COMPUTER enthusiasts are battling to stop an American firm taking money from their accounts.

Dozens of people are understood to be at loggerheads with California-based software club Micro Star.

Sweet-talking saleswomen have been telephoning East Lancashire computer buffs and persuading them to reveal their credit card details in return for a set of sample computer disks and the option of becoming a life member of the club.

But many have found it impossible to cancel the arrangement.

Trading standards bosses have received more than a dozen complaints about Micro Star and have warned people to steer clear.

Among them is Eric Rogers, of Meadowhead Close, Blackburn, who has already had more than £55 taken from his visa account.

He said: "A woman with an American accent telephoned me before Christmas and I handed over my credit card details. "They posted some trial disks to me and the literature said I could cancel my membership within 30 days by telephoning the company.

"I was not interested in the disks. I tried to telephone the club, but it was impossible to get through. I also sent a letter by recorded delivery.

"Three payments have been taken from my account - one for £12 postage which was fair enough, but I know nothing about the others."

Lancashire chief trading standards officer Jim Potts said international companies were buying lists of names of people who owned computers in the UK.

He warned: "There are no consumer protection rights for people who deal with international companies and so there is little we can do.

"We have had complaints particularly from people in East Lancashire and my advice would be to steer clear and do not hand over credit card details."

An Abbey National spokeswoman confirmed it was investigating several complaints from credit card customers.

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