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Usenet.nl review: usenet - commiting fraud on a daily basis and they think its ok.. 25

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Author of the review
12:10 pm EDT
Resolved
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I signed up for the 14 day free trial in order to get access to specific files they claimed to have.
Upon signing up and subsequently searching for these files I found they did not exist.
The software you have to download was unstable and my computer would not work correctly after installing it.
I fully intended to cancel this useless service but unfortunately bereavement in my family took me away from home for a few days and I was distracted.

When I returned home I found there was a fault with my broadband service and I was unable to get online, when I did eventually get access to my emails I found that a receipt had been issued 2 hours before for a PayPal payment of €99.00.

It was interesting to note that they sent me an email notifying me that they were going to charge me after they already had. I immediately called them and the person I spoke to seemed to find it amusing that I was demanding my money back and I got the distinct impression that they get these types of calls on a regular basis.

They said they would send my request to the ‘supervisor’ and he would decide if I could get a refund. I now know he just wanted to get me off the line because within 30 minutes I received a refusal email which totally ignored everything I had said.
As far as I am concerned that transaction could have easily been reversed, but no... they are it seems quite happy to steal money (because that’s basically what this is THEFT), by charging me for something I do not want. (If I buy something online and I am not happy with it I get a refund, which is good business). Unfortunately, Usenet.nl does not understand this concept.

I had no intention of taking on a contract with Usenet because I am not happy with the service, most of the files are broken and the service did not live up to the false claims made.
The Usenet range is very weak and there are not enough books available. They advertise downloads that they don’t actually have, and I really don’t understand how a fraudulent setup like this is being allowed to continue ripping off unsuspecting people.
All ethical Businesses with nothing to hide have a:
• Commercial email address to enable ease of contact
• Pleasant/ helpful customer service representatives
• Refund policy if customer is not happy with provision
• Deliver on promises detailed on their websites and sales material
• Manager/supervisor you can speak to address problems effectively, efficiently and legally

The so called contract is another area where they by UK law are acting illegally.
When you sign up for a free trail that is exactly what it is ‘a trial’ not a contract. However, I was told yesterday that the contract started the day I signed up; how a free trial can be a contract at the same time.

Stay away from usenet.nl their service is total crap they have no ethics and think nothing of taking money from your account, even if you can’t afford it. They took money which I had to pay for my children’s school travel expenses and I am not happy that they have stolen from my kids.

They automatically charge you for the most expensive of their rubbish plans and you do not get any options. It would have been nice to have asked and have confirmed with you exactly what plan you want to be on instead of going for the most lucrative for themselves with total disregard for the unsuspecting customer.

This complaint is to warn others do not even bother to sign up for the free trial because their service is not even worth the small fee they charge when starting to reel you in.

One last thing I have engaged the help of PayPal, my bank, and my solicitor who are all working on my behalf to get my money back and expose at the same time. However, just to highlight how devious usenet.nl are PayPal told me that their registration with them is classed as a goods and not services but whenever someone makes a claim ( I was told there are hundreds of claims for refunds on a daily basis) UseNet claim 'intangible goods' (service) as an excuse for not refunding innocent customers upon request. . .PayPal are aware and are investigating Usenet’s account as we speak.

My contract is cancelled and I have removed their Malware from my computer.
I do not intend to let this matter drop and I am in the process of setting up a forum dedicated to all those who have been scammed by this company? and I use the term company very lightly because if they were in the UK they would have been prosecuted a long time ago.. They must be so proud...

Update by missjustice
Apr 08, 2011 6:16 pm EDT

Freeman007
Thank you for taking the time to post your useless (missing the point) comment on this complaints board.
£90 is a drop in the ocean compared to your foolish investment of £880 for something you were suspicious about in the first place, and by the way PayPal agree with the thousands of people who have complained about Uesnet.nl and their unethical business practices and also feel that customers who are not happy with the service should get a refund. I have got my money back and I am happy with the outcome... did you get your money back? You wish...

Update by missjustice
Apr 11, 2011 2:07 pm EDT

My comments are directed at you alone, dont bring anyone else into it. You took the time to post your comment, you should be prepared to get back what you give ... total dingle.. get a life saddo.

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

25 comments
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Cesar Williams
, US
Oct 01, 2019 8:52 pm EDT

Usenet is still doing the same thing, I signed for a Trial I tested and in less than 5 minutes I cancel the free trial. It sent me to a very confusing page, I confirmed that I did not want to continue the trial. This was Sept 11, on Sept 26 they sent me an invoice and they bill $99 to PayPal, I went to PayPal and cancel the subscription, the only thing I could do was to inactive the automatic annual payment. I made the claim to PayPal and they told me that I will have to wait until October 7. I went back to Usenet and they came back and said they was not going to refund me. I tried to login the site con cancel the subscription. The password was not accepted, I reset the password and tried again. They are a Fraud company, people have spread the news . People are being robe

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Iluvia
, ES
Dec 08, 2018 9:25 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I can't believe I'm here almost a decade later -_-'

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Chicco
, IT
Dec 01, 2018 12:31 pm EST

Goodmorning everyone! I had the same experience of you, I joined the trial period, I considered it not interesting for me and I immediately canceled.
I received an email from them with the cancellation ok.
After months I get a message that I would have to pay the annual subscription anyway.
I replied by saying that I had canceled, but they say I still have to pay anyway.
Since Usenet.nl is based in San Marino, I then contacted the CSdL - Confederazione Sammarinese del Lavoro (http://www.csdl.sm/sportello-consumatori/ - Tel. (+[protected] Fax (+[protected]) who put me in touch with their lawyer, to whom I explained everything and gave him the evidence.
 The lawyer filed a complaint in my name against Usenet.nl, intending to suspend any payment request against me.
 After a few days I received an email from Usenet.nl telling me the final closure of the contract.
Since then I have not received any payment requests.
I advise you to do as I do, the more you will be and the Usenet will stop using these methods.
Greetings to all

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Iluvia
, ES
Dec 08, 2018 9:57 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of Chicco

Chicco, you did a great job!

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Daria Kozhevnikova
, US
Sep 26, 2017 9:13 am EDT

An expensive way to learn about some [censor].
Same thing: free trual cancellation didn’t work. Was charged this morning with no chances of getting money back.

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LornSaken
, US
May 03, 2017 6:57 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Here is an interesting fact. After trying many times to find a way to cancel and failing. I knew they were going to charge my card for another year so I canceled the credit card connected to usenet.nl. Months later when they attempted to charge my credit card and it was denied they sent me an email asking me to renew my credit card info on Paypal. I responded by saying I did not want to renew and to please cancel my account. Here's the rub. When the credit card charge we denied they created an internal bill and billed me in spite of the above. Now they are saying I owe them for a whole new year in spite of the fact they know I did wish to renew and wanted to cancel. Now their collection department is attempting to extort money from me. They are adding interest and late fees to the bill they internally created.They say my cancellation will not take effect until the end of this billing cycle which is one year from now. What happened to cancel anytime and prorating after the cancellation? They do not even cancel when asked to do so. These people are crooks using a TOS to fleece people. Someone stop them!

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Manasvi
, DE
Jan 13, 2017 12:37 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

This is my story that documents that I might have become a victim of a fraud by them by being charged through my PayPal account with $99.

usenet:
'your subscription was completed on 19.12.2016'

me:
This is a false statement.

I had registered for a free trial period (19./20.12.2016 - 02.01.2017) on 19.12.2016 for which the payment information had to be provided for a subsequent and payable 12-months-subscription, if the contract was not cancelled within the trial period.
After completing the registration I was informed that I was not entitled for the free trial period with the claim that I had previously already registered for a trial period.
As the trial period was denied, the contract that included a subsequent payable service did not materialise.

Because of this you send me an alternative promotional offer on 22.12.2016 PROMOCODE: C4E42C2F3G to 'save 50% on 12 months of Usenet access.
You repeated a smilier promotional offer PROMOCODE: CEF39CDE3G to 'save 50% on 12 months of Usenet access.

Both the alternative promotional offers clearly indicate your acknowledgement that a contract out of the registration for a free trial period has not materialised.

I had decided not to use the Internet services of usenet.nl and therefore never logged into the account that had been created on 19.12.2016 or react to the alternative promotional offer on 22. 12. 2016 and 25.12.2016 to establish a contract for a subscription.

usenet:
'You have a legally binding contract and it is at this stage no longer possible to withdraw from this contract. '

me:
Unfortunately this is a false statement and does not meet legal scrutinity.

I appeal to honour the true facts and circumstances and apply and avoid the present suspicion that I might have become victim of a fraud or an attempted of fraud.

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Hunterx27
, US
Jan 13, 2017 2:19 pm EST
Replying to comment of Manasvi

It's difficult to call it fraud since they just signed you up for a regular contract with the assumption that you still wanted service. It's hard to to say whether these people are fraud or incredibly incompitent. I don't know how they do things in Europe, but it obviously differs. I have crossed paths with these people and it has been a dreadful experience. I hope I never have to again once my account closes. This is a lesson to never sign up for things like this I guess. A hard lesson. Did they take your money?

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Manasvi
, DE
Jan 13, 2017 6:50 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of Hunterx27

That is the point! (Thank's for your comment!)
On the day the assumed but denied free trial period was over, they charged my account with $99 through PayPal. I objected the same day towards usenet as well as towards PayPal immediately through email as well as by phone.
Usenet just insists that a contract has been concluded.
Normally I would have recalled the money after they refuse to refund the money.
The involvement of PayPal unfortunately complicates the matter.

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Hunterx27
, US
Jan 13, 2017 10:56 pm EST
Replying to comment of Manasvi

I'm sorry you're going through this. You can try to get your money back with paypal, but usenet will send you to collections if you do, but you can ignore it given that no one has been taking to court.

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Simon in NY
, US
Dec 09, 2016 8:40 pm EST

Clearly not the most ethical or trustworthy company. But probably within the law due to the way they operate. what interests me is that a company called Teschinkasso is used to collect their debts ( which they incur doing to misleading innocent students who can't afford to pay).

This company is ultimately owned by Pemira Funds a supposedly respectable investment company. Do they care about the ethics of their client and they are complicit in unfairly taking money from innocent students?

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jmar0608
, US
Nov 21, 2016 12:47 pm EST

I signed up for the two week trial of Usenet . After a few days I decided that this was not what I agreed to and contacted them right away . Took me two days but I was able to get through to a live person, This person was very confused but told me that am I sure I want to cancel this that I'm still in my trial period. I told them again to cancel and was told it would be . I contacted my Credit card company and place a stop on any payment that this company would submit just in case . Sure enough they did just that . Its been three months and have received numerous emails and letters demanding payment . I informed them what happened and was informed that the customer service person never cancelled it and because I never received a cancellation email that I am responsible for the 99 Euros . I am not sending them a dime. Obviously a scam but one I am not paying for

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thenarrator
, US
Jan 18, 2017 3:55 am EST
Replying to comment of jmar0608

jmar0608 I am also in the same situation, I desperately tried to cancel the contract but I just could get a hold of them so I decided to cancel the payment via paypal . Now I just got a letter from them requesting for payment. did they continue to bother you or take any legal action?

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Hunterx27
, US
Jan 18, 2017 8:11 am EST

They will continue to bother yoi, but they will never take legal action. You can try to loom it up. No court case has ever been reported. They will not chase an international debt for anything lass than $15, 000. The costs of the court and the lawyers far outweighs a $100 debt. Personally, I paid because I have severe anxiety, and didn't want to take the chance, but I knew and a lawyer told me the same thing, that they won't come after you for a debt that's so small.

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Christopher Love
, US
May 03, 2017 7:39 pm EDT

I am in the same boat as you, as of today. Your comment was the most recent. I was wondering, what happened? Did they actually send you to collections? Or are they still bothering you? Did u take legal action?

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Ali Hollyhock Bermann
, US
Oct 10, 2016 3:06 am EDT

so I fell for this scam also, I"m trying to get the cancellation via the support form, but being the control freak I am I also called their GB hotline. What do you know, the person on the other end did not have the slightest idea what I was talking about and when I told him got the number from the website that listed it as their hotline he was very surprised and thanked me as they had received a number of strange calls recently and now he probably knows why. I checked the number I dialed three times and I did dial it correctly. So the only chance I have to cancel this crap is the support form. Fingers crossed!

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Chica Chico
, US
Oct 06, 2016 10:58 am EDT

This company is ridiculous. They scam the crap out of you because I cancelled my trial within two days and good God i should have screenshotted the confirmation on the screen because then I got no email about it. A few weeks later it charged me $99 that I need back ASAP. I then got charged $38 by my back for insufficient funds. I feel like choking the crap out of the people that work for this company. I told her I'd like to speak to a manager and she said she will forward the email to someone in the office but I doubt the little ### actually did that because 10 minutes later I got a generic email about how they don't issue refunds.

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boxtel
, NL
Feb 28, 2012 5:57 pm EST

two weeks ago Feb 12, 2012 I started the usenet trial version. Without any notification to ask if I am happy with the trial one, Feb 27, 2012 yesterday, it automatically withdraw the yearly 100 euro from my paypal account. When calling Service desk, they were very rude saying this is the rules and terms, cannot be reversibile. I feel really frustrated and cheated. I never saw such rules and terms, unless saying authorizing them to do so, they chose to jump to 100 euro (yealy) rather than 10 euro (monthly) for the own best benefits without any agreement with me. I can hardly image this is legal in this current society ...

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HATETHEIVES
Hialeah, US
Sep 11, 2011 2:15 am EDT

Thank You, to all of you, for takeing the time to warn other potential victims, from this vermin. Thank God, that last night, while I was unknowingly signing up for this scam, I decided to investigate them, before entering any of my financial information, because I read most of their so called contract, and found it very strange, how they completely benefit themselves, at the cost of their victims. Thankfully, these posts confirmed my suspicions, and at least I won't have to deal, with these theives!

MANOFTRUTH; You state "I have found that they have their own hosting companies originating in Germany and they also trade under many other different names"

If you could post all their "different names", I for one would be interested in knowing, all, and any names by which these theives go by, so that we could all avoid, each and every one of them!
And maybe a Class Action, can be started, by all the victims, and at least have these vermin put behind bars!

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a lucky victim
, HK
May 16, 2011 6:33 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Usenet.nl is a real scam. I have dealed with paypal for several times and I was informed that I could get my refund back yesterday. However, I wonder that Paypal still do business with usenet.nl since it is obvious that usenet.nl is a real thief when so many people who try the free trial service from isemet.nl have become viticms. Although I did get the refund back from paypal finally, I think that Paypal should stop proceeding any transactions regarding usenet.nl who do business without ethics.

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manoftruth
Aylesbury, GB
Apr 13, 2011 11:40 am EDT

Miss Justice, I have had a nightmare of a time with this fraudelent company usenet ... but my story is slightly different. I did cancel my trial within 2 days of signing up, because their service was nothing like described and the website was unstable. I got confirmation but they still went ahead and charged my paypal account for a 12 month contract and now they have refused to refund me. I raised a dispute with Paypal and usenet have made very negative comments in their response and still refuse to refund.
How did you get your money back ... any chance of sharing this info?
By the way I do not agree the stupid idiot comments 'Freeman007' has made and his/her insistance on attacking you personally. I too am a UK resident and take offence at the comments made. He probably works for the usenet theives anyway... why else would he find this amusing.
This complaints board is for making legitimate complaints, not for unecessay, unhelpful, persoanl attacks.
I read T&C and stuck to the rules, but it seems that usenet dont like to stick to their own rules.
Without a shadow of doubt USENET IS A FRAUDULENT OPERATION AND NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT DELAY.
I have heard that if you report these companies to their hosting company they will suspend their account. But on doing some research I have found that they have their own hosting companies originating in Germany and they also trade under many other different names.
There are too many complaints about this company to ignore and I agree missjustice that something needs to be done..

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Freeman007
, DE
Apr 11, 2011 2:12 pm EDT

Says someone who needs to put up his own children as an excuse for his stupidity...

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Freeman007
, DE
Apr 11, 2011 1:54 pm EDT

Is pointing the finger at others all you can do? This is not about me, but about you not being able to take responsibility for what your own actions. Oh yes, it is so easy to blame someone else...

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Usenet.nl Team
, NL
Apr 07, 2011 12:38 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Dear missjustice,

We would like to apologize for any inconvenience you had with Usenet.nl.

To make sure it is clear what our service is all about we would like to explain what Usenet.nl is and how it works. Usenet.nl is a usenet provider which comes with easy and safe software to enter the worldwide network of the usenet. It is fairly simple to gain access: all you have to do is signing up on our website and you can start. The first 14 days, the so called trial period, are completely for free and you can check out all about our program. After that period, if you do not cancel within 14 days, you enter the full membership depending on what package you chose (as mentioned during the sign-up process as well as in the TOS). You can cancel anytime by using the cancel button or by sending us a Support inquiry, which both can be found in the member area.

It is not our intention to give incorrect or untruthful information on our website or hide anything referring to the trial period or the contracts. If you had any problems with our service, if there is something you would like to mention or if you have any suggestions on how to improve the transparency on our website, please contact us at mediarelations@usenet.nl. We will gladly come back to you.

All the best,
Your Usenet.nl Team

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Freeman007
, DE
Apr 07, 2011 11:13 am EDT

lol, you're kidding right? You openly admit that you forgot to cancel and STILL you are trying to blame Usenet.nl for that? When you sign up for something it is YOUR responsibility to see to cancel it in time, not that of the company. It's not their fault if you're not at home or having connection problems!

So they actually have the fullest right to not refund the money, because this is what you signed up for. Did you ever take the time to read the TOS or even the short sentence on the registration site that says: "During the trial period, you can choose from two different pricing models. If you do not choose a package and do not cancel, your membership will be automatically extended to Usenet Relax at € 8.33 per month (12 month term – Total of 99.99 €)." It took me two seconds to read that. And saying that they stole the money from your kids is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. But then, in fact I feel very sorry for them. Because they seem to have the dumbest parents around the UK.

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