Microsoft doesn’t refund for the cancelled subscription

YB on 09/07/2020 - 08:47
Last edited 09/07/2020 - 09:17

Issue: I had a monthly trial for free then after agreed to pay 129 for a year. I missed cancelling within a month hence once debited the money I contacted Microsoft to cancel as i don't want the subscription.

On 18/5/20, $129.00 was deducted from my PayPal account for Microsoft outlook subscription which I didn't want hence I contacted Microsoft call centre within a few days of amount deduction. The operator asked me to provide an email address associated with my subscription. I wasn't able to provide the correct email address associated with the subscription. I did provide my PayPal account detail from which amount was deducted but the operator said it will not help, as they are unable to track subscription details. Since I wasn't able to provide the correct email address of subscription, she didn't process the refund and asked me to contact PayPal for refund.

I did contact PayPal to refund my money, but they rejected my request. The reason given to me is this amount is deducted for valid agreement.

I contacted Microsoft again now this time operator located my subscription from my PayPal account. She asked me to contact my bank and wants to talk with my bank hence I contacted my bank and put her in a conference call. She asked my bank to refund me disputed money since it is out of Microsoft refund policy. My bank was equally surprised as me as we have never heard an incident like this. As expected, my bank rejected Microsoft’s request and refused to return my money given reason is it is a matter of Microsoft and myself.
Update:
I have cancelled it, i don't have access as it is unwanted for me anymore.
Can you suggest better one-liner for a title, please?

I have lodged a complaint with fair trading, waiting for the outcome.

Do you think, I will get my refund?
Do you think I should have handled it differently?
Can it be same as the cooling-off period?

Many thanks in advance.

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Comments

  • Belistic on 09/07/2020 - 08:57
    +31

    So previously, you would of had to agree to the payment terms. Paypal lists all agreements when you log in.
    You forgot to cancel prior to the annual subscription, now it's MS's fault?

      • 87percent on 09/07/2020 - 10:21
        +12

        Essentially, your cooling off period was the free month

    • Caped Baldy on 09/07/2020 - 09:07
      +7

      Pretty obvious that OP didn't research enough or take care. Why not just buy a standalone version or complete office suite?

      OP should cop this one on the chin as a lesson learned.

    • lunchbox99 on 09/07/2020 - 10:25
      -6

      Terms and conditions shouldn't override common sense and good business practice. OP doesn't want the service that MS was offering - what exactly is MS losing by refunding money for a product or service that has not, and will not be used?

      I just don't understand why a large company that depends on their brand would institute a hostile customer policy. All this guarantees is that OP will think twice about buying their products or services in the future.

      • 87percent on 09/07/2020 - 10:27
        +3

        No he won’t

        • lunchbox99 on 09/07/2020 - 10:37
          +1

          Lol, you're probably right

      • [Deactivated] on 09/07/2020 - 10:46
        +9

        what exactly is MS losing by refunding money

        $129

      • hikaru78 on 09/07/2020 - 11:55
        +2

        Why should the op be totally devoid of personal responsiblity?

        He got what he agreed to end of story.

  • dizzle on 09/07/2020 - 08:59

    No, It looks like you set up automatic payments (whether you meant to or not). Hence Paypal and the bank saying they are authorised transactions.

    I know I get an email around a month before the payment goes out for the next year as a reminder, and that's the chance to unsubscribe if you want to.

  • whooah1979 on 09/07/2020 - 09:07
    +2

    Can it be same as the cooling-off period?

    Did the supplier approach you with a cold-call or did you look them up?

    • YB on 09/07/2020 - 09:10
      -1

      i initiated

      • whooah1979 on 09/07/2020 - 09:11
        +4

        No cooling-off then.

  • DiLs on 09/07/2020 - 09:08
    +14

    'I missed cancelling within a month'
    End of story

  • CodeXD on 09/07/2020 - 09:10
    +8

    The onus is on the user to cancel any subscription when it is no longer needed.

    Your title is misleading: "Microsoft doesn’t refund for the cancelled subscription"

    It has NOT been cancelled and you still have full access to the subscription you paid for. If they cancelled it and not refund you, then that's an issue.

    https://www.paypal.com/myaccount/autopay/

    • YB on 09/07/2020 - 09:15
      -1

      I have cancelled it, i don't have access as it is unwanted for me anymore.
      Can you suggest better one-liner for a title, please?

      • holdenmg on 09/07/2020 - 09:22
        +1

        You snooze on the MS Bed, you buy it.

      • CodeXD on 09/07/2020 - 09:26

        DiLs already gave an accurate title

        I have cancelled it, i don't have access as it is unwanted for me anymore.

        What do you mean you don't have access? Did you already deactivated the account before they charged you? Because they cannot renew a subscription to a deactivated account

        I had a look and you've actually bought the subscription to Microsoft 365 Family (formerly Office 365 Home)

        https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-365/buy/microsoft-…

        I use outlook in the browser and it has always been free for me

        • YB on 09/07/2020 - 09:32
          -1

          When I contacted Microsoft second time and they located my subscription with the help of my PayPal ID, at that time I did cancel my subscription.
          I preferred to use the proper outlook than the web version.

  • Seraphin7 on 09/07/2020 - 09:28
    +7

    I had a monthly trial for free then after agreed to pay 129 for a year.

    There's your TLDR … everything after that is a matter between you and MS only.

  • Fredfloresjr on 09/07/2020 - 09:30

    bye 129$ see you later.

  • pegaxs on 09/07/2020 - 09:34
    +1

    You may have a case to a refund if they have cancelled the service you paid for and you cannot access it. If they cancelled the service but you still have access to it until the end of your contract, it would suggest they are upholding their end of the contract. Anything they refund you would be out of good will…

    You think Bill Gates got to where he is today be handing out refunds?

  • valleyrain on 09/07/2020 - 09:41
    +4

    You missed the opportunity that came your way to resolve this, not once, but twice.

    You didn't cancel before the trial ended.
    You didn't provide the correct email address when MS asked you the first time.

    I would take it as a lesson learned and in the future set up reminders to cancel subscriptions before they renew. The only chance I see is that MS could refund you out of goodwill.

    • neirboca on 10/07/2020 - 09:04

      And if you want to do it, at least have the correct information to do so. Don't be lazy and expect them to find out your bloody sound details. Geez.

  • pantsparty on 09/07/2020 - 09:48
    +11

    You have paid the lazy tax. Lots of people pay lazy taxes every day of the year by not negotiating better deals, letting gift cards expire, forgetting to cancel automatic subscriptions etc.

    Let this be a lesson learned to keep better track of your subscriptions and finances in general.

  • elcheapo1 on 09/07/2020 - 10:53
    +3

    Fair trading, really???

    Quite obviously your own fault.

    • holdenmg on 09/07/2020 - 11:09
      +1

      I'd like to see parties taking matters to Fair Trading have to lodge a Bond equiv. to the amount in dispute that will be forfeited if they lose.

  • bdl on 09/07/2020 - 11:19
    +8

    Can you suggest better one-liner for a title, please?

    "I stuffed up and now am being unreasonable"

  • penguincat on 09/07/2020 - 11:46
    +1

    Fair trading wont help as the contract is valid. You first line of the post is "Issue: I had a monthly trial for free then after agreed to pay 129 for a year." What makes you think you should be able to get a refund if that is what you agreed to?

    Only ways fair trading would help would be.

    1: You have proof it wasn't cancelled after you attempted to cancelled it during the free trial. Screen shot or an email receipt saying on X day before you where going to be charged that you had cancelled it. But they still charged you after the 30days.

    2: The item wasn't fit for purpose. eg gave you unexpected incompatibility errors meaning you couldn't use it then nor use it now by no fault of your own.
    Does not include: Nuking/closing your account after you have paid, forgetting your login/details.
    Not liking it also isn't a valid reason. As you had 30 days to decide to cancel or not which is also your 'cooling off period.' It came and went you don't get another one. That is the point in free trials don't like it cancel no payment required. Like it pay the required fee.
    That they advertised a feature that you wanted to use but couldn't.

    3: You never actually signed up. Someone used your details to sign up yet the service wont talk to you.

    I'm really struggling to see what the issue actually is.
    On no grounds are you entitled to a refund Paypal/bank have both agreed with the seller.
    So are wasting fair trading's time. Unless there is more then what you are saying.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 09/07/2020 - 11:54

    Change of mind =/= refund.

  • Nutrino on 09/07/2020 - 12:22
    +4

    This thread is a rant. How anyone here can help you is beyond me.

  • reactor-au on 10/07/2020 - 21:09

    Microsoft usually let you cancel right away and continue with the free period, you probably did not have to wait for the end of the free month to cancel.

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