Free and Easy potential scam

A question about : Free and Easy potential scam

Apparently this has been doing the rounds for some while. A company called Free and Easy (very generic so hard to find information on them) are managing to make transactions on peoples credit and debit cards.

Disputed amounts of Ј99.99 (yes, the highest amount avoiding people having Section 75 protection for credit cards!) on peoples card statements. They have many 0871 numbers.

Does anyone have more information on them? Or have been affected?

A google search reveals a few scenarios. One is its a telesales scam, one is something to do with holidays and one a subscription (perhaps something to do with a free trial). The alleged product is either Household Appliance, holiday trial or a subscription of some kind.

Active in particular around March to April time - going back as far as 2010. They don't seem to have a website, not registered at companies house (as that name anyway) and unsure of physical location (no address, 0871 numbers etc.)

Someone has suggested the following addresses/company names:

Pressplay Call Centre Ltd,
Benning Court,
Pottington Business Park,
Barnstaple, Devon,
EX31 1QN

Pressplay LTD,
Unit 7 Zone A,
Chelmsford Road Industrial Estate,
Great Dunmow, Essex,
CM6 1HD

(I am not sure if they are involved it might just be who owns the phone numbers to lease to the third party)

Also something to do with spacebags - whatever that is.

So no Section 75 protection. There is chargebacks however many people find this difficult route with their bank/card company. Some will reverse it awaiting the company to get it back then whilsts others drag their feet saying its a dispute between you and the company. This probably varies depending on whether its a debit or credit card too.

This has happened to a friend of mine (hence I am doing this thread) whom hasn't used such credit card for years (cut it up etc.), had Ј99.99 go out in April 2011 and has never undertook any action for a free trial, subscription or for further information within the last few years at least.

She isn't aware of the card details herself since she cut the card up 19 months ago after paying the account off, has no ongoing contractual arrangements (insurance, warranty etc.) and thinks this is only possible if a company has retained her details unlawfully and been hacked or if the card company knew of this. She is with MBNA.

Best answers:

• If the transaction isn't authorised, then s75 doesn't enter into it. But from what you say, people are talked into agreeing something??
• This scam is still active. My 85 year old mother has just been targeted for the second time. It is not possible to work out how these criminals got hold of her card details. Lloyds bank were very helpful after the first instance, refunded her the money and proceeded to get the money back from the company themselves. She will be calling on Lloyds again for help.
  The letter she received speaks of "your recent mail order purchase." Needless to say she has never done any business with these people.
  The letter has the following PO box address in Spain.
  Buzon 150, Calle Diamante 19, P.I. La Ermita, 29603, Marbella, Malaga, Spain.
  It's not hard to guess the kind of person who is behind this.
  The letter also says that a full refund will be given 'if you change your mind' and call an 0871 number. So the scam appears to be a combination of using card details obtained by taking advantage of inexperienced web users
  and premium-rate phone numbers. They also appear to target older people.
  More information on the whocallsme site.
• Hello everyone,
  This scam is alive and well. Yesterday my wife received a call from our bank's fraud department. They had blocked a transaction for Ј99.99. A 'company' called Free and Easy had tried to take money from our account.
  I am almost certain that this 'company' had got our card details from another company who sell 'spacebags' (vacuum space saving bags) as mentioned on a previous post. My wife had bought some of these bags via a TV advert a few weeks ago. We received those bags, but have had no contact what so ever with a 'company' called Free and Easy.
  It seems that the 'company' to retain an air of legitamcy will say that they only tried to take the money because you signed up to their 30 day free trial. Which, of course, you haven't.
  My advice is to be very wary if considering buying 'Spacebags' as you may end up Ј99.99 poorer or worse.
• I keep telling my FIL to avoid these little booklets that come with the papers and random ones that get sent to him though the post.
  Small selection of items at sensible prices. But i googled the last one and it seems they target the older ones.
  1st item doesnt arrive, You phone on their premium rate number and all seems good they are very helpful and offer to send another.
  That arrives and your billed. Then 3 months later they bill you again.
  Hoping you dont notice. If you do notice then its that premium rate number again. Where they tell you they billed you twice because you ordered 2.
• I ordered some space bags in October paid on my card my husband ordered more later that month using his card. 4th of January we both received a letter from free time ,Buzon 200, c/diamant! PI la Ermita, 29603 Marbella Spain 0844 441 2898 . Saying we have a free months trial of cheap holidays then they will take 99.99 out of my account and my husbands account for a years subscription . If we do not wish to partake we can cancel via the number above. The number quoted does not exist now trying to stop them getting monies out of our accounts and informing the police don't know if we can or how long before the money is taken because letter dated was dated 17/12/2013
• We received a letter this week and after reading your posts it is very interesting that my husband ordered space saving bags last year.
  Would I be right in saying that this space saving bags are selling information or attached to this apparently bogus scheme.