this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2023
88 points (96.8% liked)

Fuck Subscriptions

3662 readers
1 users here now

Naming and shaming all "recurring spending models" where a one-time fee (or none at all) would be appropriate and logical.

Expect use of strong language.

Follow the basic rules of lemmy.world and common sense, and try to have fun if possible.

No flamewars or attacking other users, unless they're spineless corporate shills.

Note that not all subscriptions are awful. Supporting your favorite ~~camgirl~~ creator or Lemmy server on Patreon is fine. An airbag with subscription is irl Idiocracy-level dystopian bullshit.

New community rule: Shilling for cunty corporations, their subscriptions and other anti-customer practices may result in a 1-day ban. It's so you can think about what it's like when someone can randomly decide what you can and can't use, based on some arbitrary rules. Oh what, you didn't read this fine print? You should read what you're agreeing to.

==========

Some other groovy communities for those who wish to own their products, their data and their life:

Right to Repair/Ownership

Hedges Development

Privacy

Privacy Guides

DeGoogle Yourself

F-Droid

Stallman Was Right

Some other useful links:

FreeMediaHeckYeah

Louis Rossman's YouTube channel

Look at content hosted at Big Tech without most of the nonsense:

Piped

Invidious

Nitter

Teddit

 

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Louis getting pissed off by gym memberships is very entertaining. And he is right!

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] zoe@infosec.pub 0 points 1 year ago

This video discusses the rise of subscription scams and the difficulty customers face when trying to cancel their subscriptions. The creator calls out companies for using tactics like convoluted EULAs and requiring certified mail for cancellation. They recommend using services like privacy.com to create virtual credit cards that can be easily closed to prevent unwanted charges. The video also highlights the lack of consumer protection laws and biased credit card providers. Despite potential credit score consequences, the creator prioritizes principles over convenience and expresses a willingness to fight against unjust subscription practices.

00:00:00 In this section, the video discusses the rise of subscription scams and how some companies make it extremely difficult for customers to cancel their subscriptions. The example of gym memberships is used, where signing up online is easy, but cancelling requires sending certified mail or jumping through other hoops. The creator calls this tactic "Eula Roofing," where consent is obtained, but not under fair circumstances. To combat this, the creator recommends using services like privacy.com to create virtual credit cards that can be easily closed, preventing companies from charging for unwanted services. 00:05:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the rise of subscription scams and how companies make it difficult for customers to cancel their subscriptions. They criticize the use of lengthy and convoluted End-User License Agreements (EULAs) that require certified mail for cancellation or automatically renew contracts without consent. The speaker argues that businesses with such practices have a "rapist mentality" and justifies using services like privacy.com to fight back. They also highlight the lack of consumer protection laws and the bias of credit card providers towards businesses rather than customers. Despite potential credit score consequences, the speaker prioritizes principles over convenience and expresses a willingness to fight against unjust subscription practices. 00:10:00 In this section, the speaker expresses frustration with the way large companies make it difficult to cancel subscriptions and the impact it can have on personal credit scores. They suggest using virtual credit cards as a way to protect oneself when signing up for new services. They also mention that they are not sponsored by any company and instead support themselves through merchandise sales featuring their cat. The section ends with a playful interaction with the cat.