I’m Tarek, co-founder of Rasayel. I first met my co-founder Mohamed 15 years ago at university, and this is our second startup together.

If you use WhatsApp at your company, there comes a point in your business journey when you realize that WhatsApp’s mobile apps are not enough. Your team is growing, you’re losing track of chats and leads, and everything explodes into chaos. Enter Rasayel.

Rasayel (meaning “messages” in Arabic) makes it easier than ever for modern businesses to operate and grow on WhatsApp Business Platform. You can run and automate your sales, support, and customer engagement workflows on Rasayel in the easiest, simplest way possible.

We launched on Product Hunt today. I’d love for you to check it out and let us know what you think

https://www.producthunt.com/posts/rasayel

Trying to do our part to give back to the community of small businesses out there using social messaging apps to talk to their customers.

Which is indeed the case for us. We are (I am) based in Ireland, and there is a significant time different. Even though that's not the main culprit here but still applicable.

100% in agreement, that's how I felt too.

The story couldn't have ended when we first send them an email asking for cancellation (specifically since I mentioned the reason and gave feedback upfront). It could have been done at "Sure, we will cancel it and delete your account data now."

Hmm, interesting. They must know that I (we) are not using this, because I didn't even know this feature exists and our customers are happy getting sent Stripe invoices.

Happy to help root out these practices, and definitely feel you @ intense social anxiety part. :(

I think he means if we are using their "Recover" product which I explained in my email that we absolutely don't use it.

https://baremetrics.com/features/recover

Yes, I am equally puzzled, and I think the EU laws will favour us here – considering that we are incorporated in the Republic of Ireland, EU.

If you were being hit with this as a private individual so consumer protection laws would apply, I wouldn't fancy their chances at all, but if I've inferred your situation correctly that's not the case here? I'm afraid EU law is often very bad at protecting small businesses, so while I wish you luck in fighting the good fight, I wouldn't be so confident about your legal position as a corporate entity. But of course, take proper legal advice, as it looks like you are. And maybe Irish national law can help you even if the European provisions don't.

Hang on, does this mean they are making you call at international call rates?!?

I did actually, and their last email reply yesterday was:

"Got it! Let me know how I can help with the dispute process."

I didn't post that update on Twitter I think.

Are you in CA? File a complaint with the attorney general, they are breaking the law.

Ah, so we are incorporated in the Republic of Ireland, EU. I am talking to our lawyer today.

You can file a complaint here https://oag.ca.gov/ this is not like filling a lawsuit but often gets good results. The AG is like the lawyer for the state. Considering baremetrics is based in san francisco, you might get some interest.

Likewise you could file a complaint with Stripe.

What we have here is inexperienced people in a startup acting stupid, but a little suggestion from the attorney generals office or their payment processor usually gets some really good attention.

Thanks a lot! Very good to know, appreciate it.

Complaining to Stripe is the best option. Most of their business is based on Stripe Connect. If they ban Baremetrics from the Stripe it will lose their business.

Wow. If I were in your shoes I would have gone from not wanting to call to being glad I get to call. Count your blessings, you get a chance to call Brian and give him and ear full. I'd tell Brian I'm recording the call as well.

What's crazy is that they have to pay a fee if they lose a chargeback, so this is essentially a revenue-negative move in addition to being terrible PR.

They probably have to pay a fee even if they win a chargeback.

Yes, this is exactly why you make it clear what people are paying and easy to cancel.

The wrong-headedness here is astounding.

It’s like he’s asking to be made an example of.