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US Court nullifies FTC requirement for click-to-cancel

(arstechnica.com)
572 points gausswho | 7 comments | 08 Jul 25 22:42 UTC | HN request time: 1.062s | source | bottom
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beezlewax ◴[09 Jul 25 07:51 UTC] No.44507320[source]▶
I've used a learning platform called Brilliant in the past. The cancellation process was so convoluted that it was impossible to cancel the account. Dark patterns and confusing language.

They refused to refund me and after I thought I'd cancelled and I had to run a charge back from my bank.

This is nefarious behaviour on their part and consumers need to be protected from it.

replies(6): >>44507814 #>>44508429 #>>44508658 #>>44509837 #>>44513040 #>>44516673 #
apwell23 ◴[09 Jul 25 13:30 UTC] No.44509837[source]▶
i only subscribe to services through app store on my iphone. even if costs me premium.
replies(1): >>44510100 #
whamlastxmas ◴[09 Jul 25 13:56 UTC] No.44510100[source]▶
I use privacy dot com cards I can turn off in a single click
replies(2): >>44510114 #>>44512450 #
1. apwell23 ◴[09 Jul 25 13:57 UTC] No.44510114[source]▶
doesn't stop it from being sent to collections.

wtf are ppl downvoting this. i had it happen to me.

replies(3): >>44510159 #>>44512852 #>>44523866 #
2. derwiki ◴[09 Jul 25 14:02 UTC] No.44510159[source]▶
I guess not; but I also use Privacy.com cards and have never ended up in collections when I pause a card to cancel a service.
3. rsanek ◴[09 Jul 25 17:43 UTC] No.44512852[source]▶
once something is in collections, you can negotiate to pay a fraction of the original price. it's actually harder to do so before then.

or, you can just not pay even through collections. rarely does it impact credit score (much). lots of kinds of debt even legally can't (eg <$500 medical debt)

replies(1): >>44514664 #
4. apwell23 ◴[09 Jul 25 20:56 UTC] No.44514664[source]▶
> you can negotiate to pay a fraction of the original price.

what gives you the negotiating power ? they can simply dock you on your credit report. thats what comcast did to me. they didn't care about negotiating

replies(1): >>44523650 #
5. hexyl_C_gut ◴[10 Jul 25 17:53 UTC] No.44523650{3}[source]▶
I think that is how collections work. When a business can't get you to pay they sell the right to collect it to another "collections" business (let's call it Y). Y pays a fraction of the amount owed for the right so even if they can get you to pay like 25%, they are still making a profit.
replies(1): >>44528032 #
6. 93po ◴[10 Jul 25 18:11 UTC] No.44523866[source]▶
this assumes you're using it for a service that has your name/address/birthdate/social.

i use it for stuff like scammy dark pattern photoshop trials, and i can use a fake name and address.

i wouldn't use it for stuff like utilities or gym memberships that absolutely send stuff to collections and they deliberately collect your information to be able to do so

7. apwell23 ◴[11 Jul 25 02:59 UTC] No.44528032{4}[source]▶
by that logic i should let every bill go to collections?