08712242255

I bought Spacebags from a Sky TV programme and gave my credit card details over the phone.  This was months and months ago and I'd forgotton about the purchase.  I had a call from Spacebags last month, enquiring if I was happy with the product, and like the person above, when they said they'd send me a brochure with other products I didn't say no to receiving it.  Before the woman hung up she said all I had to do was let them know if I didn't want anything.  I did think that was a bit odd at the time, but by that time she was off the line.  At no time did she indicate what the products were or that I would automatically become a member of Free & Easy Lifestyle, whether I wanted to or not.  In fact she never mentioned the name Free & Easy Lifestyle.  
This morning when the leaflet and brochure arrived fortunately for me I read to the last paragraph which says that after the month's free trial they would automatically take £99 from my account.
I called them immediately, to be told that the conversation I'd had would have been recorded and I must have agreed with the proposal.
I have reported them to Consumer Direct who advised me that this is a SCAM and that I should alert my bank to stop any withdrawls.

Exactly the same thing happened to me.

Purchased the space bags a while back from shopping channel.  A month or two later a phone call from a very persistant sales person who said would I like a free no obligation holiday brochere or some crap to be sent to me.  I said fine just to get the [***] off the phone.  At no time did they say anything about being charged any money or being but into a contract with this company.

I called 0871 2242255 and said this to them.  The women said I would of authorised it which I replied to no I definitely did not authorise a £99 holiday brochere to be sent to me.  Any how, she found my details and cancelled whatever info they had on me (apparently) and my card should be refunded.  She was a bit arsey with me so I am guessing she knows all about whats going on at her dogey place of work.

Lots of this kind of crap is going on these days now, free trials of things where you have to give a CC/debit details at sign up and if you dont cancel your account they will charge you.  However this info is in some far off small print section most people overlook and they start taking the money months later hoping you wont notice.

I've just discovered that I'm one of many involved with the Free and Easy Lifestyle scam.
I remember having a phone call about a month ago, asking if I was happy with my purchase of binoculars via the Daily Mail. As it was over 2 years ago I was somewhat surprised. However when I received the  brochure, I was alarmed when I read that after the 30 days free trial, £99 would be taken from my bank account. I didn't even know that I'd become a member! How did they know my bank details? I contacted them today, and my "membership" was cancelled immediately. I shall contact my bank tomorrow to make them aware of the scam. Hopefully that will be the end of that. But it does make you wary of ordering anything over the internet/through magazines/newspapers etc.

Hi Jeff, when you ordered your binoculars by credit/debit card from the advert which would have been placed by a company called Winning Deals trading as NASD. Your phone call or order slip you may have sent in would have gone to the Pressplay call centre in Devon, see address above. They keep your card details on the system just so they can make this phonecall and try and scam you out of £99

I got a telephone call some weeks ago asking if they could send offers to me I give no bank details and stated I wasnt interested but I now find after recieving their brochure they have taken £99 from my bank! I did have a call from my bank Fraud dept about this money been taken and I have rang the tel no above and was told it would be refunded still waiting. How did they get my telephone number as Iam exdirectry and how have they got my bank details? The only time Ive given bank details over the telephone was for a purchase of sratch removing pens from an advert in the Sunday Mirror....Scum Scum Scum  !!!!!!

Hi Linda,
thats where they got your details from, Scratch Pens were advertised by Winning Deals and again all calls went through to the Devon call centre.

thanks Steve I thought it must have been them as I did,nt give my bank details to any one else will complain to Sunday Mirror...This must be stpped !

FREE & EASY have deducted £99 from my bank account without my prior permission or me giving them my Credit card No. I am current working in conjunction with my bank to retrieve the money and to prevent any further amounts being deducted by them.
I am somewhat alarmed that this kind of practice is allowed and it makes me mistrust any purchases that I make other than payments by cash.

If any of you have been scammed by this company because you are a member of Simply Home Entertainment (DVD company) it is no good complaining on the Simply telephone numbers these again go through to Devon complain to Simply Head Office

Simply Media
168-172 Old Street
London EC1V 9BP
United Kingdom
Company Number: 04724694
UK VAT Registration Number: GB 810 3782 52
Tel:  +44 (0)20 7608 8650              +44 (0)20 7608 8650

Watch out for this company! They have also tried to take £99 out of our credit card account, thankfully are credit card  fraud team picked up on this scam and contacted me before they obtained the money off our credit card.

I have had all the paperwork for Free and Easy Lifestyle and a letter mentioning - and as mentioned in our telephone call. There is no email address to cancell just the number 08712242255.

I shall instruct my bank not to make any payment. and try to cancel membership.

I ordered some Spacebags online (from the Spacebag website). After receiving the Spacebags, I got a call from a woman asking me if I would like a no obligation Betterware brochore to see if I want any similar home wares (without any obligation) I agreed. All this was in August 2010 and I then I find that £99 had been taken from my bank account by a company called Free&Easy in October 2010. When I called the number on the bank statement I was informed by an English sounding woman that they are a leisure company based in Spain (I was soo shocked and said But I’ve never been to Spain!!). She read my address and mobile number to me and said that I’d agreed to the membership (once again I was shocked!) and said I’d never agreed to this. She said it’s a mistake and I will get my money back within 7-10days. I went to my bank,  who asked me to cancel my debit card and make an appointment to investigate it and see if I can get my money back.
I can not believe people do this. Its disgusting they took my money hoping a wouldn't notice. Maybe if your a millionaire. To me £99 is a lot of money!! Ps. I never ever received the brochure. In fact some people at least got something in the post, altering them that something fishy is going on!. The first I knew of it was on seeing the bank statement. Anyway, I’m going to print these comments and show it to the bank and see what they say. This may sound dramatic, but I feel sooo violated!

Got a call asking if I wanted a 30 day free trial for holidays. I said no thanks and she (Vicky) said she would send me a free & easy catalogue which I did not want but received about 2 weeks later. How they got my telephone number and address I do not know. I received the catalogue together with a letter stating they would deduct £99.99 from my account. I cancelled my credit cards details immediately and then rang their telephone number and cancelled my so called membership number, she refused to tell me how they got my personal details. Another scam these low life people seem to get away with. Can only presume they got my details from another on line Company. Would suggest to anyone to check their bank accounts to make sure they have not taken monies out of their account.

The same thing as everyone else really; an unsolicited brochure, "free" 30 day trial and then £99.99 to be deducted from my credit card .... or so they thought!
I know nothing about them, nor how they got hold of my credit card details. I can only assume from an innocent purchase on line somehow?
I 'phoned the 0871 number, which of course took sometime to answer. "Tom" could not or, more likely would not, tell me how they got my card details and insisted I would have had a telephone call, thus effectively calling me a liar.
I told him to cancel all connections with me, including the free trial and collection of £99.99 after 30 days. He said he would do this but refused to write a letter or e-mail confirming the cancellation.
I therefore immediately called my credit card fraud squad and informed them of "Free and Easy," cancelled my existing card and arranged for them to forward a new one. "Free and Easy?" Certainly, with everyone else's money - steer well clear!!

And reply to Roger,
This scam company would have got your details from something you ordered from one of these companies anytime even upto a year ago if not more,
SIMPLY HOME ENTERTAINMENT (DVD sellers)
WINNING DEALS (several different items)
RECOGNITION (several different items)
NASD (binoculars, which were crap)
SPACEBAGS (vacuum storage bags)
and anything from
PRESSPLAY SHOPPING TV

This is from the Daily Mirror in May 2009
"Essex-based Travel Steps is a trading name of Pressplay Home Shopping Ltd, and has three directors; John Doe of Dunmow, Essex, Philip Mason who lives in Spain, and Joanne Moores of Manchester."
Note Free and Easy is the same as Travel Steps it has changed its name but not how it works.

I have also been a victim of this scam. Reading these comments the one thing I relate to is that I bought the Smart Pen and think that's where they got my details. They refunded me the £99 quickly but the bigger scam for me is how they are accessing people's debit/credit card info?

Me too....  Ordered SpaceBags. Received a call from a woman asking if I was happy with my purchase and if I would like a catalogue. Thinking she was from the Spacebag company and the catalogue was for similar products I said yes. Oops! Yesterday I received the Free & Easy Lifestlye brochure, with covering letter, and like most of you, it mentioned a phone call. Taking £99.99 after 30 day FREE trial from credit card. ALARM BELLS - my hubby was really concerned so I have blocked my credit card and they are sending me another one. Am going to write to them - giving them a right ear full.........
Thanks to everyone who has posted here.  I thought I was the only one who had been duped.

I received the same. I have reported it as a fraud and to WATCHDOG.  If everyone reports it to Watchdog they may do a feature on it.

I also received aletter from free & easy  same thing as other posts I ignored  it because I had never had any contact with them and a friend who works for citizens advice said better not to ring the number because you are then committing yourself and they will try to persuade you to give card numbers etc. unknown to me they already had my card number I also purchased  space bage 18 months ago so obviously they are part of the scam I had been thinking of buying more space bags but  will not be doing so. I have reported this as a fraudulent transaction and my card company have cancelled my card and are issuing a new one.  it is always better to buy things with a credit rather than a debit card because you can always refuse to pay which makes the card company investigate, once the money as gone from your current account the bank has little or no incentive to try and get it back. if I get any more information I will leave another post.