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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think that mumsnet should protect their product testers?

99 replies

lunar1 · 10/01/2015 09:25

I am one of the product testers mumsnet chose for the weight watchers product trial. As a part of the trial we had to sign up online and provide payment details. We were promised that no payments would be taken but that they couldn't change the system to avoid providing the details.

I used my paypal account and after the first month was charger the full months membership. I checked the feedback thread and saw that this had happened to lots of us.

We were promised that it wouldn't happen again, and wanting to believe the best in people I left it at that thinking is was a genuine mistake which was now rectified.

The product test ended in December and I along with lots of others have been charged again. As soon as people started reporting it in the feedback thread MNHQ closed the thread. I sent them a Pm and started a thread asking what was happening. replied that they were dealing with it so I didn't complain I waited for my refund. Annoyingly it goes back onto my paypal balance so takes me bloody ages to actually get my money.

OP posts:
Original poster
lunar1 · 10/01/2015 09:27

Argh posted too soon!

After ignoring the problem for days mumsnet said my refund had been sent yesterday. I paid by paypal so my refund should be instant. It hasn't arrived.

Am I being unreasonable to think that mumsnet should protect us, not the big company that has basically stolen our money?

OP posts:
Bakeoffcakes · 10/01/2015 09:27

lunar do MNHQ know whats been going on?

FannyFifer · 10/01/2015 09:27

This is terrible, been following it.

I know for a lot of folk myself included an unexpected amount taken from bank account could be a big problem resulting in back charges etc.

Hope you all get sorted.

Bakeoffcakes · 10/01/2015 09:28

Sorry xposted.

Shall I report your post and ask them to look into this. It's really not on.

RyanAirVeteran · 10/01/2015 09:30

That is shocking.

102030 · 10/01/2015 09:30

That's awful. Shock How much money was it (not that it matters but I'm just curious)

Original poster
lunar1 · 10/01/2015 09:31

I really don't think they care and I don't think they will advertise a negative product test either. It just shows mn are all about the money to be honest.

I should have said in my first post, I have a bank charge from this.

OP posts:
Original poster
lunar1 · 10/01/2015 09:31

Just under £22 each time.

OP posts:
Koalafications · 10/01/2015 09:31

That's not good at all.

26Point2Miles · 10/01/2015 09:32

How much did they charge? That's awful

Tbh I'd probably not veto voiced once payment details were requested. The excuse it couldn't be changed is rubbish

26Point2Miles · 10/01/2015 09:32

X posts!

26Point2Miles · 10/01/2015 09:34

I don't thin MN are uncaring. Over the years it's not the impression I've got.

MadamG · 10/01/2015 09:35

I'd suggest getting onto Twitter - if you ar on it or have friends/ family try. But of name and shame on a public forum. op I hope you are financially ok?? It's horrible to be in that situation through no fault of your own.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 10/01/2015 09:36

That is really poor! It sounds like they are refunding money when caught without actually cancelling you. And yes, I would expect MN to take responsibility for this.

Screenclean · 10/01/2015 09:38

That's horrid. Really unacceptable. Good luck getting it sorted.

Original poster
lunar1 · 10/01/2015 09:39

I can't post on social media as it would out me.

I can manage financially but it's been hard getting the money into the right place and it doesn't look good on my banking. Plus january is a really tight month there just isn't money to spare for this.

I didn't think mn were uncaring either and I've been here years. But if they were bothered about us they would have refunded and sorted it out with ww them self. They are also refusing to say anything about what ww have done just that they are looking into it.

OP posts:
MadamG · 10/01/2015 09:48

Ok fair enough. Sympathies over the finances though I'd be in the same situation.

CaptainJamesTKirk · 10/01/2015 09:48

I personally don't get involved with product testing that involves providing my bank details... There have been ww, amazon prime, amazon family, sky, archica to name but a few. I avoid them like the plague.

I think to be honest there's little MN can do, in way of refunding, you entered a relationship with ww. Is there anything PayPal can do? MN shouldn't take up advertisers who can't manage their own housework. But we know MN is all about the adverts at the moment. :(

ArgyMargy · 10/01/2015 09:51

I agree with Captain - never give out bank details if you don't want to get charged!

Bakeoffcakes · 10/01/2015 10:00

Argy that's not very helpful is it? The testers were reassured their money wouldn't be taken!

Lunar Ive reported your post so hopefully MNHQ will be along soon to sort this mess out. They can't ask MNetters to take part in something and then not help out when those people have money taken off them!

Original poster
lunar1 · 10/01/2015 10:00

I think one resolution I would like to see from this is mumsnet refusing to take on any tests that involve people's payment details. It would be really good to see that introduced as a policy from now on.

OP posts:
ArgyMargy · 10/01/2015 10:03

Agreed Lunar, and no need to be so snotty Bakeoff.

MonkeyPuzzler · 10/01/2015 10:03

This has made me very wary if MN Products Tests. I wouldn't consider taking part in any that involved me giving my bank details.

Bakeoffcakes · 10/01/2015 10:06

Sorry if you think I'm being snotty- I just didn't think your post was very helpful.