Behind the screens of the pay-TV channel, a far less glamorous reality is unfolding for some customers: that of a virtually impossible cancellation. Business practices, deemed abusive by many users, are turning the end of a contract into a veritable ordeal of administrative and financial harassment.

The case of the 3,000 "phantom" euros

The story of Alexandre, who shared his grandparents' ordeal on social media, perfectly illustrates this problem. Although the couple cancelled their subscription and returned their equipment in 2020, the €45 monthly charges never stopped.

1. Conclusion: Six years of billing for a service not provided.
2. Damage: Approximately 3,000 euros lost.
3. Customer service response: Promises of regularization never kept and an unreachable switchboard.

From negligence to threat

Faced with Canal+'s inaction, the family finally blocked the bank withdrawals. The channel, owned by the Bolloré group, reacted swiftly: instead of refunding the overpayment, it threatened to send bailiffs to collect the outstanding amounts. This aggressive debt collection method appears to be the group's latest tactic to keep its subscribers under pressure.

"Displaying the brand in public seems to be the last resort to resolve the situation," laments Alexandre, forced to use the company's reputation as leverage in negotiations.

Key takeaways from the dispute

Key points: Details of the practices denounced
Commitment	12 or 24 year contracts with tacit renewal .
Vulnerable targets	Elderly people continue to pay for services they no longer use.
Recovery	Use of legal threats (bailiffs) even after the equipment has been returned.
Opacity	Extreme difficulty in finding someone who can approve a refund.

Export to Sheets

This case once again brings to the forefront the issue of automatic renewal of long-term subscriptions, a commercial strategy regularly criticized by consumer associations.