Why is it still so hard to work out how to cancel subscriptions?

[plarn]

I mean I know WHY, but it's so grabby. I'm a reasonably intelligent woman but trying to work out how to cancel my audible account just took me much longer than it should have. And the Amazon music subscription my kids somehow signed up for when playing with our Alexa even though we have Spotify .

Look up dark patterns and lose the next three hours down a rabbit hole. Arseholes.

Audible is impossible to cancel, you just go round in circles - it’s got to be deliberate!

The Times is a nightmare for this - you have to actually call up to do it rather than an online option.

Audible is a pain in the arse on the mobile site (the key is to do it on a desktop, or switch to desktop version)

Anyone know how to cancel Laithwaite's wine?!

What infuriates me is when they make you contact to cancel, when you can sign up without doing so.

I usually Google the phrase (eg How to cancel XX subscription) and 9 times out of 10 you'll find a site that gives a simple explanation of how to do it. Like you, I've spent waaaaay too long trying to cancel things in the past.

Deliberate ploy.

Quite glad to hear noises about banning 'free' subscription trials that involve you signing up for the actual subscription thats then impossible to cancel.

@tuberole - from the Laithwaites site.....

To change or cancel a Subscription, you must let us know:

• At least 5 days prior to the scheduled delivery date of your next case; and
• By accessing your Subscription online in your Laithwaites My Account or by calling us on 03330 148 149. Please note that cancellations can only be made by phone or [email protected].
• If (whether before or after cancelling a Subscription) you have received a case that you wish to cancel, you may cancel that case in accordance with the Cancellation section of our Standard Terms.

I haven’t found it difficult to cancel any of mine but I’ve heard Gusto type subscriptions are are near impossible to cancel.

I wish that! Hate them. With me they would have many more chances letting me try the app really for free and then me finding out I enjoy it and actually subscribing, rather than making me register for a trial as I’ll never do it that way.

Adobe is the worst! Complete arseholes and no help even when phoning them.

I had a PlayStation plus annual subscription for my DS which he never used… I got an email saying the next €78 ish was going to be debited so tried to cancel. Was so difficult & circular (I googled and watched you tube videos at one point). I ended up deleting my card details instead so the payment couldn’t go through and they cancelled it. Such a pain and way too lengthy!

My banking app recognises subscriptions now and I can cancel through there. It’s a relatively new feature I think.

I haven’t found Gousto hard to cancel but I was hounded by Hello Fresh after cancelling them. Really puts you off!

Yep dark patterns. It's a deliberate ploy to keep you subscribed. Amazon used to be terrible but have improved (under duress I think).

@2Old2Tango thank you, the bastards want me to contact them then, I feel less guilty about only using them once for their half price offer now!

Took me longer then it should to cancel my bannatynes gym membership recently. Couldnt find it by just browsing the website and had to Google it. I then had to download and print off a form, physically fill it out, scan it back into the computer and email it back to them. I then got an email offering freezes and different terms and stuff and had to reread it a few times to make sure they would still honour the cancellation. You can do anything online you shouldn't have to print stuff off to fill out but it's to make life as hard as possible for you

We need Martin Lewis on the case with this - he's found a good job at the moment of collating info on companies who keep you on hold for inordinate amounts of time to get through to customer services. Subscriptions are daylight robbery and it's about time they were investigated.

The Times is a nightmare for this - you have to actually call up to do it rather than an online option.
Their subscription model - and the reviews it attracts - is the sole reason I won't subscribe

It must be somewhat counterintuitive, I find HelloFresh easy to cancel so I frequently sign up and cancel, I'm a repeat customer, but once I get this wine subscription closed I won't be going back if I dont have the freedom to switch it on and off myself.

Agree with this. This used to be my newspaper but I have completely lost faith in them after having to cancel a subscription for one of my parents after they had died.

Yep. I spent 45 min on hold on the phone to Virgin to cancel my gym membership. There was no ‘humane’ way to close it🥺

Yes! This is the most frustrating one for me. To be fair the couple of times I've done it (after an offer usually) they don't try very hard to persuade me to stay on but it is such an annoying thing to have to do. They clearly hope people just hate phone calls so much they won't ever bother cancelling!

I'm not sure if it's the UK or EU or USA but one of the three is shortly bringing in a law about this, that unsubscribing from things must be as easy as subscribing.

Certainly a lot of Gyms are going to lose their complete business model when that comes in.

I'm ok with my Times sub, it's a tenner a month, but always have it in the back of my head that unsubbing may be an issue from Germany.

Adobe yes, I’m looking at you! Sends you round in circles purposely.

Healthspan (vitamins) you can subscribe at the touch of a button, unsubscribe by phone only (probably on a Tuesday in March at 3am).

They must think we came down in the last shower

@Brefugee if it's part of the free trial automatically changing to subscription then its the Uk