Who’s bank account is it anyway? Estepona reader trapped in a newspaper subscription he cannot cancel
One Costa del Sol reader wrote to ask Euro Weekly News a simple question: Is it normal for a newspaper […]
An Estepona resident found himself trapped in a newspaper subscription he could not cancel after receiving a three-month trial period. The newspaper in question, Euro Weekly News, took money from his account each month, even after six months, without providing a cancellation option. The reader had initially submitted a public-interest story to the publication for free, but was later asked to pay for an online trial before his story would be considered.
Despite his lack of interest in reading news online, he signed up for the subscription, believing he could trust the publication. However, after the trial period, the charges continued, leaving him questioning who was responsible for his bank account. When he attempted to stop the subscription and halt the charges, the newspaper's customer service was unhelpful, with staff informing him that there was little they could do.
This situation is not unique to Euro Weekly News, as other publications and businesses often employ similar tactics, such as charging customers for monthly renewals or making cancellation processes difficult. EU consumer law requires a 14-day cooling-off period for many distance contracts, and in 2023, an update to the Consumer Rights Directive now mandates an online withdrawal function during this period.
However, these protections do not yet cover recurring renewals, and many businesses continue to ignore these regulations.
Written by urgent.news from Euro Weekly News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
