I subscribed to Setanta Sports, over the internet, on a month-to-month contract on the day of the FA Cup semi-final to watch the game. Minimum two months would cost me $43. Great! And the right result too! Called Setanta the next day to arranged the cancellation. The agent told me to wait until the last day of the first month of the subscription, then call and do it. (No mention of a registered letter, which I now understand from the mole is the only way to make sure it will be done). I told him I wanted to settle then and there, he said "This isn't the way it's normally done" and went to get a supervisor. She told me I had in fact subscribed for one year, that I could not cancel, and it would cost me $179.99 for the year. WHAT!!! I won't go into the whys and wherefores -- other than it is obviously a total scam -- but I have served notice on them of a complaint to Fair Trading, a NSW government agency. I will be making it on the basis that their website has severe deficiencies -- perhaps built in by design, rather than in error -- in relation to clear and reasonable notifications of subscription contract length, costs and restrictions. I've got the screen captures. I'd be interested to see any further posts here about other people's similar experiences that might support my case. I'm also a journalist for a daily paper and it might make a story, too. I'd bet that at least Choice, the Australian Consumers Association magazine, would be interested if there is enough to go on. Maybe a bit of media attention will rein the buggers in and serve as a warning to others.
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