Martin Lewis MSE urges Brits earning cashback to check bank account now

Savvy Brits cashing in on seemingly no-brainer cashback deals have been issued a stark warning.

In recent years, reward websites like TopCashback have propelled into the mainstream - effectively giving shoppers a percentage of their money back when they purchase goods and services. Many cashback sites require you to register your details and use the company's affiliate link to process the cashback.

This will either go straight into your account once the purchase has been completed, or get transferred into your cashback account where you can boost your credit by spending at select websites.

However, Complete Savings, a popular cashback service that often pops up on well-known retailers' websites - saw its old ads get banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in October last year. This follows a MoneySavingExpert.com complaint that found they were 'misleading' customers.

According to Martin Lewis' MSE, the regulator ordered Complete Savings to make it explicitly clear that users need to sign up to a monthly paid-for subscription (which has increased from £15 to £18) as well as detail the necessary steps to actually receive cashback - which can include making additional purchases. Despite the ruling, MSE says it's still noticed old ads being displayed online.

"You can't sign up to the service directly – the only way to join is after making a purchase with one of its partner retailers," the experts explain. "As a result, you may have signed up unknowingly."

As a result, Brits are being urged to check their bank account straight away to check for recurring payments they may have missed. This could show on your statement in a variety of ways, including the following:

• WLY*COMPLETESAVE.CO.UK
• COMPLETESAVE.CO.UK
• CASH.COMPLETESAVE.CO.UK
• GO2.COMPLETESAVE.CO.UK
• WWW.COMPLETESAVE.CO.UK

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If you discover any unwanted payments, you should cancel them straight away. You'll need to cancel your membership with Complete Savings by calling 0800 389 6960 or emailing [email protected].

You can complain to Complete Savings' customer service team if you feel like you were misled by the ads. It's advised to mention the ASA ruling, as this seems to have helped many Brits receive a refund.

One of them is Ray, a retired nurse living in Sussex who didn't realise he was joining a paid-for subscription when he came across a Complete Savings ad in 2021. The 70-year-old realised he'd been charged £15 for the last three years, which had added up to a staggering £675.

Originally, Ray was only offered three months' worth of refunds, but after seeing MSE's warning - he contacted the company again and successfully requested a full refund. A spokesperson for Complete Savings said at the time of the ASA ruling: "Prior to the Council's decision, we had already amended our marketing to make our messaging even clearer and will continue to work to ensure our communications align with the Council's guidance."

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