The rise of subscription services for various products, from TV streaming to meal deliveries, has left many individuals unexpectedly debited for services they no longer desire or forgot to cancel. The UK government, under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is addressing these ‘subscription traps’. Here, we discuss the experiences of three individuals who navigated these pitfalls.
Setting Reminders Can Help
Sophie Branscombe, a 23-year-old from Wirral, fell into one such trap after signing up for a free trial of a photo editing app. She was later surprised to find a £89.99 charge deducted from her account. Despite clear terms about the subscription, the app did not offer a reminder for the trial’s end. Unable to secure a refund through the app, Sophie turned to Apple’s “report a problem” feature, which successfully refunded her. Her recommendation? Set reminders as soon as you start a free trial to avoid unexpected charges. She also suggests cancelling subscriptions immediately if they are not satisfactory.
Importance of Reading the Fine Print
Hussein Zaaiter, a 21-year-old student from West London, shared his ordeal with a software trial meant for his university assignments. Despite multiple attempts to cancel via online chat, email, and phone, he faced repeated charges, including amounts of £16 and £32. Frustrated by the difficulty in cancelling, Hussein contacted his bank for assistance. His advice is to thoroughly review terms and conditions before committing to a trial, as getting out of a subscription can be more challenging than anticipated.
Don’t Rely on Automatic Cancellation
Rosalinda Kwafo-Akoto, from the West Midlands, 22, recounted her experience with a seven-day free TV trial that converted into a £9.99 per month subscription. Believing her account showed no active subscription, she assumed it had ended automatically. However, money was deducted after the trial, leading to a lengthy customer service interaction to cancel and receive a refund. Ros advises not to assume a subscription is cancelled just because it isn’t visible in your account, highlighting the importance of getting written confirmation when cancelling.
Reporting based on coverage first published by bbc.co.uk.