There's this company that offers internet service on flights also claims to offer secure hotspots, (it's a gimmick) around cities all over the US they're based in Los Angeles: Boingo Wireless. The only way to cancel the service is to call in, that's their whole scheme. When you they treat that as if you were doing something extremely complicated and that takes time. One of the customer service representative told me…
California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
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Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
#242There's this company that offers internet service on flights also claims to offer secure hotspots, (it's a gimmick) around cities all over the US they're based in Los Angeles: Boingo Wireless. The only way to cancel the service is to call in, that's their whole scheme. When you they treat that as if you were doing something extremely complicated and that takes time. One of the customer service representative told me…
I apologize for not proofreading my post.
Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
#243Another consumer first law I would like to see is that if a service detects you haven’t used it in the previous period, they refund your subscription fee. There is so much wasted money on zombie subscriptions that people forget about.
I knew a guy that bought World of Warcraft and chose the six-month subscription. He played for about 3 months, then stopped and forgot about it and didn't cancel his subscription. Three months later, he got charged the $78 for another six months. He called support and they refused to refund his money even though he wasn't playing anymore. Maybe next time he'll listen when I tell him to only buy 1 month at a time, esp…
Sounds like a perfect opportunity to call his credit card company and start a charge-back.
Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
#244For places that require a phone call I came up with a trick to cancel via email. If they reply back via email and say I have to call them, I tell them I'm deaf and can't talk on the phone. Works every time.
All you have to do is say you will report the charge as fraudulent in an email.
Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
#245Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Well, I don't mean to overshare, but if you must know, I've been convicted of aggravated manslaughter and am scheduled for booking tomorrow afternoon. I won't be needing cable TV service for ten to fifteen years."
*Aggravated manslaughter of a particularly persistent customer service rep
That was great!
Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
#246I've only used this a couple of times but I think it works: "I'd like to cancel my service. I'm going to say this really clearly for the recording, in case I have to subpoena this for evidence. I want to cancel my service, effective [date]. When I hang up this phone, I want there to be no financial relationship between myself and your company of any kind. None. I don't want any further communication from you other th…
But recording phone conversations is illegal in most states, so unless you live in a state where it's legal, they might know that you are bluffing.
Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
#247Earlier quoted context omitted.
but would not that make you feel a little guilty as you are lying to the person just to cancel a subscription?
As guilty as saying "I can only pay $X" or "$X is my final offer" when buying or selling a car despite knowing it's a negotiation tactic and not a real limitation.
Incidentally the price tag was invented by Quakers who considered haggling immoral.
Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
#248Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've done this several times with Comcast, but it failed with Time Warner when I moved out of NYC. They demand to know why you are canceling and have some sort of way to extract money out of you for every scenario, including moving out of their service area. In that case, they transfer you to another phone system that helps you find a provider at your new address and, presumably, nets them a referral fee of some kind…
Has anyone tried "none of your business" as an answer to why your are leaving?
Seriously. And if that doesn't work, try "I hate you"
Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
#249As long as it's not a Spotify subscription :)
I dont know whether its their mistakes or not, but the moment I discovered that they have data leak, I immediately cancelled my trial membership and asked then to delete my account.
Re: California law requires businesses to let you cancel your subscription online
#250Earlier quoted context omitted.
so the solution to having to call a merchant to cancel a subscription is to call your card issuer to cancel a subscription?
My bank doesn't make me sit on hold for 20 minutes and isn't staffed by min wage employees who are incentivized to retain you including lying to you or hanging up on you. I don't blame the employees, they are just trying to make rent. Also chargebacks penalize the merchants both in fines/fees but if they rack of enough, they'll pay higher processing fees.
> My bank doesn't make me sit on hold for 20 minutes and isn't staffed by min wage employees
Lucky you.