Yes, because they have your permission, its part of their terms and conditions. Ok, if your quick enough and cancel your direct debit, they will then switch and take it from your credit card.

Unfortunately your safeguard is next to useless - if they issue a chargeback, Paypal will simply take the money from you bank account!

Yes, since posting this I have spoken to many photographers who have all been hit by them in their hidden print. However, after speaking to the governments consumer hotline, they said that yes having a notice period in a contract meant that effectively its a rolling contract and that I needed to pay then quit. What they did say though is see if there was anything in their original contract that had changed. Well, the reason I joined the SWPP was to get my CRB check. As an individual its very hard to do this, however the SWPP where acting as an umbrella company. Now it seems that they are not, they also have not communicated this, they have just removed it from the list of "benifits". I contacted the SWPP and stated that as they have withdrawn a fundimental part of the membership, and not communicated it with me, then they where in breach of the contract. They contacted me and said they where happy to end the contract with no further charge So hopefully this thread will assist any other photographers in the same boat with the SWPP. I have certainly learnt my lesson.

Paypal definitely do not follow this rule, when they are hit with a chargeback they will immediately take the money from your account - THEN they will inform you. Its then down to you to fight it, meanwhile being overdrawn in paypal and possibly in your own bank and not having the good either - its VERY rare in these cases for the seller to have any comeback, like has been mentioned even if you have proof of purchase. When it happened to me I immediately deleted my direct debit details from the bank, but did not think of contacting the bank and disputing the payment taken.

Unfortunately you have become victim to the latest wave in **** bags who buy from ebay, then issue a chargeback because under paypals rules they normally come down in favor of the buyer because the credit card companies refund the money. I had the same happen to me with a mobile phone I sold, the **** bag reversed the charge and didnt answer any emails from me....luckily I had the IMEI number so I reported the phone stolen which would have barred it, however I was then £80 out of pocket + and £80 phone down!. This is the huge risk of dealing with Paypal, the internet is full of these stories and whilst paypal have a monoloply being part of ebay, this will continue to happen!.

Unfortunately you have become victim to the latest wave in **** bags who buy from ebay, then issue a chargeback because under paypals rules they normally come down in favor of the buyer because the credit card companies refund the money. I had the same happen to me with a mobile phone I sold, the **** bag reversed the charge and didnt answer any emails from me....luckily I had the IMEI number so I reported the phone stolen which would have barred it, however I was then £80 out of pocket + and £80 phone down!. This is the huge risk of dealing with Paypal, the internet is full of these stories and whilst paypal have a monoloply being part of ebay, this will continue to happen!.

Hi. I am a part-time professional photographer. In november 2006 I joined a professional "organsiation" called the SWPP (Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers). Basically it costs £99 a year for a subscription and for that you get a magazine every two months, use of their logos and lots of discounts. In November 2007 my subscription was up for renewal and I decided that it wasn't worth the money and like any other subscription I just didnt pay the renewal fee. This would normally mean that the subscription would be cancelled. They sent a few reminders and I discarded them and today I have receieved a letter from them sent 2nd class recorded delivery giving me 7 days to pay else they will go to a debt collection agency. The letter is dated the 1st September 2007 !!!!!!....slight oversight on their part!. I have done some digging, and it seems that in very very small print on their website they have a clause that states that to leave the subscription you have to give 3 months notice in writing by recorded delivery....and there seems to be a lot of people complaining on the internet of the same thing as me. Basically they are now telling me that I have to pay them the £99 due and then 3 months before Nov 2008 I can put in notice to quit. There is nothing anywhere to suggest that this is a rolling contract, other than this small print of 3 months notice. I have never been sent a copy of the terms, however the original form that had to be returned to them had the terms on it...and I am informed by another photographer that it will have said the 3 months...however it does not state that its a recurring contract. Aside from the fact that their letter is dated wrong so is not really valid. Any ideas if I have any sort of comeback or should I do what appears to be what hundreds of other photographers have done and paid them the £99 and given them a post dated notice to quit letter? For reference this is the only place I can find their terms on. https://swpp.co.uk/secure/join.htm