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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

is it illegal to charge for something then make it available free?

47 replies

throwingawaymyshot · 28/09/2020 16:32

I am a member of this industry body who have been doing a number of expert webinars that you sign up to for a fee. So fees for members and higher fee for non member. I took part in one last week which wasn't that great to be honest - stuff I could have found out myself from the internet. The industry body have now put all the webinar recordings on YouTube and anyone can see them - without paying. AIBU to be really pissed that I paid an £80 fee for a webinar that was not only shit but which I could have gotten for free? Is it illegal? What should I do and who could I report it to? Should I let it go? £80 is a lot of money to me.

OP posts:
BigBadVoodooHat · 28/09/2020 17:28

There really must be some kind of rule preventing this

What rule would this be, then? Confused

Hingeandbracket · 28/09/2020 17:35

There really must be some kind of rule preventing this

There really isn't.

Steviethetv · 28/09/2020 17:53

I can see why it sticks in your throat op, I’d be the same but I think you have to accept it. You paid the going rate at the time. If you want to complain about the content then do so but I don’t think you’ll get your money back.

thedancingbear · 28/09/2020 17:55

Almost certainly not illegal.

Very possibly rotten business practice: leaving aside customers they've managed to piss off, who is now going to pay for something if they think they'll be able to get it for free if they just wait a little while?

sally067 · 28/09/2020 17:57

Lots of PPV sporting events cost to watch it live and then are made freely available after.

Probably similar type of thing here. You paid for it live and exclusive.

LindaEllen · 28/09/2020 17:59

If £80 is so much money to you, why did you buy this in the first place? I don't want to sound rude (honestly) but you wouldn't be bothered if it wasn't now free - you're just pissed off because if you'd waiting a bit longer it would have been free. Same as when you buy something then it's reduced in the sale the week after.

The best you can do is send them an email, but to be honest, you signed up willingly at the time, knowing the price.

If you're asking for a refund because it was crap that's one thing, but you can't just asked because you're butt-hurt it's now free.

minipie · 28/09/2020 18:00

You mean like... when shops reduce their prices in the sales?

ShellsAndSunrises · 28/09/2020 18:03

It’s not illegal. It’s quite common with webinars and things, to be honest - you’re usually either paying for earlier access to the webinar than the free access, or the ability to ask questions during the webinar which could be answered.

There’s no laws that say this can’t happen. Some companies, like Amazon, do sometimes refund the difference when asked, but that’s a policy.

ButtWormHole · 28/09/2020 18:08

I sell digital products. I sometimes offer them for free. I don’t advertise this but if someone paid recently and I do a free sale then I refund everyone who bought within two weeks before it going on sale or being free.

Ask for the refund

OneFiveFour · 28/09/2020 18:09

I think there might be some confusion with:

  • if you offer something 'on sale' there are rules around hw it must have been offered at a higher price previously, including how long it was at the higher price. This is to stop retailers pretending something is a sale bargain, when it's just the normal price.
  • if you buy something online you have the right to return it for up to 28 days. If the price drops after you buy then you could, in theory, return it and rebuy it at the lower price. Some retailers take a pragmatic view and, when pushed, just refund you the difference rather than faff with returns.

The above does not apply to some services, including webinars, I believe.

Original poster
throwingawaymyshot · 28/09/2020 18:15

Its a finance related organisation representing people in my industry.

I am looking to obtain new skills to help me progress or move into other roles. This was marketed as something different than it was. It was marketed as a course delivered by experts when it was really just them repeating things already available on the internet. Not a course at all.

I have asked for a refund.

OP posts:
SuzieCarmichael · 28/09/2020 18:23

Presumably a lot of those types of courses are paid for by people’s employer and so people are less likely to ask for their money back etc. It’s a bit different when it’s your money.

Spiderbaby8 · 28/09/2020 18:32

Was you able to ask questions/be involved. I think thats what you pay for you those sort of things, they are often made available later.

Nibor1991 · 28/09/2020 18:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklfairy · 28/09/2020 18:42

Are you sure it's a publicly available video? You can upload ones that don't come up in searches or suggested videos and you can only access it via a direct link someone shares with you. Is that possibly what's happened?

hibbledibble · 28/09/2020 18:47

If you aren't satisfied with the content of the course then contact the organisers.

You can't complain they made it later available for free though, this is irrelevant. Companies are free to change the price of their products and services as they see fit.

vanillandhoney · 28/09/2020 18:55

Why would they refund you?

They offered you a service and you decided it was worth £80. If they want to offer it for free a few days later, that's on them and has nothing to do with what you paid originally.

I don't think they should refund you, sorry. I know it's annoying though!

Pinkdelight3 · 28/09/2020 18:56

Have you seen The Apprentice where they flog rubbish to unsuspecting mugs at a high price then give it away by the end of the day? This is that.

LovePoppy · 28/09/2020 19:05

@throwingawaymyshot

Its a finance related organisation representing people in my industry.

I am looking to obtain new skills to help me progress or move into other roles. This was marketed as something different than it was. It was marketed as a course delivered by experts when it was really just them repeating things already available on the internet. Not a course at all.

I have asked for a refund.

Most courses share info available in lists of other places.

Did you think you were getting the absolute secrets no one else had?

Georgyporky · 28/09/2020 19:07

You ask if it's legal, but you have not stated what country both you and the supplier are in?

There are some clues that it might not be the U.K. in both instances.

NavyBerry · 28/09/2020 19:52

Leave a bad review and ask for a refund. They may reimburse at their discretion

Original poster
throwingawaymyshot · 28/09/2020 20:03

I am getting a refund.

If you search the organisation on YouTube, you can see this webinar and all the other webinars that I could have attended but did not.

I was never sent a private link.

I'm in the UK although the organisation is international with a UK 'branch' if that's the right word.

OP posts:
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