I had a web hosting package with a certain company and the package needed renewing in July. I have had this problem with them last year and dont know why I didnt just cancel my package last time but now Im in the same boat again. Basically I owed them £7.18, and they wrote to me to say they had difficulty in taking the payment. My card number had changed so as they asked, I went onto the website and updated my new card details and requested they take the payment again. This is the only way they accept payments, via their website, do not accept phone payments, paypal, etc.
I then received further generic letter and email saying they still couldnt take the payment so I called them and explained I had updated my details, and double checked them and they were all correct so they should now be able to take payment and the girl said she would re request the payment. A week or two later, further email saying they had been unable to take the payment so I called and emailed again and was quite annoyed with them and said there is no reason why they shouldnt take the payment and asked if they take payment by any other means - was advised no and they would try again.
Anyway after another couple of emails, (I think i sent 4 or 5 emails and 2 calls all together) nothing heard so assumed they had taken the payment.Now have received a debt collectors letter and they debt has gone up to £12.18. I called them and said I was disputing the extra fees but i would pay the original debt as the debt collectors said they would acept payment by debit card over the phone - they said I have to pay all or nothing. I contacted the original company and let rip, they said they would escalate to the complaints dept and they would email me - which they did, basically ignoring all the attempts I made to to sort this out and insinuating I have ignored all their correspondence and allowed it to get to this point, even though its their systems at fault and nothing wrong with my account as I have never had this problem with any other company! I dont have any other accounts I can use to pay this debt and I am not happy to pay the extra charges as I dont believe they are my fault.
Has anyone got any advice on what I can do or if I should just pay the whole debt? I know its not a lot of money but its a matter of principle and a google search shows this company tend to do this a lot.