Highly commendable position. Mullvad is leaving a ton of money on the table by doing this, but in the sea of shady VPN providers, having a provider do something proactive like this makes me want to switch.
Who are you using now?
We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
31–40 of 453 posts
Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
No need, just send them cash in an envelope, which works just as well. I wish more services supported this, but I understand it adds a lot of hassle for them as well.
How do they handle VAT via cash in an envelope? Do you need to provide a billing address?
Why would you need to provide a billing address?!? It's cash, and they don't generate bills anymore.
Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
#33FYI they take monero, the most private cryptocurrency.
Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
#34If they don't keep the link between accounts and payments, doesn't that mean they can't revoke an account when a chargeback happens?
Sure, but they can ban your payment method, and they care about privacy enough to eat this (probably small) cost.
Also, they do actually keep a link for 40 days, but it seems like some card card networks allow chargebacks past that.
Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
#35Wow. Hadn't heard of Mullvad before reading this, figured I'd give it a try. That is hands down the BEST onboarding experience for an app (let alone a VPN) I've had in I don't know how long. Took me maybe 2 minutes to go from no account to a working VPN connection. I love that everything is anonymous (down to the account credentials just being a randomly generated token).
I signed up to Mullvad - my first VPN - literally about 12 hours ago, purely because of how simple, yet comprehensively-explained, their 'onboarding' process was.
I also particularly like the flat no-fuss EUR5 a month fee.
Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
#36For customers who don't go to great length to protect their own privacy when paying (i.e., all subscribers, I assume) Mullvad should persuade them to replace their subscription with the "bill pay" feature of most checking accounts -- maybe even offer tutorials for common banks. I'm not an expert in the implications of a subpoena and if banks get involved, but it seems like it would at least be a way to keep the revenue stream nearly as healthy (recurring automatically) while also meeting their goal of not maintaining subscription data.
Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
#37If they don't keep the link between accounts and payments, doesn't that mean they can't revoke an account when a chargeback happens?
> In order to provide refunds and the ability to recover lost accounts we need to store some record of a payment, at least for a short time. As soon as we do not need the data to enable refunding a payment we scrub the record of anything that can link the payment or the account to any personally identifiable information kept by the payment processor (this could be your bank, for example).
So they hold your info and link for however long the chargeback period is (or the average one, probably 30-60 days is fine) and then lose it.
If you're more worried about privacy than convenience they offer other payment methods:
Which payment methods do you accept? We accept cash, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero, bank wire, credit card, PayPal, Swish, Giropay, Eps transfer, Bancontact, iDEAL, and Przelewy24.
https://mullvad.net/en/pricing/
And you can pay for a decade in advance.
(What is Pretzel24 I wonder?)
Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
#38My only concern with Mullvad is that, as their profile and reputation increase, they become a bigger target. That’s mostly a vote of confidence, though the concern is a real one.
Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
#39Great benefit. I also recommend to find a reputable masked card service provider if you plan to use a credit/debit card. Autopay is just another way for banks and providers to circumvent overdraft protection legislation and hopefully new legislation will remove any "perks" that providers offer for autopay services.
I would love to know if there are any of these in the EU – US friends of mine have mentioned privacy.com but I am unaware of a similar service in the UK.
which is it, EU or UK?
Re: We are removing the option to create new subscriptions
#40If I'll ever use a VPN I will check out mullvad, this kind of attitude is almost non existent now