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Tell HN: Pluralsight and the dark-pattern of auto-renewals

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Re: Tell HN: Pluralsight and the dark-pattern of auto-renewals

#21

Post by buckminster »

Scooty wrote: post #17

The other day I was stopped on the sidewalk by someone who told me they worked for a large environmental non profit that helps save endangered species. He asked if I would subscribe to help. I offered to make a donation and was told they I can't do a one time donation and they "really need subscribers". He even told me I could just cancel after the first payment. Taking advantage of someone being forgetful is sleazy.

In the UK a typical suggested donation might be £10 per month and the first three payments will go to the sales person's employer - which is typically a third party, not the charity. If you cancel after the first month they get paid but the charity gets nothing. It's sleazier than you think!

Re: Tell HN: Pluralsight and the dark-pattern of auto-renewals

#22

Post by tvanantwerp »

Recently had a legacy Bluehost site I inherited get auto-renewed to the tune of over $400. This was one small step up from a static site, for an organization that doesn't exist anymore--the site remained only as proof that they once did.

There was nothing in the emails they sent saying that auto-renew was set up. The way I read the expiration warnings was that it would, in fact, expire, which I was fine with. Thankfully support was very helpful in refunding the charge and canceling the account.

Re: Tell HN: Pluralsight and the dark-pattern of auto-renewals

#23

Post by frequentnapper »

Scooty wrote: post #17

The other day I was stopped on the sidewalk by someone who told me they worked for a large environmental non profit that helps save endangered species. He asked if I would subscribe to help. I offered to make a donation and was told they I can't do a one time donation and they "really need subscribers". He even told me I could just cancel after the first payment. Taking advantage of someone being forgetful is sleazy.

yeah this happened to me with Amnesty International a few years ago. I felt very pressured and signed up just to cancel when i got home. Since then I never even stop to talk to them.

Re: Tell HN: Pluralsight and the dark-pattern of auto-renewals

#25

Post by amrrs »

Scooty wrote: post #17

The other day I was stopped on the sidewalk by someone who told me they worked for a large environmental non profit that helps save endangered species. He asked if I would subscribe to help. I offered to make a donation and was told they I can't do a one time donation and they "really need subscribers". He even told me I could just cancel after the first payment. Taking advantage of someone being forgetful is sleazy.

Exactly same thing happened to me in India for some UN Child related initiative (they claimed). Ultimately they wanted a credit card for subscribing and I didn't have they. I was wondering why the fuss about Credit card but now I got it that it's for forgetful auto renewals.

`Meetup.com` did that to me once too. Seems companies are fine with this just to renew subscription because who bothers to get it cancelled.

Re: Tell HN: Pluralsight and the dark-pattern of auto-renewals

#26

Post by softwaredoug »

Scooty wrote: post #17

The other day I was stopped on the sidewalk by someone who told me they worked for a large environmental non profit that helps save endangered species. He asked if I would subscribe to help. I offered to make a donation and was told they I can't do a one time donation and they "really need subscribers". He even told me I could just cancel after the first payment. Taking advantage of someone being forgetful is sleazy.

This exact thing happened to me with Greenpeace. Didn’t realize I had a subscription until later, then the awkward call to cancel and associated guilt trip.

Re: Tell HN: Pluralsight and the dark-pattern of auto-renewals

#27

Post by a13n »

If they won't refund you then they're being dicks. Chargeback your credit card if you're in the US. You'll almost certainly win and there's likely no penalty if you don't.

Chargebacks also cost providers money on top of the refund, which disincentives their shitty refund policy.

I run a SaaS company (with a great refund policy) and am part of many SaaS startup groups and it's standard practice to basically refund anyone who asks.

The refund costs way less than the damage to your brand / negative reviews.

Re: Tell HN: Pluralsight and the dark-pattern of auto-renewals

#30

Post by jsgo »

aosaigh wrote: post #7
redwards510 wrote: post #5

I can't think of a single subscription service that does not auto-renew. Can you? Companies consider that a "feature" because it provides uninterrupted service. Is your beef with them because they didn't email you to let you know they were going to bill you for renewal? Do what I do. Never trust a company. Whenever you sign up for a recurring service or a free trial, add an event to your personal calendar that remind…

I think I wasn't clear enough that this is an annual subscription of significant cost ($300). With that in mind I would absolutely expect them to email in advance reminding me of the charge (other similar services do). I agree that for something that is monthly, I wouldn't expect an email every month. Adding dates to the calendar and using giftcard/credit card are both good suggestions for the future.

Here’s the way around it as someone who has subscribed:

Cancel right after signing up for annual. Day it will terminate or day prior, can’t remember which, you’ll receive a “hey, don’t let your access expire” email and then you can either sign back up again or let it lapse.

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