Scammed with sound recording?

Questioner

I was woken up on November 2, 2023 by a number I didn't recognize. With the story that they can help me to cancel a subscription for address lookup online of my sole proprietorship. I know nothing about this subscription. If I do not cancel it will automatically be extended with a higher rate as of November 2024 and it was indicated that they can help me to cancel it. They made a sound recording a few times until I say what they want to hear. Instead of stopping, I am now stuck with a payment of 786 euros.

Lawyer

It appears that you may have been the victim of some form of telephone scam. There are some legal steps you may want to consider to address this issue. Here are some suggestions based on Dutch law: 1. Withdrawal or contestation of consent: According to Dutch law, a contract can only be validly entered into if there is a so-called 'legitimate expectation'. This means that if you were misled or coerced during the recording of the alleged 'consent', this consent may be considered null and void. In this case, you could send a letter to the company withdrawing your consent and explaining why: that you were misinformed or misled. 2. File a complaint with the police: Since this may be a form of fraud, you may want to consider filing a police report. 3. Report to ACM: These types of cases can also be reported to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) via their ConsuWijzer platform. They have the authority to take action against companies that engage in unfair commercial practices. 4. Refer dispute to a dispute committee: If all the above steps do not lead to a satisfactory solution, you may consider referring your dispute to a dispute committee. There are several committees that may be able to help you, depending on the nature of the business and the subscription. These are general suggestions only and may not be appropriate or feasible in your specific situation. It is therefore advisable to seek legal advice to assess the best course of action for your situation.' ---------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer I would like to invite you to rate the above answer so that we can learn from your response.

Questioner

I sent a letter indicating that I was misled. Reported to the police, lawyers are asking for more than what I have to pay, legal assistance cannot help me because my income is just above the limit and I am now stuck with a payment reminder. Consumers' Association cannot help either because I do not have a subscription.