Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

“Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

niemanlab.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

391–400 of 890 posts

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#391

Post by whoknowswhat11 »

I think the hypocrisy of allowing call to cancel and not doing anything about to stop it WHILE suing apple (which DOES make click to cancel a reality for subscriptions) was probably a bit too glaring.

The reason people go for the walled gardens is because the govt, which would be the natural control point, has dropped the ball totally in terms of online scams and crap.

And no, I'm not talking about going after google for the umpteenth time for some random thing - but the straight crap / lies / scams (impossible to cancel online subscriptions, bogus tech support installing back doors etc).

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#392

Post by throwaway0a5e »

codingclaws wrote: post #114
lagadu wrote: post #29

In Portugal the law makes it so you can cancel any service using the same means that you used to subscribe it, so if they support subscribing online, unsubscribing also has to be doable the same way; same goes for via phone, personal or whatnot. It makes sense, prevents service providers from making it too difficult to terminate a contract.

Portugal is logical on some stuff. Another example is prostitution is legal but you can only advertise yourself. I wonder what other countries have prostitution set up like this. Or the speed traps that just trigger a red light. Decriminalization of all drugs obviously too.

>Or the speed traps that just trigger a red light.

Sounds like a great way to train the entire population is to run reds between 10pm and 5am.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#393

Post by Humdeee »

strenholme wrote: post #344

Since I live in California, which has a “click to subscribe means you must have click to cancel” regulation, this isn’t an issue for me. After the New York Times published their inaccurate hit piece attacking Scott Alexander and Slate Star Codex/Astral Codex Ten, I was able to cancel online just clicking my way through. I now subscribe to The Wall Street Journal, which looks to be the most neutral newspaper right now…

Hold on here, does that mean that Cancel button only appears based on location?

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#394

Post by detaro »

Humdeee wrote: post #393
strenholme wrote: post #344

Since I live in California, which has a “click to subscribe means you must have click to cancel” regulation, this isn’t an issue for me. After the New York Times published their inaccurate hit piece attacking Scott Alexander and Slate Star Codex/Astral Codex Ten, I was able to cancel online just clicking my way through. I now subscribe to The Wall Street Journal, which looks to be the most neutral newspaper right now…

Hold on here, does that mean that Cancel button only appears based on location?

yes.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#395

Post by webinvest »

aristophenes wrote: post #316

I had to cancel my gym membership because I was moving, and it required me to send a physical letter. I did this, but found out later that somehow I owed like 2 dollars, so they didn’t count my cancellation request because my account wasn’t up to date (should be illegal). They continued to bill me the entire membership fee, but my credit card had changed, so they sent my account to a collections agency. Right when I…

For Crunch Fitness, it took me 5 membership cancellation requests, 3 calls, 2 in person visits, and 4 months to cancel my month-to-month gym membership.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#396

Post by throwaway0a5e »

djrogers wrote: post #292
chii wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Another example is prostitution is legal but you can only advertise yourself. that's an excellent rule - because pimping should be illegal.

Pimping has little to do with advertising, it’s a form of slavery. Nothing would stop a pimp from forcing his workers to be responsible for advertising themselves.

>it’s a form of slavery.

Or a protection racket.

Or just fee for protection.

Depends on the specific situation in question. There's a wide variety of schemes that fall under the definition of pimping.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#397

Post by colejohnson66 »

tzs wrote: post #281
mercy_dude wrote: post #173

Good. The worst experience I ever had was with NY Times when I wanted to unsubscribe I had to go through multiple call/chats with a person and it was almost impossible since it was hard to get in touch with one. I am glad FTC is doing something others are afraid to do.

I wonder if I somehow got on a super secret VIP list and get special treatment? I called, got through quickly, told them I did not want to renew because I found that I wasn't actually reading it all that much, and they promptly canceled. Somewhere in there I realized I should make sure they were only cancelling the paper so I told them I wanted to keep my crossword subscription and that I realized that this would mea…

Not being sarcastic, but what's special about the NYT crossword? Why not just go to a Barnes&Noble (or whatever) and grab a crossword book off the shelf?

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#398

Post by nickpp »

linspace wrote: post #301
mercy_dude wrote: post #173

Good. The worst experience I ever had was with NY Times when I wanted to unsubscribe I had to go through multiple call/chats with a person and it was almost impossible since it was hard to get in touch with one. I am glad FTC is doing something others are afraid to do.

Ah, lucky you. I read your comment on my phone and came to my desktop to type comfortably my rant. Have you ever tried to cancel a loan? The following story may or not apply to you. It happened in a small country called Spain: Some time ago I bought a car. They offer you a very nice discount if you, instead of paying upfront, finance the purchase. Why? I asked the seller, it makes no sense. He gave me a list of more…

You took a loan and "the draconian interest rate" was a surprise?! I would've thought that was the most important factor.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#399

Post by ClikeX »

lagadu wrote: post #29

In Portugal the law makes it so you can cancel any service using the same means that you used to subscribe it, so if they support subscribing online, unsubscribing also has to be doable the same way; same goes for via phone, personal or whatnot. It makes sense, prevents service providers from making it too difficult to terminate a contract.

It's an EU thing, we have this in the Netherlands as well.

We see a lot of services trying to sell you subscriptions at the door or on the street, though.

Post reply on HN