To think the Sunday times website is crap?

[VivaLeBeaver]

I signed up last week to get through the pay wall. Immediately thought the website was a bit crap, gave myself a few days to try and get used to it but just can't navigate around it to find the stuff I want to read.

Emailed saying I wanted to cancel, they took two days to email back saying I can only cancel over the phone. Got that email last night so have rung this morning to be told I'm just over the seven days cooling off period. I pointed out I emailed two days ago which would have been in the cooling off period but she wouldn't cancel it.

I told her I was cancelling the direct debit. Apparently I'm going to be in lots of trouble as its a twelve month contract. Will they take me to court? Only today there's what looks like a good article on autum woodland walks, but when you click on it it takes you to a jimmy saville story. I told her this and I think the website is so rubbish I'm having to buy the paper copy. I'm cross now after been told I can't cancel it.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I mean The Times website in general, not just the Sunday times bit.

[Trills]

You probably won't get many responses because it is paywalled so not many people have seen it.

I find it OK. The main thing that annoys me is the separation of The Times vs The Sunday Times - just show me all of the stuff in the section I have chosen, I don't care which day it was published.

It's not unreasonable for you to dislike the layout of a website.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'm worried now ill be taken to court for breaking a contract. I'm buggered if I'm paying £9 a month for something which I can't get on with. I've written them another email telling them I've cancelled the direct debit.

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

Do you have a tablet?

I find it much easier to download and read as a paper on my phone than to try and navigate the website - but I can do the website now that I've had the subscription for 6 months or so.

They will sell the debt to debt collectors if you cancel the DD, they are quite famed for doing it. For £9 a month it seems stupid, but I've known it to happen more than once! So the debt collector may take you to court.

I'd write to them at a postal address and say that you gave notice to cancel in email form on the xx of October, within the 7 day cooling off period, and would like confirmation that this has been actioned.

It's worth glancing through the T&C's again because I know that legally if you use the service the 7 day cooling off period is void, but I think The Times offer it anyway. If it mentions email as an allowable way of cancelling, copy that paragraph, as it will back you up.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Yes, I've got a tablet and I still find it rubbish. Am really worried now. They should be allowed to get away with having such a shit website. The free daily mail one is fine. I can't believe all the stuff in the paper is even on the website. I can't find any of the T2 stuff.

[Trills]

Now YABU to compare the Times to the Mail.

I don't understand what you signed up with - wasn't there a free trial? Did you really say "yes I will pay £9 a month for the next year" to use something you hadn't even tried? That doesn't sound right.

[VivaLeBeaver]

No free trial. I didn't realise it was for a year, just thought if I didn't like it I could cancel it. Sneaky, robbing bastards.

[Startailoforangeandgold]

I really mis the times Web site, too mean to pay.
But depends on your interests I guess.

DM wall to wall celebs in bikinis make me stabby.

[ceeveebee]

The iPad app for The Times is fantastic. Reall quick to download and easy to navigate
The Sunday Times app is shit. Always crashing, takes ages to download, always a few sections that can't download for whatever reason. When I complained I was told that its becaus I'm trying to use it on Sunday mornings which is a busy time for them - no shit Sherlock!!

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'd be interested in the content, I like the physical newspaper. I just meant the daily mail is much more user friendly, easy to navigate. But yes content not as good!

I've emailed a few different emails at the times now telling them how disappointed in their shit website and shit customer services I am.

[VivaLeBeaver]

And the iPad app is twice the price. I have an iPad, just don't want to pay that much. It's like they can do a good website/app but only if you pay more. If you pay the cheap rates they give you a shit service, probably hoping you upgrade.

[ceeveebee]

I pay £8.66 per month for iPad times, Sunday times and access to website.

[MissPerception]

I second what wittery says above. I cancelled a gym membership after I'd had it for over a year (Esporta) and they told me I couldn't do it. I did get one letter from a DD company and I just sent them a copy of the letter I'd sent to Esporta pointing out how unreasonable they were. I never heard another thing (and that was for a relatively larger amount of money than yours is) It would have cost them too much to take me to court. Likewise with you for something that would be thrown out anyway.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Thanks for that, feel a bit better. Hopefully I won't here much from them but if they do threaten me with bailiffs, etc I'll reinstate the dd. not worth the stress, it just makes me so bloody cross though.