Beware the automatic subscription renewal upgrade because you never know what they are renewing you for or up to…
Many of us pay for software over the web which is really a one year subscription. When we click that little box where we agree to the terms of the subscription without reading it, many times we are agreeing to an automatic renewal of the service the following year….and for the company to charge their credit card again. This happens more than you think.
I recently got an email from Symantec (for the the anti virus program) telling me they had authomatically renewed my subscription for this year for $75. This seemed high to me so I called their support number. It seems that they automatically renewed me for their top of the line product.
The support center did refund the charge and I renewed at the base product and for less money (although I probably could have done it cheaper by buying a new copy and getting a rebate).
Check your credit card statements. Many times we get renewed for things we do not want or no longer need. Also, sometimes, you can actually get a lower price by letter a software expire and buying an entire new copy (special offers to new customers) than just renewing. This is a terrible practice that I discuss in my new book, BAM! on customer service.
Have you checked your auto renewals? What have you found?
