Their cancellation policy looked very difficult and there was a bit of Engrish on their website. When I dug deeper, I found that it's actually impossible to cancel the free trial before it expires, so they charge you the full price. I should have noticed these things before I signed up, but PayPal is known for protecting their buyers and I was under a free trial. However, I was able to cancel during the free trial. Nothing happened after that. I didn't get charged and didn't hear from Usenet until they 'suspended' my account, which was expected.
To me, that was a confirmation that it was mutually understood that the deal was off. My account was inactive, therefore they were no longer rendering service past my free trial period.
Free files and have a usenet account, all you need.download the cracked usenet nl client account generator hack torrent for free with torrentfunkadded option to use lotus notes account name.bintube usenet reader is a usenet grabber with streaming capability.
Fast forward about a month or two and I get a bill in the mail. The letter came all the way from Europe and wanted something like €100. When I first got the letter, I thought, 'Yep, this is definitely a scam.' Later, I started getting emails from another company called Tesch Inkasso, a foreign collections agency, I presume.
They wanted €99 for the 'contract' ( and I'm using the term contract roughly since that's the word they're using, but I don't recall any contract.) In addition, they wanted:. Interest. Dunning cost (I had to look up this word, it's something like a collections agency fee.). Damages in the form of a business fee.
Damages for mailing me a letter Everything totaled €164.46. Furthermore, they cited that if I wanted to pay via PayPal, they would 'have to charge handling fees in the amount of €15.00, making the total amount €179.46.' Nice try deterring users for opting for Paypal, but I dare not give them credit card details! Plus, didn't they suspend my account since I didn't pay after the free trial? I contacted Usenet and they responded, 'After an extensive database search we must unfortunately report that we have been unable to find a valid cancelation for account ########.
We will however gladly perform additional searches if you can assist us by providing further information: After you canceled your account did you receive a cancelation confirmation by e-mail? -If you did, can you please send us a copy? How did you deliver your cancelation notice (support form request, e-mail or post)? - If you used our support form or contacted us via e-mail did you use a different e-mail address and/or customer account number from the one listed above?
Thank you for your assistance and continued patience as we work to resolve this matter. Once we have proof of your timely cancelation, your contract can be terminated and the membership fee credited to your account.' Okay, so my account wasn't cancelled even though I cancelled the subscription via PayPal?
And they suspended my account? I responded to the email, but I got: ' This is an autoresponder - please do not reply to this email! ' Followed by, 'Stopping payment is not a termination.
According to the terms and conditions it is irrelevant if you have used the provided contractually agreed services, because they have provided their service without limitation. We kindly ask you to settle your debt until 6 th January 2017 to avoid further reminder cost.' How were the services provided without limitation if they suspended my account due to me cancelling the free trial via Paypal? To close, it's clear that Usenet.nl is a scam.
They demand money for service they did not provide after a free trial that I canceled. They use bully tactics to attempt to get people to pay. I've searched the Internet and found many other people dismayed by their business practices. Unfortunately, some people fell for the scam and did pay up out of fear. If you find yourself in a similar situation with Usenet.nl, know that these are not legal business practices and do not pay them. I'm glad I don't keep a super tidy inbox, so I still have my account suspension notice.
Currently, I am working with PayPal to get this remedied. I'm hoping that with my evidence, PayPal will stop working with Usenet.nl.
If you've found yourself in a similar situation, contact PayPal or your credit card company. Provide evidence and protect yourself from predatory business practices. And no matter what, do not fall for their bullying.
Do not pay them. And, of course, share this article to spread the word. Im a student and I was just looking for books to buy online for cheap. Once I signed up for the trial period I realized that it was too sketchy because first of all they were advertising that they have access to books etc. But after my sign up it was showing that they were a high speed company offering 600Gb. I tried cancelling my account through the phone number they have provided which doesnt work. And 2 months later they've sent me a letter saying I owe them $104 euro.
All they did was provided me with a username and password, now my account is blocked. What should I do? I've never even used their services, not even once. Ten month ago I had same problem as everyone else, even had a collection agency knocking on my door, but after a lot of hassle I managed to prove to the agency with my paperwork which I keep, to all online transactions (luckily) in regards to my cancellation. Would you believe yesterday Usenet had the audacity to send me an Email offering me a special WINTER deal on their product! They obviously kept my Email address from our first encounter, no hesitation, DELETE, DELETE. Their red label is a warning.
I am from Malaysia and still a student. I signed up was because I wanted to download a pdf book for my study and after signing up they didn't even send a notification to remind either to cancel the subscription or continue during the trial period. Then this morning I literally jumped out of bed because I received a message stating that my card has been charged with 99USD or RM434.13 I was so devastated to see that. My God I don't even know how to respond I feel like crying because that's my mum's hard earn money and I am still a student and all I wanted is to download a PDF book but feels like I was scammed. This is getting serious as a lot of countries are being scam and this is definitely a fraudulent transactions. I hope people will not be scam after reading this.
I’ve had problems with them as well. I empty my email “trash” daily, so I too do not have proof of cancellation, so I sent them the following email, and have heard nothing since, and I don’t expect to.
“ I have attached 3 documents to this email, which also includes my reply towards this payment. I am NOT the sort of person who buys something and doesn't pay for it, I am also not a trouble maker, or someone who looks forward to confrontation. I am a Retired Police Officer, so I am used to Court appearances and the threat of further action does not intimidate me in any way. You must also not forget that I can take Usenet to court if they continue to harass me over this payment. Payment for a product that I cancelled 4 days into a 28 day trial period. Any future correspondence will be handed over to my Solicitor, along with my email of cancellation, and if it comes to it, as I said, I shall instruct him to counterclaim on my behalf “ Don’t let these bully boys intimidate you into paying. Same story here.
Since I could not easily find an easy way to cancel this FREE TRIAL! On their fraud website, I canceled my Paypal subscription BEFORE the trial period ended. Then they started sending me emails, then letters asking me to transfer money to their bank account (yea right sure I'm an idiot!) for the amount of 110.00 EURO (Bank name: Hypovereinsbank Regensburg) and finally they threatened me to send my case to a local (I live in Canada) collection agency. And guess what, these low-life scam worms actually DID just that.
Months later a local collection company sent me a letter claiming the money I apparently owed these thieves otherwise they threatened me to damage my credit score. They even called me but I ignored their calls. After a few months they gave up.
SO, people PLEASE, PLEASE, DO-NOT, I repeat DO NOT give in to these scammers, thieves, fraud assholes. They will use all sort of bully tactics just to scare you into sending money into their bank account. THIS IS FRAUD. In fact I was hoping that this collection company here would send me a subpoena so I could go to court to expose these fraudulent scammers. But of course they will NEVER have the balls to show themselves. At the end, I just feel stupid enough to have even tried to use their crappy fraud services even for a few minutes.
I should have known better. BUT at the very least they didn't get a cent from me but inversely, they spent money on stamps and collection agency fees I guess. For that I am proud.
However, I am still pissed at international laws for letting these thieves get away with frauding people worldwide for SO MANY years. Any lawyers out-there, here is your chance to go after a worldwide SCAM. I'm here to support you and a future collective action against these worms. I felt into this trap as well. I got the free trial, and they asked me to pay 1 euro through iDeal, because I don't have a credit card and my paypal account is empty. Now 14 days later, I never received a message that my trial period was over and they never asked me if I wanted to continue the subscription. So I went into my account and pushed the cancel button several times, even with the statement I never got a message about the trial period ending.
It even says that the amount of 84 euro's was already paid, while that amount has not been taken from my bankaccount. I am kind of worried that they will try a debt collection on my bank account. Al though I am not sure whether an iDeal transfer would give them the right to do so. I have changed all my personal information on the website, even changed the email address and my home address. But I am not sure whether they keep the original address or not.
I live in the Netherlands and someone in this article stated that I have nothings to worry about since he was from the Netherlands too and gave the advise to get them stuffed and don't pay. I hope they send the reminder bills to the other address I input into my information. Sadly enough it's not possible to enter a separate IBAN into ABN-Amro to block any debt collection.
This can only be done if the collection has occurred and you reverse your money, only then you can block them. Well, I don't trust these guys so I keep as little money on my account as possible, then I will just buy more groceries than usual, but with no money on my account.
It would be very useful if everybody here who dealt with them, tell later on how it ended. Did anybody face a lawsuit? Did anybody got a debt collector at their house?
Has anybodies bank account been blocked? That sort of stuff. Oh man, I wish I never had done this.
This is an eye opener, before I do anything like this again, first Google on it to see if any scam is related to it. The.SAME. exact thing happened to me. I am not sure what to think other than they are messing with the wrong person. They will.NEVER. get a cent out of me because I cancelled purposefully, emailed, and their services did not work as promised. I'm ignoring the demands and let them try to sue me in the United States in my county which has 1 judge (Which is where they will have to sue me).
Credit card company already says that I am fine, so no worries there. But this is DEFINITELY without a doubt a scam trying to get you to pay money and if you pay I have no doubt they will try to make you continue to pay. I got the short version of the same treatment. They came in through the side door, attached to an add that said I 'was the lucky winner.' Next thing I knew they were charging my bank, and there was absolutely no way to cancel before the end of their convenient 'Trial' period.
They also don't answer their phone because, no matter what time of the day or night you call, you've done it wrong. They're not open. Their charge went to 'pending' within a day. Not screwed yet.
Canceled everything at the bank, and will not buge no matter what. When is the FCC going to do something about these kind'v guys? Just go get'em, and hang'em high. I got the same letter today demanding £164.46 for a service which I had cancelled just 4 days into the 28 day free trial. Almost the exact scenario as yourself.
I have told them to go and get stuffed and f I get any more mail regarding this, I will charge them £100 an hour for dealing with, and after that I will be handing all my correspondence to my Solicitor, along with my copy of my cancellation email. I'm an ex-cop, so threats of Legal action don't scare me. It seems to be one big con. I did wonder at the time why they needed my CC details for a free trial, now I know. When I cancelled, I also told my CC company not to make any payments to Usenet. I also fell for the scam.:( I subscribe for free trial as they advertised a book that I really wanted to download.
Then actually, it wasn't there. SO I tried to cancel my account but couldn't find a way to cancel except to call them. So I cancel my account through paypal in the same day I subscribe for the service. Thought my free trial has been canceled automatically, a month after that I received email from them.
Second mail, threatening me to pay some amount of money. After that I receive an emmail from debt collection company to settle the bill. Just to end all problem and disconnect myself from them, I paid the bill. The women from deb collection company promised to finalise my account and close it fully for me so they won't charge me more in the future. Still I got another email from her to pay some more amount of money.
I hope she is wrong and not in the same boat with usenet to scam me more. Nina, and all, - I received two emails from them, and three from a collection agency with threats, but I tend to be a hoarder with any minor business emails like this one, and on request from the collection agency I sent them a copy of the cancellation acknowledgement from usenet.nl and PayPal whereby I received a reply saying the collection agency had stopped proceedings. Bottom line hang in there and don't pay, be brave, and always save short term any future paperwork in regards to anything you may acquire on-line. If its not paypal? I use my card. Please help me i just signup and realizing this.
Im from the philippines and i did not contact them through calling because its very expensive here in my cointry, so I use their online supprt form. But they are not replying.
I signed up because i wanted to download a pdf of a book that was advertised by their website to study for an major exam. I only came there for the free trial package, im very poor i cant afford the billing. My mother works hard for the money that is in my account. I have total anxiety right now i cant handle it, I cant study!
This situation is all im thinking right now. Please help me!!:(. Next victim here. I got a letter yesterday asking me to pay 23 euros or be transferred to a collection agency. They couldn't charge my Paypal account since I have no bank info linked to it.
I wasn't bothered, since I had received several emails from them saying my account was blocked - I thought: no payment, account blocked so. They expect me to accept to pay even though my account was blocked and I never used the service. I'm contacting the police and a lawyer to hear what they have to say about this.
Usenet.nl is not seeing a dime from me. Hello from Washington State USA I too have gotten these scam debt collection letters on seemingly official looking documents. The Usenet letterhead states they are based out of Italy, the debt collection agency is based out of Germany, Usenet uses a Netherlands extension on their domain. That alone raises serious questions. They target worldwide. They threaten you legally and threaten to go after your credit history.
This is actually extortion and the last time I checked extortion was still illegal here and most other places I assume as well. This scam company is very well organized and smart. They use online contracts that are very hard to get out of as their legal basis for payment due.
They use international addresses to make it harder to pin them down. They send out professsional looking invoices and collection letters. They know that a percentage will pay without a fight and this is their market. I have written the Washington State Attorney Generals office with supporting documents and they have actually written Usenet.
They are still waiting to hear back from the fake debt collection site but did get some sort of response from Usenet. So here is the situation. You are being extorted for money.
They will use threats against you for payment. This is illegal.
You need to write and talk to your local agency responsible for handling these issues. If you do nothing they will keep doing this to you and others. So dont do nothing do something that will contribute to stopping this.
Hi all, I can't believe that I'm also trapped in this kind of thing! I signed up for the free trial hoping to find a download for an old game but I can't even cancel the account. Thing is though, I linked the account to an old gift card (that holds a few cents) and not through Paypal.
I have also sent them many of those 'inquiry' messages through their site and through email too. I really hope I can get a reply back saying that they cancelled my subscription.? Do you guys think they can still somehow charge me or report me even though my account is linked to some old gift card? Someone please help.!
Thanks Melanie, for your post, Just a repeat of everyone else problem, I signed up for the 14 day free trial then abruptly cancelled out after about 3 hours trying to sort out the in's and out's of their messy program, but after cancelling out, two weeks later I find that they had taken out the initial payment from my PayPal account, so I put a block on their services via the PayPal office. They then informed me that I had signed up for two lots of their program,(don't recall that) and had only cancelled one?? Why would anyone sign up for two of the same thing the same day then only cancel one?? I sent them an email stating that I was not interested or would I ever be using their services at any time, and that when something is cancelled it means cancelled, (to which they never responded) I have just received a reminder three months later of an outstanding amount of Eur110.00 but they can go jump in the lake, as I have all PayPal and the original cancellation emails from them, which I am keeping to one side, their shoddy book keeping records should show this already, so good luck with that one. I wont be paying them a dime. I am in exactly the same situation described. I believe I was hacked and never signed up an account.
I contacted PayPal then refunded the money. Usenet.nl sent me a letter in the mail wanting money so I tried to call the number. It was international and wouldn't go through so I email them. Long story short, it's been 5 months and they are still hassling me. How do I get proof it is a scam? I want to know that I can't be taken to collections in the U.S.
Over this mess or even my wages garnished or some other strange situation. I cancelled my subscription like last year, it took over 3 months till they send a letter to my house telling me I didn't cancel my subscription, now I am not sure if I should pay just for the sake of getting them off my back but there is no reason why they cant provide a cancel button on the site for people to cancel, or just remove the charge from my account given I only tried the service for 2 days it was awful I uninstalled and cancel within like 2 days of trying. I don't have copies of the original Email I sent them because it was months ago to cancel it and I have over 7000 emails, but I do have the cancel on record with PayPal which clearly shows 2 days I cancel and my account was suspended too so they lose nothing I would lose nothing.
Regardless of a Terms & Conditions there is no way to prove where I sent them information or not I am actually thinking about destroying my account and filling it up with blank information. Thank you for this review. My situation is very similar. Actually I don't even know if I signed up for the free trial or if UseNet.nl just got my info, but somehow I ended up with not one, but two paypal billing agreements with them.
I cancelled both billing agreements within less than 3o minutes, and went on my merry way thinking that all was fine and dandy. But of course, no way. I didn't go through all the proper cancellation channels for UseNet.nl! Then I didn't hear from them again until this week when they sent me two nasty-grams telling me that I owe them 173 Euros for each of the two accounts. I took screen shots that showed when I cancelled the billing agreements through PayPal and sent them as proof to the collections company by email. Very quickly they sent me back an email that said my proof only showed that I refused to pay them, not that I cancelled my accounts with them. It went on to say that the terms and services I signed gave specific instructions about how to terminate accounts, and that since I had not followed those specific instructions, I did indeed owe them the money.
Now I am still scratching my head wondering why on earth I ever signed up for a free trial with them, or even if I ever did. I don't remember ever hearing about them before seeing the two billing agreements on PayPal. And what am I supposed to do about their harassing letters?
They are not a website or a company that anyone should go near AT ALL!! Thank you Melanie for this excellent post. I find myself in virtually the same situation as described by your article.
I recently, and foolishly, gave Usenet.nl a chance without first googling. Well, that is a lesson learned. I have not yet received the payment harassment notices that you write about, but no doubt they are coming. Usenet.nl appears to be a foreign-based (outside USA), scam operation. One serious concern is that they can do harm to a person’s good credit rating through false allegations of non-payment. Would anyone out there know about this?
Have you considered filing a lawsuit in return, asking for a cease and desist regarding unwarranted payment demands? If enough Usenet.nl potential “scam-ees” banded together, perhaps file a joint lawsuit against these vile scammers? I note that Usenet.nl have been sued by several major media companies for copyright infringement. This ragtag outfit apparently lives in this cesspool of conflict and deception. It is their element. For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: Show Details Necessary HubPages Device ID This is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
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The truth about free Usenet After you have spent some time trying the various on my site, it should be apparent that it is no longer possible to get binaries for free. Many of us thought we had it all nailed down 20 years ago and were set, and now we are going to the commercial Newsgroup providers because our university or corporate provider have stopped giving us access for free, due to increased cost and in some cases, legal concerns. If you are lucky, your ISP may provide you with access to some of the Usenet Newsgroups, but this is often limited to text groups, and depending on the subject matter are often censored as well.
Many ISPs that provide you with free Usenet accounts actually purchase service from one of the Tier-1 providers in bulk, often blocking binary newsgroups to keep the cost of their blocks of data from getting too expensive. Because of these issues, most people are now going directly to Usenet Service providers to get their newsgroup access. These providers specialize in Usenet and have the man-power and expertise to operate highly efficient/redundant newsgroup servers to guarantee long retention times, high-speed downloads and good completion rates. Plus, unlike many ISPs today, most providers have 24x7 support available if you have problems configuring your software or connecting to their servers. If you are interested in trying some of these providers, you might consider checking out some of the ones listed in the column to the left or in my page. All these provider give users a free usenet trial, with varying numbers of days and/or gigabytes allowed.
If you try one and it does not perform as well as you would like, you can cancel before you exceed the free trial restrictions and not pay anything, and try another provider instead. XSUsenet Recently it has come to my attention that there may be an exception to the above information. A provider called has recently gone online in the Netherlands. They sell an unlimited speed/size account for as little as €2.99/month. However, they also give a free account that allows access to all the newsgroups, with just a couple of restriction:. download speed limited to 1Mbit/sec.
only 2 simultaneous connections. only allowed 25GB download per month If you can live with these restrictions, it sounds like a great deal, or at least a good backup for when you are having issues with your main Usenet provider. To give you an idea, at 1Mbit/s you could only download binaries for about 3 days a month, and a 500MB video would take about an hour and a half to download, and a 4GB ISO would take about a half day to download.
Compare this to a premium provider, such as, you can download at full speed for the entire month and the 500MB file will only take about a minute to download and the 4GB file takes about 8 minutes. As you can easily see, you get what you pay for, but free is still good if that is all you can afford.