read the advert very carefully and don't remember the T&C.
He said I couldn't return them as I needed a special number from him to enable the return.
I told him if he wouldn't authorise a return I would be on to the Trading Standards. He said he would go away for advice and for me to hold on.
He came back and very reluctantly said I could return them. He gave me the numbers I needed and said they had to be sent recorded delivery and when I have sent them I have to phone again with the tracking number. This I have done, I asked when I would get my refund and he did say 3/4 days after they receive the items back.
So be warned folk, a freebie is not always free. Read the T & C to be sure.

[jno]

who did you order it from, Marks and Sparks or a shack in Nigeria?

[maggiebee]

I did this too Caran - ordered face cream which was "free" and I only had to pay the postage. About a month later I was contacted by my bank asking if I had authorised a payment to ???????. I hadn't, so was asked to go into my branch to sort it out. Turns out this was a kind of "scam" that they were very aware of, many customers having been caught out. Seems that in the small print it said that, unless you cancelled, they would send you face cream every month. The cost per month was £59.99. Bank cancelled the payment but I had to get a new bank card - very inconvenient and a lesson learned the hard way.

[TonyV]

Yes had similar with a "free" magazine they are now trying to charge £39.99 per month subscription. Cannot get hold of any one i can understand but put a block on it via my bank.

[New Judge]

his is a well known scam. Here's one article but there are plenty to choose from.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/08/costly-low-cost-trial-offer

Never, ever, give your CC details when ordering a "free" sample!

[BAKERS DOZEN]

I haven't spent a total of £59.99 on face cream in my entire life. Soap and water every day and a dollop of Oil of Ugly on the days I go out anywhere. The cost of cosmetics is scary.

[Caran]

Thank you for that info New Judge. Comforting that I am not alone in this.
I used my Tesco card for this so I will phone them tomorrow.