Welcome to my new series (not replacing my regular blog contributions) where I rant about stuff we're all subjected to but shouldn't be. You'll see what I mean by reading on...
Part One: Teaser Prices That Require A Credit Card For Auto-Renewing Services
We've all seen the offers. For example, get a great rate for a one year subscription to Internet security services. Just use your credit card to subscribe at the teaser rate but, uh oh, in the fine print there's a notice that you just gave permission for an auto-renewal at the end of the first year AT THE FULL SUBSCRIPTION RATE, usually well above the teaser rate! There are tons of offers out there that follow this pattern, right?
Oh sure, you can opt-out before the auto-renewal takes place if, 1) you remember to do it at a later date (which could be months in the future) and, 2) you can figure out how to do it! Providers of *most* of these services don't want you to cancel. THEY WANT YOUR MONEY on a continuing basis! Therefore, they bury the cancellation procedure deep on their website in some obscure area you'd never think of to look in or, if there's an 800 number, require you to spend an inordinate amount of time punching digits through numerous menus hoping you'll eventually give up!
Now, there are a few companies out there who are stand-up citizens that don't abuse their customers as I've described but, there are many more that do and I'm sick of it!
When I become King, no more credit card auto-renewals without specific, prior permission from their customers and no more teaser rates that require an auto-renewal!
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