Hi Rach,

I have contacted my bank today and they have told me that following my completing their relevant paperwork, they have contacted rewardsnow & highcreditscore and it is they who have refunded the monies into my account not the bank!

So we are both right to push and harass these people.

Good Luck again to all.

Sue M

Hi Rach,

WELL DONE YOU! This should encourage others to keep pushing for refunds. Thinking about it now maybe my refunds came from High Credit Score & Rewardsnow, I just assumed that they had come from my bank as I filled in all the relevant paperwork that they sent me. I will call them tomorrow to have that confirmed. The two Companies are linked, even have the same address. I have emailed,faxed and phoned them, their employees need to be put on some kind of customer care/ people skills courses because they are so downright rude or maybe that is part of their training. I also received an email with an American address that had details of these two rogue companies and so I emailed them as well, I emailed Consumer Direct but have never heard anything back from either of them. But top marks to Moneysupermarket for highlighting the scam and giving people the advice they need to persue this daylight robbery.

Good Luck to others, I will let you know if it has been my bank that have given the refunds.

Cheers

Sue

HI I had £38 taken from my account by high credit score which should't have been and after some hassle had it refunded. The £38 was from my account on approx 10/10/09 and 27/10/09 and after some hassle I got this refunded today 09/11/09 I also had £19.95 taken from my account on 02/11/09 by rewardsnow. I had never heard of this company and had never signed up to anything with them. My bank seemed to think that high credit score and rewardsnow were the same company or linked in some way. I emailed the email address that I got for rewardsnow from their website explaining I had no idea who they were, asking why they had took money from my account and how they had got my card details. I also asked if they had anything to do with high credit score as the amounts were the same. I recieved an email back from them on 06/11/09 telling me my "membership" had been cancelled and I would recieve a full refund. My questions weren't answered as to how they gave me a membership and how they got my card details and also if they had anything to do with high credit score. I have emailed them back again asking if they could tell me how I became a member, how they got my card details and if they have anything to do with high credit score (the emails I got from both high credit score and rewardsnow were almost identical). I would advise anyone who has ad money taken bycredit scoring companies or rewardsnow that shouldn't have to push for a refund and make it clear you will take it further if you don't recieve refund. Good luck.

Rach W

Hi, I am a 27year old female living in Scotland. After having two payments totalling £38 taken from my bank account by the company high credit score, one on approx 11/10/09 and another on approx 27/10/09 I went into my bank is I was sure that this company should not have been taking money from my bank. I also then had £19.95 taken from my account from a company called rewardsnow on approx 02/11/09, the reason the dates are approx as I don't have my bank statement or mini statement here just now but the dates are all nearly exact. I had went on to some internet psites to try to check my credit score and agreed to some free trials. None of these sites were actually able to give me my credit score and because of that I decided not to go any further with them. After this I had no problem with any of them taking money apart from the company calling themselves High Credit Score. After having a payment taken from my bank for £19.95 that I didn't notice on around 11/10/09 there was another payment taken from my account on 27/10/09 that I did notice so I contacted my bank, who advised me to contact the company direct before the banl took this any further. I phoned High Credit Score and explained all this and was told my "membership" was cancelled, I explained I never wanted a membership as when I was trying to get my credit score It didn't work. I was then informed that even though my "membership" was cancelled the company was refusing a refund and that an email was swnt to my email address explaining this. I then emailed them back to explain that I checked my inbox and there was definetly no email from them and that my bank would be taking this further. I then recieved an email the next day explaining that both the £19.95 payments would be refunded within 7-10days, this email was sent to me on 04/11/09 (Wed) and I recieved the refund into my bank today (08/11/09) Also though after having the two payments taken from my bank by High Credit Score I then had £19.95 tken from my account by company rewardsnow . I had never heard of rewardsnow and certainly hadn't agreed to sign up to anything with them or given my bank details to them. I know I gave my bank details to High Credit Score as to get the free trial you had to physically input your debit or credit card details/number when sighning up for free trial but they shouldn't have took any money. When it comes to the company rewardsnow I had never gave them any details or arranged an account with them but they still took £19.95. It seemed very strange that High Credit Score took two payments of £19.95 and then 5 days after they took their last payment rewardsnow took £19.95 from my account. My bank seemed to think that they were either the same company or linked in some way. I emailed rewardsnow asking why they had taken the money as I had never agreed to anything and had never heard of them and asked how they sighned me up and got my bank details and asked if they had any connection to High Credit Score. I recieved an email back from them on approx the 06/11/09 saying they were refunding the £19.95 they had took within 7-10 days, the same as High Credit Score said. The emails I recieved from both "companies" were almost identical, but when rewardsnow emailed me to say they would refund they still didn't answer my questions as to whether they are anything to do with High Credit Score and also how they got my bank details and how they came to sign me up. I am still waiting to here back a reply to this email but at least I have had emails from High Credit Score to say I would get refund which I've now recieved today (08/11/09) and am waiting for refund I've been promised from rewardsnow. I am almost positive these companies are linked and at first High Credit Score were refusing to refund. I wanted to post this as I am sure there are many people that this has happened to I want other people to know I was knocked back for refunds and after pushing it and letting them know that It would be taken furher I am getting full refund so anyonr with the same problem, don't let it drop and let them know you and yur bank are prepared to take it further and you should get your refund and also ensure no further payments are taken.

Rach

Hi Farfrae (and others)

Hooray! I've had all the money taken by rewardsnow and highcreditscore refunded by my bank! I know those two modern day Dickturpin.co.uk have gotten away with it, but so glad I'm not out of pocket!

Good luck to any others trying to claim back.

Sue

Sue (and others)

Don't rebuke yourself for 'going on'. I started this thread and am still angry. I would happily see this group of thieving companies and their nonchalant employees go to the wall, and the impotence of the Financial Ombudsman Service ('oh, they didn't subscribe to a voluntary code of practice and don't appear on our database, so we'll do nothing') still rankles. The regulation, as has already been said here, is appallingly lax. Unfortunately, as I've found, Consumer Watchdog and newspaper outlets like the Guardian's Capital Letters service are innundated with bigger cases/fish, so these swine do not get the media exposure they so richly deserve. Good luck with other avenues.

Farfrae.

Hi All,

Just to bring you up to date (am sure you're all sick and tired of this!)

Last night I received an email from freecreditreport.co.uk obviously offering a free credit report. At the bottom of the email it says Yes,its really free along with your Free 10-day trial of High Credit Score.

Then in very faint writing a paragraph states: After your 10-day FREE trial the membership fee of £14.95 per month will be charged by High Cedit Score to the credit card you use today, and then automatically charged each month at the then current monthly membership fee so long as you remain a member. Of course, you can call us within the first 10 days to cancel-you will have paid nothing and owe nothing.

Next paragraph: *High Credit Score provides you with the tools you need to access and monitor your financial/credit information through the program's credit reporting and monitoring benefits. High credit Score and its benefit providers are not a credit repair service providers and do not receive fees for such services, nor are they credit clinics, credit report or credit sevices organizations or businesses. After verification of your identity, your report is available for secure Online Delivery in seconds. Creitd services are provided by Callcredit Linited.

FreeCreditReport.co.uk

4447 North Central Expressway Suite 110 PMB 406, Dallas, Texas 75205

We do not engage in spam practices or share or sell personal information to third parties, period. To be immediately removed from our contact records, please use this safe unsubscribe link

Earlier this morning I at last received an email from Highcreditscore.co.uk, word for word the same as I had received from rewardsnow.co.uk. When I telephoned again, the girl was so rude, arrogant and whilst I was on the line was constantly chatting and laughing with her colleagues. She told me I would have to email all my details, name, address, card details in to them (AS IF) because she had no record. I said she must have because I had received an email from them earlier, she said mmm right so we're not ignoring you as you have earlier implied!!! I was so so angry and asked how they slept at night knowing full well what they were doing to which she replied - very well thank you. Obviously all this is part of the Highcreditscore and rewardsnow staff training policy!

GRRRRRR!!

Sorry for going on.

Hi

I have received forms from my bank to try and recoup all/some/any of my money duplicitly taken, I have also today lodged a complaint via consumer direct as you advised.

I will let you know of any progress - if there is any, but to be honest, not holding my breath!

Regards

Sue M

sue m 1954:

Is there anybody we can complain to?

It's very frustrating that this has continued for the duration of this thread and before and nobody in UK2009 plc seems interested in stopping it.

Why not try trading standards. Think you may have to go through Consumer Direct.

Without doubt these websites are duping people into inadvertant clicking. You have identified the absence of a confirmation email (a common thread) and in the absence of a confirmation email the contract has not commenced. In such circumstances the credit card payment would not be compliant with Visa/Mastercard system rules. What I would do is to make a formal complaint in writing to your credit card company demanding a refund on the grounds that there was never an agreement because there was no confirmation email. If they do not agree, which is likely, refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service after 8 weeks. While I am not confident the FOS would uphold your complaint, the outcome would make interesting reading and move the issue forward.

The absence of the email is key. I am not sure what is the status of an email trapped by a spam filter or an email sent elsewhere because of an address typo on your part. Not pointing the finger, just something to think about and try to counter because I fear there will be a claim that an email was sent.

BTW I'm interested that you got the report from Equifax because the "highcreditscore" report should have come from Call Credit. Something else has happenned which I don't understand but may explain the two payments.

An finally for the benefit of others reading this, if you want to try a "free" credit report offer go direct to the Experian or Equifax websites, not through a referral website.

Hi Jalexa,

Thanks for the reply. I received my credit report from Equifax. I'm absolutely stunned at the amount of people who are in the same position as I find myself in. I'm even more angrier than I was yesterday as I now realise how rewardsnow and highcreditscore were able to have access to my details, when the patronising young lady (and I use that term loosely) I spoke to from rewardsnow yesterday was adamant that I had given them my details. And as I have read off other messages people have been told they had emails sent to them, I was told a welcome email had been sent to me and the contents of that (had I read them!!) would have told me I had 10 days to cancel. I received no such email.

Is there anybody we can complain to? I have said I will be contacting Trading Standards, who knows if that will do any good. Really in effect they have cloned my card. I am going to email Equifax to register a complaint.

Cheers

Sue M

sue m 1954:

At the beginning of the month I took advantage of a 30 day free trial from one of the Credit Report Companies. This is the only area I have gone to.

To help with suggestions you need to post which Credit Reference Agency fulfilled the credit report.

At the beginning of the month I took advantage of a 30 day free trial from one of the Credit Report Companies. This is the only area I have gone to.

However this week I have had two amounts of £19.95 taken from my bank acount using my credit card details from two different named companies, but they do have virtually the same telephone number and exactly the same fax number. One being Rewardsnow.co.uk and Highcreditscore.co.uk. I have contacted both but have only been able to speak to Rewardsnow.co.uk who have stated that their trial period was only for 10 days and I should have cancelled within that time! I suspect Highcreditscore.co.uk will say exactly the same - if I ever manage to speak to somebody. Neither of these companies have provided me with anything, but rewardsnow.co.uk have said that their facility was there for me to use if I had wanted to. I don't even know what it is that they offer! I honestly thought at the time that my details had been cloned and contacted the bank who cancelled my card!

I have emailed and requested refunds from both companies, rewardsnow.co.uk have flatly refused saying that I should have read the small print , but when I have logged on to their website unless you have a user id and password (which I don't) you cannot get passed the first page which is basically just an advert.

I honestly do not recall giving my details to either, I have only given these details when I applied for a credit report.

Is there anything I can do?

I thought the same at first. However, my cancellation confirmations went to my spam folder, but your settings may have filtered them out.

Russy:

Next time go direct to either Experian (CreditExpert) or Equifax. You will find genuine 30 day "free" trials there. Personally I wouldn't bother with "scores", the accuracy of your "credit report" is much more important.

Hi Carrie-ami

I have had the same problem today with QuickCreditScore. I can't remember if I clicked on the Rewards Now section but want to be sure. I have sent an email to QuickCreditScore requesting that my so called membership be cancelled but have still not received an email from Rewards Now so could you advise as to who I email or write to for Rewards Now to cancel any proposed membership I may have with them. I am still on the first day of the 10 day trial but want to get this dealt with a.s.a.p. I am going to be a lot more careful when clicking on anything online again.

Thank you