What to do if you believe you have been affected
Reporting
Getting your money back
Section 75 refunds
If the initial payment was made by credit card to Monster or any of the connected businesses we would strongly recommend contacting your bank. A Section 75 claim can be made for the initial payment and any other balance payments (even if these weren’t paid using the credit card).
PayPal.
If you paid via PayPal – even if you used a credit card, contact PayPal and raise a dispute via their Resolution Centre resources. Advise them of the circumstances.
Civil claims If you paid by other means than a credit card, such as a debit card or bank transfer, you can file a claim through the UK courts. The most convenient way to do this is via the Money Claim Online (MCOL) service. This does involve paying fees and most likely appearing in court. You can represent yourself or consult / appoint a solicitor. We would advise that there is of course always a risk in pursuing a court claim – and that this also includes the possibility that the business could be wound up / made insolvent and / or have accounts and assets frozen.
Criminal compensation If a successful prosecution takes place – individuals and the businesses are found guilty by a criminal court, it is possible that an application for criminal compensation may be made against assets. This is one of the reasons for ensuring that you file a report with Action Fraud.
Insurance It is worth checking your insurance policies to see whether you are insured against fraud, theft and/or dishonesty. This may be through a stand-alone policy – for example, for card protection (individuals) or employee dishonesty/fidelity (businesses) – or as part of a wider insurance product such as home contents, travel, or legal expenses.