FABLETICS - warning. Don't fall for their scam!

[Merse]

Have you seen Kate Hudson's range of sports wear? I thought it looked good and placed an order. They said I was entitled to a special VIP offer as a first order so I got a discount which I was pleased with. Just checked my Paypal account and spotted a £44 charge which I didn't recognise to them for today. Weird as I only placed that one order with them a couple of months ago. Then looked closely and saw ANOTHER charge of £44 that was taken last month. Just called to ask for an explanation and it turns out it is one of those dodgy scams where you get signed up for a monthly deal/commitment to pay. And if you don't want to pay one month you have to 'opt out'. Funny that no one told me that when I placed my original order. Just a warning in case anyone else falls for it.

[suzannecanthecan]

I don't like their marketing strategy and dont expect I will ever use them but I'm not sure that it is an actual scam.

When I looked at the website it seemed clear to me that in order to purchase from them you have to sign up to a monthly payment.

[Elllimam]

Do they send you more clothes every month?

[JemFinch]

I thought it was quite clear that's what they did from the website

[Morgan]

The website makes it v clear that you pay £44 for VIP membership and you are charged unless you opt out by 5th of every month - did you not see the website when you ordered ?

[Perfectlypurple]

It is clear from the first page of the website how it works. It isn't even hidden in the terms and conditions. There was a very similar thread a few weeks ago.

[Merse]

Well I didn't see a TV advert. Maybe it made it clear there, but it didn't on the website I can assure you. And if there was a similar thread a while ago then clearly I am not the only one.

[maroonedwithfour]

So you didn't get mire clothes delivered?

[Cecyhall]

I know it's annoying but it does explain it right on the home page of the website, it's not a scam, just a monthly payment thing like the similar shoe one that people often sign up to without reading the terms.

[WipsGlitter]

So, on the home page where it says "how it works" you didn't bother to read it?

It's not a 'scam'. It's just some numpties people don't bother to read the instructions.

[Merse]

No - no clothes delivered. turns out I'd paid 2 payments of £44 and received precisely zero in return. So £88 for …..er……nothing.

The home page of website might explain it, but all that happened to me was I found one of the sports bras when I was Googling them. Had never come across the brand before. I just liked the look of it and so bought it, taking advantage of the special introductory offer (so I thought). I suppose if I'd started from the home page maybe it would have flashed red lights at me.

[teachpeach]

I was a bit dubious - but read the website, understood what it said and ordered the first outfit, which by the way is very good quality.
I then had an email around the 1st of the month, reminding me that I now had 5 days to opt out if I did not want to pay £44 for another outfit. So I logged in, opted out and got a confirmation email to say I had done this - and no subsequent charge.
OP - have you not received any emails ?

[ShitHotAwesome]

I think it's more a case of "read the terms and conditions" than a scam.

I went through the website and it was clear to me that I would be charged monthly, would have to cancel if I did not want to be charged monthly etc.

I was nearly reeled in...

[sleepwhenidie]

It's not £88 for nothing, there will be £88 credit on your account that you can spend. I don't like the MO either but it is very clear and you have 5 days at the beginning of the month to respond 'SKIP' to the 2 emails they send with 'your suggested outfits'. If you do that then they don't charge your card.

[Merse]

Pretty sure I didn't receive any emails warning me I needed to opt out or would be charged…. I did get endless marketing emails showing the outfit of the month etc.

I agree about terms and conditions. In theory. The trouble is - in real life no one reads them all. For instance, ones for bank accounts go on to 10 pages of tiny print.

Anyway - I am sufficiently furious to never go near them again in spite of the fact that I like their products

[TheGirlFromIpanema]

Hmm I dunno about this not being a scam.

If the company really wanted OP to know that it was a monthly charge unless you opt out then she would have known. It would be there in bright bold letters as you agreed to the discount. I suspect it wasn't bright or bold

OP - cancel and complain but it does look as though the £88 is now yours to spend on their website.

I think this sort of selling deal should eally be looked into more by TS as I'm sure they are skirting the boundaries of acceptable distance selling regs.

[sleepwhenidie]

Well you can unsubscribe at any time but I'd suggest using the £88 you have in credit to buy some stuff at VIP (rather than full) prices before you do so .

[NerrSnerr]

I looked at their website and there's a page that says how it works or something. It's really clear. You also can get 2 outfits with the money they debited. Guess it's a lesson about learning t&c.

[maroonedwithfour]

Oh so you need to spend it.

[Merse]

I did cancel and complain. It took ages - but finally they seemed to agree to refund me. I will wait and see if it finally comes through ,though.

Agree with thegirlfrom… Not illegal, but clearly misleading and they profit from that 'confusion'. Which is clearly common and suits their bottom line brilliantly

[sleepwhenidie]

I think its pretty clear from the 'How It Works' screenshot Cecyhall posted...and to be honest, the first outfit is SO cheap - £22 for decent quality leggings, bra top and t-shirt then it's a little naive to think there isn't something more to it (ie the subscription part).

[Merse]

Then I was naive! I hold my hands up. Feel like an idiot in that case although I am not normally an idiot and have a post grad degree

But I don't remember ever seeing the 'how it works' page as I didn't enter from main website and navigate through to products - I went straight to the product from the Google search and then just though 'I'll have that' and went to pay. Assumed was cheap because it was a special offer for a first order to attract new customers.

[alicoults17]

Don't buy anything from Fabletics! They are a scam they will charge you £44 a month going forward without telling you and they don't give any refunds. They also make it very difficult to cancel the membership.

If this has happened to you, please sign my petition, i'm trying really hard to get them shut down. it seems to have happened to so many people.

www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-the-fabletics-scam

Many thanks