Great subscription rip offs!

RadoJo

"If I didn't look before crossing the road can I assume it would be alright for the bus to run me over?"

To be honest, if you walked out into the road without looking in the path of an oncoming bus, then you would be at fault if they did hit you, particularly if the choice was hitting you or plowing into an innocent bystander in an attempt to rectify your mistake.

I think the point is that if it annoys you enough to write a post about it, surely that would spur you on to ensure that you aren't put in this position again, rather than insist that all companies change their policies to make it easier for you. What if they had conducted a study of their customers and it had found that most people prefer membership to roll over so that they have an uninterrupted service? I think you are expecting too much from these companies - they have agreed to supply you with a service/product, not to offer a solution to your self professed inefficiency. I'm sure that none of us are claiming to have perfectly organised lives - personally I have experienced many moments where I have kicked myself for forgetting to do something which has subsequently cost me money, but that's how I have learnt to read the small print, check renewal dates and make sure I don't make the same mistakes in the future. Expecting a company to change their rules to suit you will only end in disappointment I fear.

uktim29

Hub-UK wrote: »

If I didn't look before crossing the road can I assume it would be alright for the bus to run me over?

If he/she couldn't stop in time then yes.

I still stand by my story of the stupid now wanting protection for being stupid.

This reminds me of Absolutely Fabulous when Jennifer Saunders was saying there should be a stupidity tax. They should have to pay for the fact railings have to be put outside shops to stop stupid people running out in the road and killing themselves.

I completely agree with this, tax the stupid!

Vampgirl

Hub-UK wrote: »

If you subscribe to something they rely on the fact that in twelve months time (which is the logical time you will think about an annual subscription coming to an end) you will realise you need to cancel. So you ring them up only to be told you have to give a calendar months notice in writing . . . so you have to pay another month for no other reason than to line their pockets!

I think a lot of people get confused between buying a years membership of a club/service (where you have to renew each year) and starting an open-ended monthly subscription which has a minimum contract period. They're totally different membership systems one is for a fixed period of time (often not cancellable) and the other is indefinate and can be cancelled at any time after the minimum contact period.

Therefore a gym subscription doesn't need "renewing" because its open-ended - it was up to you to make note of the earliest date you could give notice to cancel.

pinkshoes

Hub-UK wrote: »

From the tone of replies it is fairly obvious that none of you can really grasp the issue. It is not a question of whether I am a lazy, worthless individual that deserves to be ripped off by large companies (who probably rely on this sort of thing for a percentage of their profits) but whether it is right for them to be able to do so.

I think people grasp the situation perfectly, but just disagree with you. It's not like they're charging you for another 12 months, and you DID sign their T&Cs...

I think a company is quite entitled to ask for a notice period to cancel, and if you sign their contract, it's not hard to write down in a diary when it needs to be cancelled/renewed. It takes a while 60 seconds, and no one's personal life is THAT hectic!

The only thing I object to are those gyms/companies that automatically renew for another 12 months. I think this should require a signature to renew.

Hub-UK

I'm really sorry that I made this post now!

Whilst everyone who has told me I am lazy, inefficient or whatever seems to have plenty of time to make personal diary entries I have to tell you there is not enough time in my day to do half the things I need to.

I run an Internet site for a living and as I do it on my own there is not the time to do all the personal things. I originally trained as a solicitor and part of that training meant you filed everything in plies on a desk . . .

I think the opinions expressed are not representative but then people like me only post to forums when we have a beef because the rest of the time we are too busy and too disorganised.

I had hoped that with 2,000,000 newsletter subscribers that the forums might have been more representative but at least you all showed an interest . . . and perhaps I will follow the advice in the future!

mpython

No need to feel sorry. Its theraputic to vent but I hope you've also found that your opinions, and maybe that of your immediate circle of friends & family, do not necessarily represent the range or balance of views of society as a whole. I think the opinions expressed are representative of the members of the site which reflects the make up of the UK population.

To help you remember such dates, here's a range of sites that will send you a free reminder/ email so as you don't get caught our again.

http://www.freebielist.com/reminder.htm

Hub-UK

mpython wrote: »

I think the opinions expressed are representative of the members of the site which reflects the make up of the UK population.

Now one thing I am an expert on is the Internet and I know for sure that the opinions expressed here are not representative of the UK population.

It doesn't mean they are wrong but it is pompous to suggest such a small number of people represent UK opinion! There is a type of person who regularly posts on Forums and they do so because they are in the main opinionated and like to express their opinions as often as possible which they believe to be the only correct one! How many opinions have you all expressed on this forum.

:rotfl:

mpython

You may be an expert on the internet (or not as I have no evidence one way or other) but I do understand statistics and sampling. 2m is a lot more representative sample than your opinion.

If you want to have a row about internet forums contributions because people don't agree with you, why not pop into the moneysavingarms and try your luck. here's the link.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=58

Hub-UK

mpython wrote: »

I do understand statistics and sampling. 2m is a lot more representative sample than your opinion.

Oh you speak for the silent majority do you? You understand statistics and sampling? How many of you have replied to this post? Is it nine? According to my calculator that represents 0.00045% of the people who have subscribed to Martin's newsletter. Even NOP would require a bigger sampling than that.

If the UK population is 60,776,238 (July 2007 est.) then your opinions represent 0.000015% of the population . . . and you know about statistics and sampling? :T

mpython

Please can you point out where I said I speak for the silent majority?

Of the replies to this thread not a single one supports you yet you refuse to accept that your view is not representative.

The point of a sample is that it is a subset of the population (or target group) as a whole, 2m is a pretty good sample of 60m. The sample is not the same size as the population (or target group) so your decimal point calculation is spurious it has to be statistically valid size and representative, typically NOPs and others use 1500 to get a fair sample.

Maybe you should just stick to playing on the internet & letting legal papers fall off your desk? as I say, if you want a row try the arms, if you want help (like how can I challenge unfair terms) try a very different approach on MSE.