Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

has anyone been charged £79 for amazon prime without knowing that they have brought it?

161 replies

jellymaker · 08/01/2015 20:42

Just found out that I bought it in March and then have been charged for it again in December. I haven,t watched a single movie and have only brought about 3 things off amazon this year. What is going on.? Has this happened to anyone else?

OP posts:
102030 · 08/01/2015 21:06

Mmm, I crossposted with everyone else saying that it was only one click for them to sign up - maybe it was different from how I sighned up?? If so, then YANBU Grin

weeblueberry · 08/01/2015 21:06

Its possible you signed up for it last year when it was about £29 per year but they hoiked it up to £79 but included Amazon Instant Video.

It's not based on how much you use it so whether you order 3 things and watch one film or order an item every day and watch a series every week, it's still the same price...

I don't understand anyone saying it's hard to cancel though - you go onto Live Chat, tell them you didn't mean to sign up and haven't used it then they'll refund you. Pretty instantly...

alwaysstaytoolong · 08/01/2015 21:16

Thanks to this thread I checked my account and apparently I signed up for it in May - certainty wouldn't have done so knowingly. Have e - mailed them to see if I can be refunded.

Cheeky sods!.

Infinity8 · 08/01/2015 21:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

102030 · 08/01/2015 21:18

I just spoke to my DH who had also done the one month free trial and asked him how obvious it was that there was a £79 fee. He said he wouldn't have known at all unless I had asked him and that it wasn't obvious at all. He works in finance Confused

Islagiatt · 08/01/2015 21:20

Me too! Had a review of last years bank account and found I have been paying £4.99 a month since about March - I certainly did not sign up for it, as my DH already has it so we get films and free delivery on his account. Will try for a refund as mentioned above, I never actually used it so hopefully they can see that it was done unknowingly

weeblueberry · 08/01/2015 21:22

This is the page you see before signing up to the Prime trial:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/prime/pipeline/landing?ie=UTF8&ref_=pin_linkfooter

It makes it clear it's a trial....it says underneath the huge button you press 'After your free trial, Prime is just £79/year. You can cancel your membership at any time'. I'm not sure how you could miss it tbh?

ilovesooty · 08/01/2015 21:22

I signed up for the free trial and to the paid service when it ran out. I found plenty of information indicating that there were additional services I didn't want, including emails sent to me and it would be £79 to renew. I cancelled it in good time before the renewal date last November. I'm honestly quite surprised that so many people didn't realise or found the cancellation process complex.

MissDuke · 08/01/2015 21:27

It it very clear that there will be a charge if you don't cancel, so I disagree with posters who are blaming Amazon here. It clearly explains how to go in and cancel it and you can do it from the minute you request the trial - so it isn't even a case of having to remember to do it at a later date. The free trial still continues even if you cancel.

Op, I would be very surprised if you didn't request the free trial. You need to be really careful online!

102030 · 08/01/2015 21:29

If something says 'Free Trial' I assume that it's a free trial of a PAID service. Otherwise it would be a bit odd to have a free trial. Confused

I've just looked up how easy it is to cancel and it is very easy to find the information.

Ultracrepidarian · 08/01/2015 21:31

Hmm yes this happened to me, found out on my quarterly bank statement. It was 3 months on from when they took the payment so I didn't chase it up. I remember something flashing up asking if I wanted next delivery, I'm remember thinking yes and clicking the option and something else flashing up saying sorry but the payment had not been taken an error occurred. Thought nothing more of it, parcel probably came next day and I know myself would have thought something along the lines of stuff and none sense didn't need next day delivery. Got no emails through saying is signed up to prime and this was back in June still feel ripped off.

As far as I'm concerned no contract was set up between myself and Amazon.

fuzzpig · 08/01/2015 21:33

Free trials for most things involve payment once the trial ends. That's why I never sign up - I know I'm too scatty to remember to cancel in time

honeypie10 · 08/01/2015 21:35

My brother had his refunded when he called them, I've heard a few colleagues have also had a refund after ringing them so seems they at least admit a mistake on their part.

weeblueberry · 08/01/2015 21:36

I don't think they're admitting a mistake, I think they don't want to risk losing further business (which will amount to over £79 probably) over a single payment. Which makes sense...

dementedpixie · 08/01/2015 21:37

I get the free trial every year around Christmas time and always always remember to cancel renewal before its due to come out again. It does make it clear a charge will be made if you do not cancel it before the month is up.

TheColdDoesBotherMeAnyway · 08/01/2015 21:39

Have you ever used Audible? Dh downloaded a 'free' audiobook and thought nothing of it until months later when he noticed that Amazon had been taking monthly direct debits from his account - all stemming back to this free download. He literally had no idea that he was signing up to a service. Amazon refunded every penny when he pointed out that he hadn't used it since that first time. What's odd is that I also downloaded a free book and never got charged again Confused

LaLa5 · 08/01/2015 21:42

Go onto amazon and there's a bit where you can cancel and get refund online. They refund it straight away

ImTakingTheEssence · 08/01/2015 21:44

Yes they take the piss. It happened to my mam they automatically just take the money for a years membership. She had the free trial as well got sent it through the post. She rang them up and they refunded her as she said if I wanted a years membership I would of asked for it. The lady at the bank saying that a lot of customers are having the same problem having cash taking without knowing why.

GoringBit · 08/01/2015 21:52

Definitely ask for a refund... I took out a trial membership, but got my dates mixed up and cancelled it a few days after the free period ended, so it had renewed and I was charged. A quick call got the charge refunded, no quibble. I've only had to deal with Amazon customer services a few times, but have been impressed each time.

GazpachoSoup · 08/01/2015 22:01

No, I haven't been charged for the full amazon trial but I HAVE been charged kindle prime charges.
I used the free amazon trial thing for 30 days, and made sure I cancelled in PLENTY of time so I wouldn't be charged.
All well and good, and all cancelled. Until a few months down the line when I got a debit from my account making me overdrawn as I was apparently signed up to amazon kindle prime as well as a result of taking the free monthly trial! Angry
To be fair to amazon though, the customer service is amazing. No faffing around ringing up (queues and music, argh) or e-mailing and waiting for a reply. They've got an instant chat system and within seconds I was connected to a member of staff and on me explaining they immediately refunded my money.
If you're getting the free trial, make sure you cancel and look at EVERYTHING as it's so easy to overlook little things even if you're usually extra vigilant like me!

ArfurFoulkesayke · 08/01/2015 22:03

Thanks to this thread I just searched my emails and found out I have been charged £79 3 days ago for Amazon Prime. Thankfully I haven't used it so was able to claim a refund which they say I've now got.
I can see from my order dates when I must have clicked on it but if it hadn't been for this thread I'd have had no idea about it.
I barely use Amazon but was a bit desperate pre-Christmas, that will bloody teach me.
I'm not thick, honest Confused
I do however have Flowers for jellymaker, you are the new Lynn Faulds Wood Grin

GazpachoSoup · 08/01/2015 22:05

It's definitely obvious the trial's free though, so I'm not sure how people are missing that?!
It says something like this before you order something "sign up for a free month's trial of Amazon Prime for free next day delivery".

GazpachoSoup · 08/01/2015 22:06

It's definitely obvious the trial's free though, so I'm not sure how people are missing that?!

Gawd. Should read "It's obvious that it's only a trial though, and free for so long, so how are people missing that?!"

Original poster
jellymaker · 08/01/2015 22:07

Thanks everyone. Just getting to the bottom of this. Looks like dh has signed up to it after love film got taken over by them and was charged in Dec for this. I however have a separate account which I was charged for in March without knowing it. I think I asked for free delivery on an order and that's when they have done it. I am phoning tomorrow to see what can be done. Thank you kindly Gaz about the tip about kindle fire as I have a new one for Christmas.

OP posts:
Trills · 08/01/2015 22:07

I expect a LOT of people sign up before Christmas but don't pay sufficient attention to the fact that they'll be charge if they don't cancel.