California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online • Hacker News Board

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#21

Post by ethagnawl » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:44 PM UTC

fishbone wrote: post #19

danso wrote: post #8

I recently had to cancel an ongoing subscription I had with Equifax, which requires you to call by phone. Unbelievably frustrating. I had to dial the service at least 10 times. Each time, the automated responder would make me go through a very slow menu selection process, only to randomly fail to acknowledge either my correct SSN or zipcode or street number, which I entered using a keypad. As a consumer, I've had to…

Please listen closely, our menu options have changed

That has got to be the default, right?

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#22

Post by fishbone » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:45 PM UTC

ethagnawl wrote: post #21

fishbone wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please listen closely, our menu options have changed

That has got to be the default, right?

I swear some haven’t changed for years but they still say that, argh

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#23

Post by ergothus » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:46 PM UTC

rdiddly wrote: post #18

OK now here's an excellent use for Google Duplex. Using a robot to fool a person: annoying. Using a robot to fool someone annoying: fine!

Yes! This what excited me when 8 first heard about it and I was perplexed why people focused on reservations. That's just the door, and companies on the other end are interested in lowering the barrier for customers.

I'm curious what this does for in person issues, and if gyms will take a hit in CA.

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#24

Post by unethical_ban » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:47 PM UTC

leekyle333 wrote: post #17

The New York Times doesn't allow you to cancel your subscription online.

Interesting. I had subscribed via Amazon for Kindle and did it automatically. I wonder if the same thing would be true if you bought your subscription through the app.

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#25

Post by maaaats » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:47 PM UTC

Not strictly equivalent, but one thing I like about GDPR is that withdrawing consent should be as easy as giving it.

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#26

Post by kelukelugames » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:48 PM UTC

I wish this applied to banks too.

I tried to pay off my mortgage this week and I had to go to a physical bank and handle them a check for seven hundred dollars. So stupid.

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#27

Post by ergothus » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:48 PM UTC

qaq wrote: post #4

Comcast and Verizon will be upset

Cancelling comcast is only moderately hard.

Getting them to ACTUALLY cancel can require more than a single phone call.

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#28

Post by docker_up » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:48 PM UTC

Ring (the video doorbell) is exactly like this and I haven't gotten rid of my subscription because I keep forgetting and their hours are like 9 to 5pm. Hopefully this changes so that I can get rid of that crap.

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#29

Post by goler » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:49 PM UTC

leekyle333 wrote: post #17

The New York Times doesn't allow you to cancel your subscription online.

Same with Wall Steet Journal if you don’t live in CA. Even for CA residents, the cancellation option is buried in the interface.

Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online

#30

Post by greggarious » Thu, Jul 05, 2018, 8:53 PM UTC

ergothus wrote: post #27

qaq wrote: post #4

Comcast and Verizon will be upset

Cancelling comcast is only moderately hard. Getting them to ACTUALLY cancel can require more than a single phone call.

The key is to do it in person. Show up at an office, return the modem, receive a receipt, and report any future charges as fraud to your CC provider w/ the cancellation and equipment return receipts as proof.